DEADLINE: OCTOBER 1^st

(For enrollment in Practice Methods courses the following Winter Semester)

Social Work Admission Standards

Students entering the BSW Program are assigned to the Pre-Social Work Curriculum. Upon completion of the Pre-Social Work requirements, students must take formal application for acceptance into the Advanced Social Work Curriculum. No BSW students will be permitted to enroll in SW 370 Practice Methods I or SW 372 Practice methods II without admission to the Advanced Social Work Curriculum. The maximum number of students that can be admitted to the program in a given year is limited by practice methods course capacity and the number of field placements available in the region.

Northern Michigan University is committed to quality in its social work preparation program. Quality programs demand that student participants exhibit characteristics that show promise for success as social workers. Potential for success in the profession is evidenced by the presence of such factors as minimum levels of competency in basic skills and intellectual capacity, good oral and written language skills, aptitude for dealing with social work problems and issues, social workers are required to register or secure a license in most states. This registration or licensure requires that social workers be of sound moral character.

Each student is responsible for knowing and meeting all program requirements. Furthermore, students are expected to have successfully met all of the requirements for admission o the program and to meet all of the requirements for admission to the senior field experience. Failure to meet retention standards may result in temporary suspension or dismissal at any point in the program.

Admission to Social Work Program 

The social work curriculum culminates in BSW degree with an inherent “Human Behavior Cluster Minor.” Several courses may “double count” as Liberal Study requirements. All courses in the human behavior cluster must have been completed or in the process of being completed at time of social work admission. A student must have a 2.5 grade point average in the cluster minor. 

The social work curriculum contains two “lower-division” courses (SW 100 and SW 230) that also must be completed prior to being admitted into the practice courses. A student must have a 2.5 grade point average in these courses, and must maintain this minimum GPA for all social work courses (SW prefix). 

Although a student may enroll in a few social work courses (SW 308, SW 331, SW 341) prior to applying for the upper division practice methods courses, the sequencing of courses becomes paramount. Practice Methods courses (SW 370 and SW 372) are only offered in the Winter Semester, prior to a student’s senior year. Consequently, application for advanced program admission occurs in Fall Semesters (Oct. 1). Admission packets may be downloaded from the Social Work web site and/or obtained through the Department Secretary. In addition to GPA verification, the packet requires a narrative document addressing pertinent issues. Admission is restricted to qualified applicants and limited by faculty and field placement resources. 

To be eligible for admission to the advanced Social Work Curriculum, and applicant must: 

1. Be admitted to Northern Michigan University.

2. Have completed or be enrolled in all requirements of the cluster minor.

3. Have completed SW 100 and SW 230.

4. File an application with the Department of Sociology and Social Work by Oct 1.

Students are admitted on a competitive basis according to the following criteria: 

1. General academic performance: A minimum GPA of 2.50 is required to be eligible for admission consideration. Having a GPA of 2.5 alone does not assure admission. For admission purposes GPA is calculated separately for the Cluster Minor and the Required SW courses. General Electives are not included. In the case of repeat courses, no more than three repeated courses will be excluded from the calculation.

2. Evidence of skills and attributes necessary for social work practice. 

3. Employment and volunteer experience in the human services. Although not required for admission, some recognition is given to human service related experience which demonstrates capability for and commitment to a social work career.

General Pre-Admission GPA
Area	Number	Credits
Economic Justice	EC 101, 201, 202 or 337	4
Population at Risk	SO 322, 362, or 372	4
Diversity	AN 100, HS 233, NAS 204, HS 273, HS 283, or HS 293	4
Biological Science	BI 100, 104, 201,0r 202	4
Psychological	PY 100, H,S,L or G	4
Sociological	SO 101	4
Research Methodology	SO 208, MA 171, or PY 305	4
	GPA Must Be 2.5 or above	28
Social Work Pre-Admission GPA
Number	Title	Credits
SW 100	Exploring Social Work	4
SW 230	Human Behavior and Social Environment	4
	GPA Must Be 2.5 or above	8

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Return completed applications with advisor’s signature to: Department of Sociology/Social Work, 130 Gries Hall, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI 49855. The completed application must include the following:

1. Application Admission Form Page

2. Applicant’s Signature

3. Advisor’s Signature

4. Academic Course Data

5. Narrative Statement (Guidelines/Instructions below)

PERSONAL STATEMENT AND EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

Each applicant is requested to complete a personal statement in conjunction with this application. It must be typed; double spaced, and should not exceed five pages. It must address each of the areas specified below. If you have not held social work employment or done volunteer activities, simply state that fact.

1. The mission of the Social Work Program is to produce professional generalist social work practitioners.

a. Discuss what the concept of generalist social worker means.

b. Explain how your career goals are compatible with being a generalist social worker.

2. Describe personal attributes or experiences which might contribute to a profession in social work.

3. List each human service position that you have held, including job title, employing organization, starting and ending dates, and approximate total number of hours employed. Provide a brief description of your duties.

4. List each volunteer position that you have held, including the organization, starting and ending dates, and approximate number of total hours.

5. If you have had other life experiences, or possess other qualities that you feel should be considered in your application, briefly describe them.

NOTE: When turning in application and supporting materials, please DO NOT use a plastic theme cover or special binder. The secretary will file the application in a folder once it is received.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

BSW PROGRAM

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION

APPLICATION FORM

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 1^st

For enrollment in the Practice Methods courses the following Winter Semester

Please type or print

Date: __________________________Student ID Number: ___________________________

Name: _______________________________________________________________________

(last) (first) (middle initial)

Permanent Address: ___________________________________________________________

(street)

___________________________________________________________

(city) (state) (zip code)

Local Address: ________________________________________________________________

(street)

________________________________________________________________ (city) (state) (zip code)

Telephone: (local) ____________________ Email:____________________________

(permanent/other) __________________

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY:

Date Received:__________________ BSW Admission Date:__________________

Admission Status: Accepted________ Denied________ Provisional ________

Courses that need to be completed for provisional status:

Updated mainframe_________ Updated database__________ Initials _________

I have reviewed and have approved the student making application to the BSW program at this time.

__________________________________________________________ _________________

Advisor’s Signature Date

(Continued on next page)

BACKGROUND CHECKS

Student placement and/or employment in Social Work agencies generally stipulates that applicants possess good moral character, strong judgment, and the ability to successfully pass the rigors of a background investigation and a criminal history check. It is not the policy of Northern Michigan University’s Social Work Program to validate or ensure these prerequisite qualities in our majors. Each student is therefore advised that social service agencies may perform background investigations on students who wish to become involved in internships, and other activities that bring a student in contact with service users or agency information. Additionally, students who are applying for employment in social service agencies or who are applying for social work licensure/certification, should expect that criminal background checks will be performed. The nature and scope of the background investigation is the prerogative of the specific agency and is ordinarily subject to the consent of the applicant. Lack of consent would ordinarily remove an individual from placement consideration. Additional information in this regard is available to you by speaking with your academic advisor or BSW Program Director.

All of the information contained in this application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge; the attached narrative statement is entirely my own work.

Student Signature: ______________________________ Date: __________________

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CURRICULM PLANNING SHEET

Required Course Completion Data

Please provide the requested information for each of the following courses. If a course is currently in progress, use “XX” for the grade. If you have not yet enrolled in a required course, indicate the semester and year you plan to complete it. If you are using a course substitution, approved by your advisor, use the blank space below the course list. Note: There are actually two calculations that are considered:

1) Human Behavior Cluster

2) SW 100 and SW 230

A student must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in both calculations to be accepted into Practice Methods courses. The minimum GPA of 2.5 must be maintained throughout the Social Work Program for graduation. A Student may take SW 300-level courses prior to acceptance into the Program. However, the two Practice Method courses (SW 370 and SW 372) can only be taken after acceptance. GPA calculations on all SW 300-level courses are considered for Field Placement eligibility, not BSW admission.

Include completed curriculum planner pages and your personal statement to your application form—DO NOT STAPLE.

		SOCIAL WORK CURRICULUM		Advisor:
		Effective: Fall 2007		Student:
				Date:
				C Num	Course Title	Cr Hr	Grade
		Liberal Studies	40
EN	111	College Composition I	4
EN	211	College Composition II	4
HU	XX1	Humanities Elective	4
HU	XX2	Humanities Elective	4
NS	XX1	Natural Science	4
NS	XX2	Natural Science Elective	4
SS	XX1	Social Science	4
SS	XX2	Social Science Elective	4
FS	XX1	Formal Studies Elective	4
VA	XX1	Visual/Performing Arts	4
Minimum Credits: EN-6 cr; HU-6 cr.; NS-6 cr; SS-6 cr; FS-3 cr; VA-3 cr. Add extra courses here:
		300 Level Liberal Studies Course:
		World Culture Requirement:
				C Num		Cr Hr	Grade