Faculty
Elizabeth T. Blue, Associate Professor, Program Coordinator
Judy Anne Dwyer, Associate Professor, Field Coordinator
Lawrence Martin, Associate Professor
Jay Wolterstorff, Assistant Professor

Social Work Program
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. A specific area of concern for the program is the well-being of regional American Indian people and communities. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

UW-Superior 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.

Academic credit for life experience and previous work experience shall not be given, in whole or in part, in lieu of any required course.

Admission to the Social Work Program
To seek formal admission to the program, the student files an application with his or her advisor before entering SOW 321 Methods of Social Work Practice I, usually by the end of the sophomore year. Admission requirements include: a grade of C or better in SOW 121 Introduction to Social Work and SOW 227 Interpersonal Skills; 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 Community Advisory Committee. Students transferring into the program may be granted a conditional admission while they finish the two introductory courses satisfactorily.

Prospective students should be aware that criminal background checks may be made by most types of internship agencies, and will be made by states before granting licensure and certification. Before a student may enter the field internship as a senior, as part of the preparation process for the field internship, he or she must complete a Caregiver Check in Wisconsin, a Criminal Background Check in Minnesota, or both, depending upon where the student intends to intern. For more information, the prospective student may seek out information from the actual statutes covering background checks in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

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.

Transfer Students
Transfer students are expected to seek advisement with the intake advisor of the program at or before the time of their first registration. Contact Admissions, Academic Advisement or the Social Work Program offices to be referred to this person. The intake 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 nontransfer 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 a masters of social work graduate of 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. Practice and practicum courses above the 300 level must be taken at UW-Superior.

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 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.

Social Work Major

The Social Work Major is a comprehensive major which consists of 75-77 credits depending upon courses chosen. In effect, an inter-disciplinary minor is integrated into the requirements for the major, thus no minor is required.

Basic Core (all required):

SOW 121 Introduction to Social Work
SOW 227 Interpersonal Skills in Social Work Practice
SOW 321 Methods of Social Work Practice I
SOW 324 Methods of Social Work Practice II
SOW 327 Social Welfare Policy and Services
SOW 344 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
SOW 345 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
SOW 380 Social Work Research Methods
SOW 420 Preparation for Field Internship
SOW 421 Methods of Social Work Practice III
SOW 422 Social Work Field Instruction I
SOW 423 Social Work Field Seminar I
SOW 427 Social Work Field Instruction II
SOW 428 Social Work Field Seminar II
SOW 480 Research Projects
ANTH 112 Introduction to Anthropology
BIOL 115 Human Biology
ECON 235 Economics in Society
SOCI 101 Introduction to the Sociological Perspective
SOCI 273 Race and Ethnicity
MATH 130 Elementary Statistics
or
PSYCH 301 Statistics for Psychological Research
POLS 330 U.S. State and Local Government
or
POLS 230 U.S. National, State and Local Government
PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology
ENGL 301 Advanced Expository Writing
or
ENGL 302 Technical Writing

Six additional credits of electives are required. These may be Social Work electives or any other related credits approved by the student’s advisor.

Approved Social Work credits include:

SOW 329 Crisis Intervention
SOW 350 An Introduction to Addiction and Recovery
SOW 386 Social Work Practice with American Indian Families
SOW 426 Special topics in Social Work
SOW 498 Independent Project