Faculty and Staff

Elizabeth Twining Blue, Professor
Lynn Goerdt, Assistant Professor
Maureen Rappley Larson, Assistant Professor
Monica Roth Day, Associate Professor

Social Work Program Description

Social Work is one of four programs housed in the Department of Human Behavior, Justice and Diversity. The others are the Psychology, Legal Studies (including Criminal Justice), and the First Nations Studies Programs.

The undergraduate major in Social Work offers a Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree, with an ethnic-sensitive, ecological, generalist focus, which educates and prepares entry-level generalist social workers for effective direct practice with individuals, families, small groups, organizations, institutions and communities. Specific areas of concern for the program are the well-being of regional American Indian people and communities, as well as that of elderly persons, persons with mental health issues, and persons with developmental and other disabilities.

Special Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Academic credit for life experience and previous work experience shall not be given, in whole or in part, in lieu of any course.

Social Work Program Diversity Statement

Respecting and celebrating diversity is an inherent part of the mission of the UW-Superior Social Work program and is a central theme of service when social workers are working in the community. In promoting the dignity, worth and empowerment of the individual client while working to improve and sustain the social environment, our program seeks to strengthen students' interest in, respect for, and skills in working effectively with diverse and vulnerable populations. Our program also seeks to sensitize and prepare students to help service systems toward constructive change when relating to diverse populations.

The Social Work program is administered, and admissions are determined, without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin, immigration status, political orientation, creed, physical or mental impairment, age, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Mission Statement & Program Goals

The undergraduate Social Work program at UW-Superior is structured as a competency based program. The program implements this structure through its mission, six program goals and ten student learning outcomes.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Social Work Program is to teach students the generalist skills and knowledge needed to be responsible and ethical change agents who empower clients/consumers across divers populations with a local, regional, and global consciousness focusing on social justice, self-awareness and lifelong learning. 

Program Goals

Goal 1: Generalist Preparation
To prepare students for entry-level ecologically-based generalist practice at all levels of intervention (individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities), utilizing a liberal education foundation.

GOAL 2: Diversity
To prepare students for inclusive practice with diverse and vulnerable groups in society throughout a variety of local, regional and international human service settings, particularly practice with American Indian people, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities.

GOAL 3: Ethics
To prepare students for ethical decision-making guided by the values, principles and standards of the social work profession.

GOAL 4: Social Justice
To prepare students to recognize and apply social justice principles in practice situations.

GOAL 5: Professional Development
To prepare students for lifelong learning, to maintain competence and stay current with best practice.

GOAL 6: Service
To engage students in social justice and change through generalist social work activities with local, regional and international constituencies.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students will have demonstrated that they are able to:

1. Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
2. Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
3. Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
4. Engage diversity and difference in practice.
5. Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
6. Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
7. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
8. Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
9. Respond to contexts that shape practice.
10. Engage, assess, intervene and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

Admission to the Social Work Program

To seek formal admission to the program, the student files an application with an academic advisor before entering SO W 340 Methods of Practice I, and SO W 341 Methods of Practice II, usually by the end of the sophomore year. Admission requirements include: a grade of C or better in SO W 121 Introduction to Social Work, an overall grade point average of at least 2.3 at time of admission, and demonstration of suitability and capacity to enter the profession of social work according to Admission/Continuation Competencies listed in the Social Work Student Handbook. All applicants meet with a Review Committee as a part of the admission process. The Review Committee consists of social work faculty and may also include a member of the Social Work program's Community Advisory Committee. Students transferring into the program may be granted a conditional admission while they finish the introductory course satisfactorily.

Continuation in the Social Work Program

Continuation in good standing in the program is contingent upon the following:

1. Earning a grade of C or better or pass (P) in all required social work courses, and retaking any required social work course in which a grade below C or pass (P) was received.
2. Maintaining an overall grade point average of 2.3 from time of admission through graduation.
3. Maintaining a grade point within the major courses of 2.5 by the end of the junior year through graduation.
4. Continuing to demonstrate suitability and capacity for the profession of social work as expressed in the Students' Rights and Responsibilities statement in the Social Work Student Handbook.

Reapplication to the Social Work Program

Requirements for readmission to the program include:

1. Enrollment for a minimum of one semester at UW-Superior before reapplication.
2. Resubmission of an application following the standards expressed in Reapplication to the Social Work Program found in the Social Work Student Handbook.
3. Junior standing.
4. Grades of C or higher in all required social work courses, and an overall grade point average of at least 2.3, and a grade point in the major of at least 2.5 from the end of the junior year through graduation.

Transfer Students

Transfer students are expected to seek advisement with an advisor of the program at or before the time of their first registration. Contact the Admissions Office, the Center for Academic Advising, or the Social Work Program office to be referred to this advisor. Advisement is a crucial aspect of the transfer process, as much of the time there are articulation agreements in place with the community colleges from which persons transfer that facilitate the smooth transfer of credits.

The advisor will furnish transfer students with academic advisement and Social Work program materials, including the Social Work Student Handbook.Transfer students seeking formal admission to the program must be enrolled at UW-Superior for at least one semester before enrolling in senior practicum. Transfer students must meet all admission and continuation standards of non-transfer Social Work majors. Procedures for grievance and appeal and continuation in the program are the same for transfer students as for other Social Work majors.

If a transfer student requests that a requirement for the Social Work major be met by a transfer credit, the request may be granted if the course content is identical and if the grade for the course is computed as part of the grade point average requirements for the major in Social Work. In addition, any social work courses transferred in must have been taught by an MSW (Masters of Social Work) who graduated from an accredited social work program or must be accompanied by documentation that essential social welfare, and/or content about the development of social work as a profession have been incorporated into the course. Methods and practicum courses must be taken at UW-Superior.

Social Work Major (comprehensive) Requirements

The Social Work Major is a comprehensive major which consists of 65-68 credits depending upon courses chosen. In effect, an interdisciplinary minor is integrated into the requirements for the major, thus no minor is required.

Basic core courses (51 or 52 credits required):

Elective Categories (15 credits in five elective categories required):

Social Work Elective Category (3 credits required):

Biological Determinants of Human Behavior (3 credits required) with agreement by advisor:

Inter-Intrapersonal-Determinants of Human Behavior (3 credits required) with agreement by advisor:

Systemic Determinants of Human Behavior (3 credits required) with agreement by advisor:

Writing Requirements (3 credits required):