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Skidmore College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs
New York, 12866

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518-580-5000

 

Social Work

Majors
 

THE SOCIAL WORK MAJOR: The major leads to a bachelor of science degree. The social work major must successfully complete the following ten courses in social work for a total of forty-one credit hours: SW212, 222, 241, 253, 333, 334, 338, 340, 381, and 382.


POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Admission: Students must apply for admission to the social work major during their sophomore year. Selection is based on demonstrated academic competence, a willingness to abide by the profession's code of ethics, and suitability for beginning professional practice. Applications for admission are available from social work faculty. Students planning on going abroad should talk with the program director in their first year.

Senior-Year Field Experience: The social work major culminates in a field experience in the spring semester of the senior year. Students must complete all course prerequisites prior to enrolling in the field practicum. In addition, the nature of the field experience requires that the department reserves the right to deny enrollment in the field practicum to any student, if in the judgment of the faculty that student's scholastic or professional preparation for beginning social work practice is insufficient.

Students serve as beginning social workers four days per week for a minimum of 400 hours over the course of the semester. This experience provides them with opportunities to apply knowledge and skills gained in the classroom in an agency setting. They are integrated into the field experience as regular staff and assume the functions of beginning social work practitioners in such roles as counselors, advocates, and researchers. They receive supervision from agency field instructors and support through ongoing monitoring of the placement by the social work program. Students also meet in a weekly seminar to discuss their field experiences and professional development.

HONORS: Students desiring departmental honors in social work must meet the College GPA requirement of 3.0 overall and 3.5 in the major, must receive a grade of A- or higher in SW 381 Field Practicum Seminar, and must be recommended by their agency field instructor and the faculty coordinator of field instruction.