Bachelors Degree Program Application Process
While becoming a social work major requires only that you declare such an intention on official university forms, in order to take the core social work courses (which typically begin in the Fall of your Junior year) you must submit an application to the BA Social Work Program. When you apply to the program, you must have completed or be in the process of completing all pre-requisites. This includes SW 104 and SW 255 (or sought waiver of SW 255 according to the process on page 18 of the BA Student Handbook). Most of your lower division GE courses need to have been completed, and you need to have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better. Provisional acceptance may be given to students who do not meet all these requirements.
Applications to the program are made during your sophomore year by submitting a “BA Social Work Program Application” (see pages 26-27 in the BA in Social Work Student Handbook). Applications are due no later than the last Friday in January. Applications received after this date will be reviewed for admission on a space available basis. After an application has been received, it is reviewed by faculty members to insure that each applicant meets the general course requirements and that the quality and nature of the applicant’s Personal Statement evidences an understanding of social work values and purposes.
Taking into consideration the faculty review of each application, the BA Social Work Program Director makes a recommendation as to whether a student be fully or provisionally accepted into the major. Students are informed of the admission decision via a letter from the BA Social Work Program Director prior to the registration period for fall classes.
**SPECIAL INFORMATION FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS:To enroll in the BA Social Work program major coursework, students must have completed a minimum of 60 units, have successfully passed all required program pre-requisite courses (as listed on page two of the program application), been accepted to HSU as a student and completed the departmental application process. Students are strongly encouraged to apply to the program by the last Friday in January to begin coursework the following Fall. Special consideration may be given at the discretion of the Program Director to allow students who have only one pre-requisite outstanding at the time of starting the core Social Work classes in the Fall semester. If you have questions about what is expected or your individual academic plan, please contact us at 707-826-4448.
Full acceptance into the major requires that all of the admission standards be met, including a well-written and thoughtful Personal Statement. Provisional major status may be granted to any student who does not meet the requirements at any time in his/her education, including:
• Outstanding pre-requisites
• A marginal GPA (overall or in required coursework for the major)
• Academic difficulty in coursework within the social work major
• A poorly written Personal Statement (structural or content)
• Lack of grasp on social justice, generalist social work practice, and/or social work ethics and values
• Particular concerns observed by faculty that may inhibit successful completion of course and fieldwork.
• A significant event or consistent pattern that is in violation of the NASW Code of Ethics or the University Student Conduct Code (HSU catalog, “The Fine Print”).
Students who are given a “provisional” major status must work out a plan with their faculty advisor that identifies those areas requiring improvement and details how each will be addressed in order for the student to be accepted as a social work major. This plan is time limited and monitored by the faculty advisor.
