Dec 06, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Department of Social Work, Sociology & Justice Studies


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Department Purpose:

The purpose of the Department of Social Work, Sociology & Justice Studies is to prepare students to function as competent and effective professionals who are critical thinkers and problem solvers.

The broad content knowledge of the University core courses provides the knowledge base of the students curricula. The breadth of this foundation includes content knowledge in communications, mathematics, science, history, philosophy, literature, and the arts. Courses in these disciplines introduce students to traditional forms of scholarly inquiry such as the research paper, the oral and written report, and scientific methods in a laboratory setting.

Social Work is the main profession that provides services to individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations within our nation’s social welfare system. Among all of the human service professions, Social Work, more than any other, addresses client’s concerns from a holistic, psychosocial, economic, and environmental framework. According to the National Association of Social Workers, “the primary mission of the Social Work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.”

The Shaw University Social Work major places emphasis on addressing social and economic justice issues. The Social Work major equips students with Social Work values, knowledge, skills, abilities, and supervised practice to enter the profession as competent beginning professionals or to attend graduate school. The demand for Social Workers at the baccalaureate level has remained consistently high, particularly in the areas of mental health, child welfare, health, corrections, and geriatrics.

Social Work majors cannot earn a second major within the usual four-year academic program because of the number of hours required for the major. However, individuals with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline may earn a Bachelor of Social Work degree by completing all of the course requirements.

Students may minor in Social Work by completing 18 semester hours within the Social Work major core curriculum. Students may only minor in Social Work at locations where it is offered as a major.

Students may earn credit by examination for only the following courses in the Social Work major core, upon approval of the academic adviser and the appropriate Division Head: BUS 260 and PSY 304.

Students must earn a final grade of C or better in all departmental core (CRJ 200, PSY 201, SOW 210, SOC 211, and SOW 342) and Social Work major core courses in order to pass the course and receive credit toward the Bachelor of Social Work degree.

The Shaw University Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and the Bachelor of Social Work program is accredited through 2020.

A candidate for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, or, Political Science with a concentration in International Relations, must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. There is also a minor in Political Science available requiring 15 hours (five courses) as determined by area advisors. 

A candidate for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, or Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice must also complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. Total credits include between 34-54 credit hours of General Education courses. Additional courses may be required to build fundamental concepts. A candidate must earn the grade of “C” or better in all major courses. TheSchool of Social, Political and Education Studies offers a minor in Sociology. The course requirement for the Sociology minor is 15 hours (five courses) as determined by area advisors. 

 

Programs

    Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Social Work

    Courses

      Criminal JusticeInternational RelationsPolitical ScienceSociologySocial WorkSocial Science

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