The Social Work major consists of 54 semester hours, 42 core hours in social work and 12 hours in supportive courses. It is not necessary to have a minor for graduation.

Consistent with the program’s emphasis on a liberal arts foundation, during the freshman and sophomore years, students will take courses in English, political science, economics, math, biology, sociology, psychology, and also public speaking and history. These courses will also fulfill several of the Colonnade requirements. A list of the required liberal arts and sciences courses that must be taken as prerequisites for applying to the social work major is available on the departmental webpage or can be obtained from the department.

A student receiving a “D” or lower in any course used for the social work major will be required to repeat the course. If it is a core social work course, then the course must be repeated before proceeding to the next course in the sequence.

Admission Requirements

The academic advisor reviews the student’s academic status. If necessary, students are advised to fulfill prerequisites for admission to the program. Upon completion of prerequisite courses, including SWRK 101 (with a minimum grade of "C"), students must complete an application process for formal admission to the social work program. The BSW Admissions and Retention Committee reviews each application. Students must have attained a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and sophomore status at the time of application in order to be admitted. Guidelines for admission and retention are stated in the BSW Student Handbook, which is available in the departmental office or on www.wku.edu/socialwork. The following 15 hours are required for admission:

Additional Required Courses for Social Work Major

Program Requirements (54 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

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Approved DEI courses are AFAM 190, AFAM/HIST 329, AFAM/HIST 343, AFAM/FLK/ANTH 350, AFAM/FLK 377, ANTH 120, ANTH/FLK 342, ANTH 343, ANTH 360, ASL 302, COMM 365, CRIM 361, CRIM 446, CSJ 200, EDU/SUS 276, ENG/MUS 324, FLK 276, FLK 280, FLK 330, GERO 100, GWS 200, HIST/PS/GEOG/SPAN 200, HIST 302, HIST 309, HIST 310, HIST 325, HIST 332, HIST 353, HIST 354, HIST 358, HIST 359, HIST 364, HIST 365, HIST 380, HIST 390, HIST 420, HIST 430, HIST 462, HON 251, PH 412, PHIL/RELS 202, PHIL 212, PS 373, PS 377, PSYS 353, RELS 331, SOCL 240, SOCL 260, SOCL 362, SOCL 375, SPS 400, SWRK 300

²

Approved by the advisor. Six hours of the electives must be in social work. Must be unduplicated.

³

Advisor consent electives are AFAM 190, ACCT 420, CD 489, COMM 345, COMM 349, COMM 362, CNS 110, CNS 432, CRIM 101, CSJ 200, EDU 276, ENG 301, ENG 306, ENG 307, FACS 3**, 4**, FIN 161, FLK 280, FLK 3**, FLK 4**, GERO 100, GEOG 350, GEOG 352, GEOG 480, HCA 340, HIST 320, HIST 321, HIST 364, HMD 211, LEAD 200, LEAD 3**, LEAD 4**,  MGT 210, MGT 311,MGT 333, PH 165, PH 3**, PH 4**, PHIL 315, PHIL 320,PHIL 322, PHIL 330, PHIL 350, PHIL 401, PHIL 426, PSY 3**, PSY 4**, REC 220, REC 302, RELS 305, RELS 320, SOCL 309, SOCL 3**, SOCL 4**, SWRK 300, SWRK 305, SWRK 324, SWRK 326, SWRK 356, SWRK 433, SWRK 436, SWRK 437, SWRK 438, SWRK 450, SWRK 451, GWS 200, and GWS 400. 

Finish in Four Plans

Finish in Four Plan

*

Confirm with advisor.

Program Requirements (13 hours)

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Students must complete this course with a grade of C or better. 

Program Admission

Admission Requirements for the 60 hour Traditional Program Concentration

1. 2.75 or greater undergraduate degree GPA. Students with a lower GPA may apply for Alternate Admissions (See Alternate Admissions and Admissions Appeal Process).  
2. A Western Kentucky University Master of Social Work program application, resume, goal statement, and writing sample.
3. Three completed WKU Master of Social Work program references.
4. Liberal arts background - at least 30 hours in liberal arts coursework in areas such as social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, communications, and mathematics. All courses counted towards the liberal arts requirement must have been completed with a final grade of "C" or higher. Applicants may be enrolled in liberal arts prerequisite courses while their MSW applications are being evaluated, but all of these courses must have been successfully completed before admission to the program. Offers of admission will be contingent upon the successful completion of all required courses.
5. An interview may be required.

Alternate Admissions for the 60 hour Traditional Program

An applicant who believes that her/his individual circumstances warrant consideration for a waiver of the minimum admissions requirement of an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 must petition the MSW Program Director. Students must meet all other traditional program admission requirements. The request should be attached to the MSW application in the form of a statement entitled "Petition for Exceptional Consideration." The petition should include a statement indicating how failing to meet the minimum admission requirement of a 2.75 GPA does not adequately represent the applicant’s capabilities. The applicant should briefly discuss her/his demonstrated capacity for successful achievement of an arduous MSW program. For example, an applicant might provide evidence of:

1. Superior grades during the final semester(s) of work prior to graduation indicating a trend toward improved performance;
2. Competence through achievement in another graduate program; 
3. Outstanding work experience in human services (volunteer or paid); and/or
4. Subsequent successful undergraduate or graduate level coursework.

The applicant should also discuss how she/he plans to address potential obstacles to successful completion of the program. Finally, the applicant should attest to the accuracy of all information provided in the petition, date and sign the document.  The petition must be submitted with the application.

Admission Requirements for the Advanced Standing Program Concentration

1. Completion of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree at a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited institution within the previous seven years with at least a 3.0 undergraduate degree GPA, OR with a 2.75 to 2.99 undergraduate degree GPA and an interview may be considered for admission, as part of the application process. 
2. Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 400 hours of educationally based field instruction in direct practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities under appropriate social work supervision. A copy of the student’s final field evaluation must be submitted.
3. Completion of courses from the following subject areas within an accredited social work program at the  upper-division  (junior  and  senior)  level  with  a  grade  of  "C" or  better  in  each  course:  Human Behavior and the Social Environment - one course; Social Welfare Policy and Services - one course; Social Work Practice - two courses to include study of intervention methods with individuals, families, small groups and communities; Social Work Research - one course in research methodology.
4. A Western Kentucky University Master of Social Work program application, resume, goal statement, and writing sample.
5. Three completed WKU Master of Social Work program references.
6. Liberal arts background - at least 30 hours in liberal arts coursework in areas such as social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, communications, and mathematics.  All courses counted towards the liberal arts requirement must have been completed with a final grade of "C" or higher. Applicants may be enrolled in liberal arts prerequisite courses while their MSW applications are being evaluated, but all of these courses must have been successfully completed before admission to the program. Offers of admission will be contingent upon the successful completion of all required courses.
7. An interview may be required for purposes in addition to undergraduate GPA.

Program Requirements (30-60 hours)

Traditional Program Concentration (60 hours)

Advanced Standing Program Concentration (30 hours)

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3 hour elective may be taken in winter or summer term

Admission to WKU Graduate Studies and MSW Program or previously completed MSW from an accredited program by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Program Requirements (12 hours)

Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate School admission requirements.

      Program Requirements (12 hours)

^₁      Other electives may be selected with advisor approval.