In order to gain admission into and progress through the BSW Program at JSU, a student must meet and, in some cases, exceed certain functions deemed necessary by the faculty and certain ethical requirements suggested by the National Association of Social Workers. These abilities and ethical considerations include, but are not limited to, the National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics. 

The National Association of Social Workers' Code of Ethics identifies core values on which the social work mission is based, summarizes ethical principles that reflect the profession's core values, establishes a set of specific ethical standards that guide social work practice, and provides the basis on which the public can hold a practitioner accountable.

Summary of Principles
• Social workers' primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems
• Social workers challenge social injustice
• Social workers respect the inherent dignity and worth of the person
• Social workers recognize the central importance of human relationships
• Social workers behave in a trustworthy manner
• Social workers practice within their areas of competence and develop and enhance their professional expertise

Ethical standards are articulated under social workers' ethical responsibilities to clients, to colleagues, in practice settings, as professionals to the social work profession, and to broader society.  In addition, a student in the BSW Program at JSU must be able to develop the following essential abilities which are of importance to social workers:
1. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice. 
2. Practice within the values and ethics of the social work profession and with an understanding of and respect for the positive value of diversity. 
3. Demonstrate the professional use of self. 
4. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and the strategies of change that advance social and economic justice. 
5. Understand the history of the social work profession and its current structures and issues. 
6. Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with systems of all sizes. 
7. Apply knowledge of bio-psycho-social variables that affect individual development and behavior, use theoretical frameworks to understand the interactions among individuals and between individuals and social systems (i.e., families, groups, organizations, and communities). 
8. Analyze the impact of social policies on client systems, workers, and agencies. 
9. Evaluate research studies and apply findings to practice, and under supervision, to evaluate their own practice interventions and those of other relevant systems. 
10. Use communication skills differently with a variety of client populations, colleagues, and members of the community. 
11. Use supervision appropriate to generalist practice. 
12. Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems, and under supervision, seek necessary organizational change. 
13. Demonstrate a commitment to continue their own professional growth and development.
14. Increase understanding of and commitment to the social worker's role in promoting social and economic justice.
15. Become empowered so that they, in turn, work to empower client groups.
16. Employ an ethnically sensitive social work practice with diverse and oppressed populations within a social justice perspective.
17. Develop skills in working with clients and colleagues towards social change efforts in response to community needs.
18. Develop skills in integrating and applying knowledge and theory related to economic and social justice issues that were acquired in academic courses to actual social work situations.

If these abilities cannot be achieved by the student, unassisted or with the provision of reasonable accommodation, the university reserves the right to deny admission or to advise the student to consider an alternative academic major and seek proper counseling.

The completed Application for Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work Degree Program becomes part of the student's admission file. Generally, decisions regarding admission to the BSW Program are made by the Admissions Committee one month prior to the end of each semester. 

The Admissions Committee may take any of the following actions regarding a completed application for admission: (a) acceptance into the program, (B) provisional acceptance, or (c) denial of admission. Acceptance into the program generally means the student has presented evidence of meeting the minimum requirements for admission to the BSW Program. Provisional acceptance may be for academic or non-academic reasons.

Students may be denied admission to or terminated from the BSW Program for, but not necessarily limited to any of the following non-academic reasons which are personal or professional:
• Overtly expressed attitudes, values, and behaviors in opposition to or contrary to those found in the NASW Code of Ethics.
• Evidence of chemical, alcohol, or drug abuse
• Personality, emotional, attitudinal, or personal issues or difficulties which may or actually impair performance, interactions, and relationships with classmates, faculty, agency staff, and/or clients.
• Dishonesty, including lying, cheating, or plagiarizing in course work and/or Field Placement.
• Evidence of certain criminal or unlawful activity. 

Students are provided written notice of the Admissions Committee's actions. In the case of provisional acceptance, specific conditions which must be met before the student can be admitted to the program are provided. In the event acceptance is denied, the Committee's decision may be appealed. In addition, re-application for admission to the program is possible. When re-application is possible, the student is notified in writing of that possibility.

 The Admissions Committee reviews the records of all social work students admitted to the BSW Program regarding continued enrollment and readiness for Field Placement during the semester prior to enrollment in SW 448 (Social Work Practice III), SW 449 (Field Placement), and SW 450 (Field Instruction Seminar). Action taken by the Admissions Committee regarding any student is reflected in the student's BSW file. Any information relevant to a student's continued enrollment may be placed in the student's BSW file by members of the faculty or staff. An application for Admission to the BSW Program appears on the following page.

Students considering earning a degree in social work who have been charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony should be aware of the following:
1. A number of agencies/organizations that provide Field Instruction placements for social work students require a criminal background check prior to agreeing to provide Field Instruction.
2. A number of agencies employing social workers may also require criminal background checks prior to hiring employees. 
3. Some state licensure laws for social workers inquire about whether the applicant has been charged with or convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony prior to allowing the applicant to sit for the licensure examination.

TERMINATION FROM BSW PROGRAM

A. Non-academic Reasons
Students may be terminated from the program for non-academic reasons any time after admission. Non-academic reasons for termination may generally be categorized as personal or professional. The termination process may be immediate, if the violation is of a serious nature, or it may be gradual, if steps are being taken to address conditions identified as violations. 

In some cases, the student's academic advisor along with members of the Admissions Committee meet regularly with the student in an attempt to alleviate the violation or condition. A contract or agreement for change may be developed with the student and monitored by the faculty advisor or Admissions Committee. Students completing or complying with such contracts may remain in the program. Students not completing or complying with contracts to alleviate conditions may be terminated from the program. 
Students terminated from the program are provided written notice of that decision. In some cases, a student terminated from the program for non-academic reasons may re-apply for admission at a later date. The decision to readmit a previously terminated student will be made by the Admissions Committee. 

Students may be denied admission to or terminated from the BSW Program for, but not necessarily limited to any of the following non-academic reasons which are personal or professional:
1. Overtly expressed attitudes, values, and behaviors in opposition to those found in the NASW Code of Ethics.
2. Evidence of chemical, alcohol, or drug abuse.
3. Personality, emotional attitudinal, or personal issues or difficulties which may or actually impair performance, interactions, and relationships with classmates, faculty, agency staff, and/or clients. 
4. Dishonesty, including lying, cheating, or plagiarizing in course work and/or Field Placement.
5. Evidence of certain criminal or unlawful activity. 

B. Academic Reasons
Students may be terminated from the BSW Program for academic reasons. The following are examples of important academic issues of which students should be aware:
1. Academic probation or suspension may lead to termination from the BSW Program.
2. Students are not allowed to remain enrolled at JSU if they are placed on academic probation from failing 60 percent of course work, and they are suspended when failing 60 percent of their course work the semester following their placement on academic probation.
3. Students are not allowed to enroll in SW 391 (Social Work Practice II) until they have been admitted to the BSW Program. 
4. Students are not allowed to enroll in Field Instruction (SW 449), Field Instruction Seminar (SW 450), and Social Work Practice III (SW 448) until they have completed all other courses required for the BSW degree with a minimum GPA of 2.25, unless extenuating circumstances are present as determined by the Admissions Committee. 
5. Students are not awarded the BSW degree until they receive a grade of "C" or better in SW 448, SW 449, and SW 450. This requires a satisfactory performance evaluation by the Field Instructor of the student on the Final Evaluation for Field Instruction. Field Instructors are advised to notify the Field Coordinator of student deficiencies as soon as they are detected in the Field Instruction experience. The Field Coordinator determines the final grade for Field Instruction (SW 449) and the Field Instruction Seminar (SW 450). Students receiving below a "C" in Field Instruction may be encouraged to change to a more appropriate major. Should the student desire to remain in the BSW Program , the application process to Field Instruction will resume with the Admissions Committee making the decision as to re-admission to Field Instruction. 

The Social Work Program is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all aspects of its program activities. The program respects and values diversity and does not discriminate on any basis including the following: race, color, gender, age, creed or religion, ethnic or national origin, disability, political orientation, or sexual orientation.

Go to JSU General Admissions Requirements

JSU BSW PROGRAM HOMEPAGE