Behavioral and Social Sciences
Social Work
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Scholarships and Honorary Society
Social Work is a profession devoted to helping people function as well as they can within their environment. Social workers help people by providing social services to individuals, families, and groups as well as working with organizations and communities to improve social conditions. Social workers work with the elderly, the poor, the mentally ill, families who neglect and abuse their children, troubled adolescents, the developmentally challenged, people who are ill or disabled, juvenile delinquents, people in crisis, the homeless, and other people who have problems in daily living. Social Work students may also be interested in the Human Rights and Public Service Minor.
The Social Work Program at UM was established in the late 1920's. The Program has been accredited since 1974, the year the Council on Social Work Education first began accrediting undergraduate programs.
Mission
To provide professional education for beginning level generalist practice with emphasis on the poor and vulnerable. The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education to provide such an education at the undergraduate level
Graduates have begun their professional careers in such areas as: mental health, nursing homes, Child Welfare, mental retardation, Hospitals, AIDS Agencies, Public Health, Programs for Juveniles
Social Work Major
The Social Work major is a four semester major that builds on a liberal arts base. Thirty-six hours are required for a major. Twenty-six hours are in the classroom and ten are in the practicum. The Social Work Practicum provides an opportunity for students to learn to understand people's problems and the various ways of helping people solve their problems. Students are in the practicum five days per week in the final semester of their senior year. The following are some of the practicum placements: University Hospital, Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center, Children's Aid Society, Bread and Roses, Department of Human Resources, HealthSouth Hospital, UAB Women's Clinic, Hill Crest Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital, 1917 Aids Clinic, and Shelby County Public Health.
Students receive individualized attention since the class sizes are small.
Full admission to the Program occurs in SWK 350. A student must have an overall GPA of 2.3 and a GPA of 3.0 in SWK 203, 322, and PSYC 306.
Social Work majors must successfully complete each of the following courses:
SWK 203 Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work
SWK 322 Human Behavior and the Social Environment
SWK 350 Introduction to Social Work Practice
SWK 355 Research in Social Welfare
SWK 373 Social Policy
SWK 400 Skills for Social Work Practice
SWK 410 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
SWK 420 Social Work Practice with Small Groups, Communities, and Organizations
SWK 456 Social Work Integrative Seminar
*Curriculum note for Change of Majors and Transfers:
In order to complete the Social Work major in four semesters, a student should have completed a basic Psychology course, Introduction to Sociology, and a Biology course with human body content (usually BIO 101, 103, or 105). Other courses required of Social Work Majors include: Abnormal Psychology (or Psychopathology), American National Government, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, Macroeconomics, and State and Local Government.
The Social Work Program has several scholarships that are available to senior Social Work students.
Student Honorary:
The Social Work Program has a Phi Alpha Chapter, the National Social Work Honor Society.
| Social Work Associations: |
National Association of Social Workers
Council on Social Work Education
Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners
Rural Social Work Caucus
If you would like more information or have questions regarding the Social Work program at the University of Montevallo, please contact:
Social Work Program
Director
University of Montevallo
Station 6180
Montevallo, AL
35115
(205) 665-6176