Students may apply in any term. The deadline for Fall 2008 is April 15, 2008. To apply for admission to the program, students complete the application, available on the Department’s web site, in consultation with their advisor. The BSSW Coordinator will notify the student of the decision.

Provisional admission may be considered when a student requests such admission, the student is making steady progress towards meeting the admissions criteria, and a workable plan for success including a timeline for achievement is completed in conjunction with the advisor. The plan must be approved by the student, the advisor, and the BSSW Coordinator.

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The Department of Social Work offers a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a Master of Social Work degree. The mission of the Department of Social Work at the University of North Dakota is to prepare entry-level and advanced generalist Social Workers for the region to advance practice knowledge, values and skills consistent with the highest ideals of the profession by:

• empowering vulnerable, oppressed, disadvantaged, and rural populations;
• maximizing opportunities for every individual to realize his or her highest potential; and
• promoting respect, awareness, and appreciation for culture and social justice at every level of society.

The goals of the Bachelor of Science in Social Work program, first accredited by the Council on Social Work Education in 1974, are to prepare entry-level generalist social work practitioners and to prepare students for graduate social work education. Social work courses were first offered at the University of North Dakota in 1905; the social work program was formally established in 1939. The Council on Social Work Education (2002) states, "The purposes of social work education are to prepare competent and effective professionals, to develop social work knowledge, and to provide leadership in the development of service delivery systems. Social work education is grounded in the profession's history, purposes, and philosophy and is based on a body of knowledge, values, and skills. Social work education enables students to integrate the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession for competent practice."

Students interested in declaring social work as a major meet initially with the coordinator of the BSSW Program, who will work with the student to create a plan of study. Students are then assigned an advisor, who will work with the student throughout the remainder of their career at UND.

Please call or email if you need further information:

Myrna Haga, BSSW Coordinator

(701) 777 - 4869

myrnahaga@mail.und.edu

1. Completion of SWK 255 and 257.
2. Overall GPA of 2.40.
3. Grade of B or higher in SWK 255 and 257.
4. Willingness to adhere to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and the Code of Student Life.
5. Completion of 45 semester hours of coursework at the end of the term in which the application is submitted.
6. Students may apply during any term including fall, spring, summer. To apply for admission to the program, students complete the application, available on the Department's web site, in consultation with their advisor.

The application process is competitive.  All factors including grade point average, strength of written materials, and volunteer experience will be given consideration in decision surrounding admission.  The BSSW coordinator will notify the student of the decision regarding admission.  Following admissions, students are required to sign the following statements:  1) That they are aware they will need to pass the required BSSW comprehensive exam prior to graduation, and 2) That they will adhere to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics and the University of North Dakota Code of Student Life.

Provisional admission may be considered when a student: 1) requests such admission; 2) is making steady progress towards meeting the admissions criteria; 3) has a workable plan for success, including a timeline for achievement; and 4) has met with the advisor. The plan must be approved by the student, the advisor and the BSSW Coordinator.

After admission to the social work program, a student must maintain an overall GPA of 2.40, a GPA of 2.40 in all social work courses, and a C or better in any social work course. Transfer credit for courses follows university and Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) requirements. All transfer social work courses must be from an accredited BSSW program.* No credit is given for life experience. Students must complete the required social work courses (39 credit hours).

Field Instruction. The field instruction placement in a human service organization is the capstone experience for BSSW students. The field experience integrates knowledge, values, and skills from completed social work courses. Application dates will be published each term.

Students are required to pass the comprehensive exam given by the Department of Social Work prior to graduation.

B.S. IN SOCIAL WORK

Required 125 credits (36 of which must be number 300 or above, 60 of which must be from a 4-year institution and the last 30 credits at UND) including:

I. General Education Requirements (see University GER listing).

II. The following curriculum:

The student without a bachelor’s degree in Social Work who wishes to enroll on a full-time basis can complete the “Fast Track Program.” The Fast Track Program allows a student to secure a BSSW in one year. A BSSW degree is required to enroll in the full-time MSW program. Satisfactory completion of a bachelor’s degree and prerequisites of statistics and human biology from an accredited institution are required for Fast Track program entrance. If accepted into the Fast Track Program, the schedule to complete the undergraduate degree in one year is as follows:

Full-Time Fast Track Schedule for BSSW (39 hours)

All “fast track” students must complete all the educational requirements for graduation from the University of North Dakota including General Education Requirements. 

* Course required for licensing in addiction counseling.
**Student must be senior status or graduate level to enroll in this course.