We welcome your interest in social work at Shepherd University. A Baccalaureate Social Worker (BSW) is a graduate of a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, holding either a bachelor’s degree in social work or a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree with a major in social work. The undergraduate social work program at Shepherd University offers a comprehensive degree that prepares its graduates for immediate entry into direct human service professional positions. In short, baccalaureate social work is the only undergraduate major that educates students to be professional social workers. To ensure professional standards, BSW programs must meet rigorous academic standards to gain and maintain accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). For admission to a BSW program, the competition is rigorous and students must meet formal admissions standards.
The Social Work Program at Shepherd University has specific admission criteria. Students may declare a major in Social Work as early as the freshman year. In order to become formally accepted into the program, however, students must complete Introduction to Social Work (SOWK 201) and Community Service Learning or International Community Service Learning (SOWK 300 or SOWK 330) with a grade of C or above. Additionally, students must have at least sophomore standing (greater than 30 credit hours completed), with an overall grade point average of 2.5 or above. At that time, a student may complete an application (see Program Application) for acceptance into the program. Application for acceptance into the program is typically made during the Spring semester of the student’s second year (see Sequence of Courses for Completing a Major in Social Work). The faculty reviews applications and conducts interviews. The social work faculty then meets as a committee and may recommend accepting students into the program, conditional acceptance, or non-acceptance based on program admissions criteria.
To review the complete Social Work Program Application and Admissions Policy or to prepare an Application for Admission to the Social Program, please select the links below.