Department Chair: Woodard
Professor: Woodard
Assistant Professor: Niederman
Instructor: Owens

Degree: Bachelor of Social Work

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Social Work Program at Western New Mexico University is to provide quality education to undergraduate students focused on entry level generalist social work practice with diverse individuals, families, groups, networks, organizations and communities. In order for students to learn to work sensitively with racially and ethnically mixed populations within the rural southwestern United States, emphasis will be placed on providing a strong generalist foundation with special emphasis on professional social work values and ethics. Included in this effort is a focus on populations-at-risk, with a concern for social and economic justice.

It is the vision of the Social Work Program that its graduates will become leaders in the rural Southwest through knowledgeable provision of social work services to a multilingual, multicultural, population with knowledgeable advocacy for clients coupled with promotion of social and economic justice. At the same time, the student will research his/her personal and agency practice, and maintain a commitment for lifelong learning, all within the framework of the National Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics.

Admissions Information

Students must achieve a C or better grade in SWK 101 prior to applying to the Social Work program. In addition, students must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA prior to being admitted to the program. Admission packets are available from the Department of Social Work or the Student Development Center. Students must complete the Social Work program admission process prior to enrolling in SWK 386, Social Work Practice I. Academic credit for life or previous work experience will not be awarded.

Bachelor of Social Work (no minor required)

Professional Foundation Courses

SWK 101 Intro to Social Welfare & Social Work 4

SWK 300 Human Behavior & the Social Environment I 3

SWK 301 Human Behavior & the Social Environment II 3

SWK 320 Diversity in Social Work Practice 3

SWK 331 Social Welfare Policy I 3

SWK 332 Social Welfare Policy II 3

SWK 460 Social Work Research Methods 3

SWK 461 Social Work Research Project 2

SWK 386 Social Work Practice I 3

SWK 487 Social Work Practice II 3

SWK 491 Field Placement Seminar I 1

SWK 492 Field Placement I (Corequisite with SWK 491) 6

SWK 498 Field Placement Seminar II 1

SWK 499 Field Placement II (Corequisite with SWK 486) 6

Total 44

Additional Requirements

Spanish (3 hrs. must be SPAN 202, 214, 252 or

any upper level Spanish course) 6

MATH 321 Statistics 3

ECON 200 Basic Economics 3

Total: 12

Social Science Requirements

POLS 201 American National Government 3

PSY/SOC 406 Social Psychology 3

Total: 6

Special Elective Requirements

Electives must be approved by the Social Work advisor 15

General Education Requirements 51

Social Work Students must take the following general education courses:
BIOL 101, 102, CMPS 110, HIST 111 or 112, HIST 201 or 202 ___

Total Credit Hours for Social Work Program 128

COMM 110, ENGL 101, ENGL 102, MATH 111, MATH 321 and all professional foundation courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.

SUGGESTED SEQUENCE OF CLASSES FOR SOCIAL WORK MAJORS
(Social Work class in Junior and Senior years are required)

Year 1 

Year 1

Fall 

Spring

ENGL 101 3 

ENGL 102 3

BIOL 101 & Lab 4 

BIOL 102 & Lab 4

PSY 102 3 

COMM 110 3

CMPS 110 3 

MATH Elective 3

SOC 101 3  

HIST 111, 112, 201, 202 3

16 

16

 

Year 2 

Year 2

Fall 

Spring

POLS 201 3 

ECON 200 3

SWK 101 4 

HIST 111, 112, 201, 202 3

MVSC 100 2 

ART 211, MUSC 111, TH 110 3

SPANISH (3) 3 

SPANISH (3) 3

MATH 111 3 

MATH 321 3

ENGL 201, 225, 296, 297, 

15

298, 299 3

18

 

Year 3 

Year 3

Fall 

Spring

PSY 406 3 

SWK 370 (Elective) 3

SWK 300 3 

SWK 301 3

SWK 331 3 

SWK 332 3

SWK 320 3 

SWK 386 3

Elective 3 

Elective 3

MVSC Elective 1 

MVSC Elective 1

16 

16

 

Year 4

Year 4

Fall

Spring

SWK 460 3

Art Elective 3

SWK 487 3

SWK 461 2

SWK 491 1

SWK 498 1

SWK 492 6

SWK 499 6

Elective 3

Elective 3

16

15