School of Social Work
Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BSW) Program advances the ideals of economic and social justice, through an enriched curriculum, innovative research and transformative learning. The School produces dynamic leaders in the field, who are committed to enhancing the well-being and equitable treatment of diverse individuals and communities.
The School is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and named in honor of civil rights leader and Kentucky State University alum, Whitney M. Young Jr.
Admission Requirements
Students may declare Social Work as a pre-major and are eligible for formal admission to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program if they are currently enrolled in and in good standing at the University. When declaring social work as a major, the student must make formal application for admission into the program. Students are required to submit a formal application to the program accompanied by two pages of autobiographical information. The application and guidelines for the autobiographical sketch are available in the Division of Social Work.
Applicants for admission are required to meet the following standards:
- Completion SOW 201 Career Choice Human Serv Prof
- Grade Point Average (GPA) 2.5 or better
- Submit a personal statement or video answering the following:
- Describe your motivation(s) for becoming a social worker.
- Describe any employment, volunteer, or life experiences, which you believe have helped prepare you to pursue a career in social work.
- What strengths do you bring to professional social work practice?
- Discuss your commitment to abide by the values and ethics of the social work profession. Identify and describe any areas in which your personal values conflict with professional social work values. If value conflicts do exist, please describe your plans to resolve the conflicts.
- Describe your immediate and long-range career goals and list your fields of practice preferences (client populations/social problems/agency settings).
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the biological, psychological and sociological aspects of human development and the intricacies of aging across the lifespan. The program is approved by the Association of Gerontology in Higher Education.
CW PREP
CW PREP is an innovative career preparation program. In return for your commitment to child welfare work, we provide tuition coverage and stipends to help you succeed. Students who successfully complete the program will receive Kentucky’s Public Child Welfare certificate and be qualified for a preferred job placement with the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services. Learn what it takes to succeed in the field of child welfare. Receive generous tuition assistance and stipends. Get help finding the right job when it’s time.
AM I ELIGIBLE?
- Full-time enrollment in an undergraduate social work program (or eligibility for admittance to a program by the of the semester)
- 2.5 overall GPA and a 3.0 in social work courses at application
- No less than three and no more than four regular semesters before graduation (after current semester)
- No criminal record which includes felony convictions
- Valid driver’s license
WHAT DO I GET?
- Tuition (in state) paid in full for up to four semesters
- $1300 stipend, per semester
- Priority consideration for employment with DCBS
- Specialized training in public child welfare and family well-being
- Access to a supportive network of peers and professionals dedicated to your personal and professional success.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?
- Maintaining entry-level or better GPAs
- Maintaining full-time enrollment each semester in the program
- Be willing to start a rewarding position with Kentucky Department of Community Based Services (DCBS) within two months of graduation AND remain employed for two years
Social Work
An overview of professional practice for potential Social Work majors. Exposes students to various professional roles and encourages examination of Social Work as a career.
This course addresses issues relating to alcohol and other substances. Special emphasis is placed on cultural and socio-economic facts that impact substance abuse.
Analyzes the development and behavior of persons from conception through young adulthood: biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors are examined.
A continuation of Human Behavior I, this course examines human growth and development from middle/adulthood through old age.
An examination of diversity and change in marriage, family life, and women’s roles and status, identifying areas of concern to helping professionals.
Provides the theoretical foundation for generalist practice, applying systems thinking to activities in the human services. Examines Social Work functions and tasks for effective service delivery.
Provides students an opportunity to develop skills in communication, interviewing, purposeful observation, recording, problem identification, and record keeping.
Development of techniques and skills in problem/solving with families, groups, communities, and organizations. Selected frameworks for Social Work intervention are explored.
Historical and philosophical development of social welfare as an institution and Social Work as a profession. Policy structures of public and private agencies are examined.
Analysis and interpretation of social welfare policies, programs and issues. Examines the influence of movements, ideologies, political conditions, and sociocultural attitudes on social welfare.
This course focuses on interventions to protect children from neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse by strengthening, supporting and empowering their families. The course explores the history, mission, and scope of child welfare services and practice, including the underlying philosophy and values that drive child welfare practice, and addressing cultural and relationship issues when working with families. The course covers conceptual and practical information on identifying child maltreatment; assessing family needs and strengths; determining the level of risk to children for future maltreatment; case planning; applying a casework model to working with families; interviewing skills in a child welfare setting and integrating the use of professional authority in these activities.
A survey course that develops an understanding and appreciation for factors affecting health status and its contribution to individual and community health.
This course serves as an introduction to the use of statistics as a method of describing and analyzing data from research in Social Work with an emphasis on applied methods.
Introduces the basic logic, knowledge, and skills of research design and methodology in Social Work.
An educational experience under faculty direction in an approved social service agency. Students work approximately 24 hours per week providing services to various client systems.
Corequisite: SOW 422. Students integrate knowledge, values, and skills learned in the classroom with their practice experience in an agency.
Under faculty supervision, students work 24 hours per week in an approved social service agency.
Taken in conjunction with SOW 424. Students are offered an opportunity to refine skills in problem/solving as a final preparation for professional practice.
An historical analysis of child welfare as an institution and an in/depth study of programs, policies, practices, and their impact on children, youth, and families.
An in-depth research effort. To include an introduction to basic logic, knowledge and skills of research design and methodology.
This course serves as an introduction to the use of statistics as a method of describing and analyzing data for research in criminal justice with an emphasis on applied methods. (Three hours of lecture, on hour of laboratory per week)
This course serves as an introduction to the use of statistics as a method of describing and analyzing data form research in Social Work with an emphasis on applied methods.
A seminar for the discussion of specific topics concerning Rehabilitation Counseling offered by the University of Kentucky. May be repeated for credit no more than four times (12 hours of credit).
Gerontology
Exploration of a variety of topics related to aging, such as retirement, living arrangements, social relationships, rejection by families, death, government programs and community resources.
An analysis of the nature, extent, and causes of problems in aging. Emphasis is on economic, political, and personality factors that affect the living patterns of the aged.
Designed for individuals who plan to work with the elderly in planning, development, and implementation of programs and policies.
Examines aging as a social condition. Focus on aging concepts, policies and service-providing organizations. Programs are analyzed in terms of social needs, problems, and goals.
An examination of the anxieties, fears, and hopes of the dying; and the social, psychological, and economic implications of death.
Discussion centers upon comparisons of healthy aging patterns versus mental illness in old age. Designed to dispel some of the traditional diagnostic and treatment myths.
An analysis of attitudes, values, and trends related to aging in the Black culture.