School of Social WorkSchool of Social Work

Bachelor of Social WorkBachelor of Social WorkMemorial University of Memorial University of

NewfoundlandNewfoundland

Applying to the School of Applying to the School of Social WorkSocial Work

What is Social What is Social Work?Work?

What do Social What do Social Workers do?Workers do?

What is the job What is the job market like?market like?

When do you apply?When do you apply? What are the What are the

prerequisites?prerequisites? How are you How are you

ranked?ranked?

Who does the Who does the ranking?ranking?

What about follow What about follow up courses?up courses?

When are you When are you notified?notified?

What is the What is the competition like?competition like?

What if you are What if you are not accepted?not accepted?

What is Social Work?What is Social Work?

““The social Work profession The social Work profession promotes social change, promotes social change, problem solving in human problem solving in human relationships and the relationships and the empowerment and liberation of empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being” people to enhance well-being”

(Hick, 2002, p. 15)(Hick, 2002, p. 15)

What is Social Work?What is Social Work?

““Utilizing theories of human Utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems, social behavior and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where work intervenes at the points where people interact with their people interact with their environments. Principles of human environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.”fundamental to social work.”

(Hick, 2002, p. 15)(Hick, 2002, p. 15)

What do Social Workers What do Social Workers Do?Do?

The assessment, remediation and The assessment, remediation and prevention of social problems, and prevention of social problems, and the enhancement of social the enhancement of social functioning of individuals, families, functioning of individuals, families, and communities by means of…and communities by means of…

- The provision of direct counseling - The provision of direct counseling services within an established services within an established relationship between a social relationship between a social worker and client;worker and client;

Continued…Continued…

The development, promotion and The development, promotion and delivery of human service delivery of human service programs, including those done in programs, including those done in collaboration with other collaboration with other professionals; andprofessionals; and

The development and promotion of The development and promotion of social policies aimed at improving social policies aimed at improving social condition and equalitysocial condition and equality (Thomson, 2002, p. 13)(Thomson, 2002, p. 13)

Attitudes & Values of a Attitudes & Values of a Social WorkerSocial Worker

Do not judge Do not judge othersothers

Avoid quick Avoid quick decisions about decisions about peoplepeople

Maintain Maintain confidentialityconfidentiality

Clients come firstClients come first Separate personal Separate personal

and professional and professional lives and valueslives and values

Be a loyal Be a loyal employeeemployee

Maintain a private Maintain a private personal lifepersonal life

Establish Establish emotional privacyemotional privacy

Identify with the Identify with the professionprofession

(Ginsberg, 2001, p. 17-22)(Ginsberg, 2001, p. 17-22)

Understanding Social Understanding Social WorkWork

Why social work is sometimes poorly Why social work is sometimes poorly understood:understood:

Social Work resembles other disciplines Social Work resembles other disciplines and may cause confusionand may cause confusion

Social Work is not a subject usually taught Social Work is not a subject usually taught in elementary and secondary schoolin elementary and secondary school

Not all people come into contact with Not all people come into contact with social workers during the normal course of social workers during the normal course of their livestheir lives

(Ginsberg, 2001, p. 5)(Ginsberg, 2001, p. 5)

Employment Employment OpportunitiesOpportunities

Social Workers work in a variety of settings:Social Workers work in a variety of settings: Health and Community ServicesHealth and Community Services Health CareHealth Care CommunitiesCommunities Long-term careLong-term care JusticeJustice ResearchResearch Self-employmentSelf-employment (Hick, 2002, p. 61)(Hick, 2002, p. 61)

SalariesSalaries The average earnings of social workers The average earnings of social workers

(full-time/part-time) was $46 209 in 2004(full-time/part-time) was $46 209 in 2004

Earnings for community and social service Earnings for community and social service workers were $35 000 (Average)workers were $35 000 (Average)

Newfoundland & Labrador Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Social Association of Social

WorkersWorkers The NLASW is the professional The NLASW is the professional

association and regulatory body for association and regulatory body for the approximately 1000 professional the approximately 1000 professional social workers in NLsocial workers in NL

The NLASW ensures registered The NLASW ensures registered social workers adheres to social workers adheres to established professional standards established professional standards and the Code of Ethicsand the Code of Ethics

(NLASW, 2003)(NLASW, 2003)

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics Students are expected to maintain Students are expected to maintain

professional behaviour consistent with the professional behaviour consistent with the current Code of Ethics of the Canadian current Code of Ethics of the Canadian Association of Social Workers.Association of Social Workers.

The Code of Ethics is used to help guide The Code of Ethics is used to help guide social workers in the course of their worksocial workers in the course of their work

The Code encompasses the values and The Code encompasses the values and principles of human worth, dignity, self-principles of human worth, dignity, self-determination and justice upon which determination and justice upon which social work is basedsocial work is based

(Hick, 2002, p. 59)(Hick, 2002, p. 59)

The ApplicationThe Application

Admission is on the basis of Admission is on the basis of competition for a limited number of competition for a limited number of spacesspaces

Candidates will be considered based Candidates will be considered based on academic standing (40%), on academic standing (40%), relevant work/volunteer experience relevant work/volunteer experience and references (30%), and personal and references (30%), and personal suitability for a career in social work suitability for a career in social work (30%)(30%)

What is the competition What is the competition like?like?

We receive approximately 100 to We receive approximately 100 to 120 applicants each year120 applicants each year

45 students are accepted to the 45 students are accepted to the programprogram

Many students applying to the Many students applying to the program already have a degreeprogram already have a degree

When to ApplyWhen to Apply

Bachelor of Social WorkBachelor of Social Work Applicants for admissions to the School Applicants for admissions to the School

of Social Work must complete an of Social Work must complete an application to be submitted by March application to be submitted by March 1st of the year in which admission is 1st of the year in which admission is soughtsought

March 1March 1stst of each year of each year Before 5pm!Before 5pm!

Continued…Continued…

To be considered for admission, To be considered for admission, applicants must complete the required applicants must complete the required 45 prerequisite credit hours (15 45 prerequisite credit hours (15 courses) courses)

All Prerequisites must be completed by All Prerequisites must be completed by the end of December, prior to the the end of December, prior to the deadline date for application.deadline date for application.

Maintain a minimum 65% average in the Maintain a minimum 65% average in the most recent 30 credit hours (10 courses)most recent 30 credit hours (10 courses)

Pre-Requisite CoursesPre-Requisite Courses 2 English2 English 3 Psychology, including one of either Psych 3 Psychology, including one of either Psych

2010, 2011, and 2012 or Psych 2025, 2012 2010, 2011, and 2012 or Psych 2025, 2012 and one Psych at the 2000 leveland one Psych at the 2000 level

1 Sociology1 Sociology 1 in either Anthropology, Geography, or 1 in either Anthropology, Geography, or

Political SciencePolitical Science Social Work 2510 and/or 2700 Social Work 2510 and/or 2700 1 chosen from Philosophy 2800-2810 or 1 chosen from Philosophy 2800-2810 or

Women’s Studies 2000Women’s Studies 2000 5 or 6 courses from schedule A5 or 6 courses from schedule A

Additional Courses to be Additional Courses to be Completed Prior to Completed Prior to

September Start DateSeptember Start Date 5 Additional Courses must be 5 Additional Courses must be

completed prior to Septembercompleted prior to September-one Sociology-one Sociology-two remaining Psychology courses-two remaining Psychology courses-the remaining Social Work course-the remaining Social Work course-schedule A elective-schedule A elective*If you do have the remaining social work *If you do have the remaining social work

course completed, you have to do an course completed, you have to do an additional elective to make up the 20 additional elective to make up the 20 courses (60 credit hours)courses (60 credit hours)

Academic Standards and Academic Standards and PromotionsPromotions

During the winter and spring semesters prior to During the winter and spring semesters prior to acceptance and during the remainder of the time acceptance and during the remainder of the time in which you are in the program, you are under in which you are in the program, you are under the academic standards and promotions of the the academic standards and promotions of the School of Social Work.School of Social Work.

You must maintain a 65% average in all social You must maintain a 65% average in all social work courseswork courses

You must maintain an overall semester average of You must maintain an overall semester average of 65%65%

REMEMBERREMEMBER: Social work pre-requisite courses : Social work pre-requisite courses are also considered under academic standards are also considered under academic standards and promotionsand promotions

How are you ranked?How are you ranked?

Average in last ten credit courses Average in last ten credit courses (15%), average in required 15 (15%), average in required 15 courses (15%), cumulative average courses (15%), cumulative average (10%) for a total of 40%(10%) for a total of 40%

Social Work admissions test: 30%Social Work admissions test: 30% Volunteer/work experience and Volunteer/work experience and

References: 30%References: 30%

Who does the ranking?Who does the ranking?

One faculty memberOne faculty memberOne community social workerOne community social workerOne social work studentOne social work student

Potential re-reads and trainingPotential re-reads and training

While you are waiting for While you are waiting for your application to be your application to be

processed…..processed….. Applicants are initially screened to Applicants are initially screened to

see if admissions criteria are metsee if admissions criteria are met Waiting for transfer transcripts Waiting for transfer transcripts

and results of social work and results of social work admissions testadmissions test

Double checking calculation of Double checking calculation of marksmarks

Calculating the rankingsCalculating the rankings

If accepted to the program If accepted to the program of study, what then?of study, what then?

Six semesters over three years (no Six semesters over three years (no spring semester)spring semester)

Two field placements worth nine Two field placements worth nine courses (27 credit hours) One courses (27 credit hours) One rural and one urbanrural and one urban

You must meet the academic and You must meet the academic and suitability standards of the School suitability standards of the School of Social Workof Social Work

Association of Social WorkAssociation of Social WorkStudents (ASWS)Students (ASWS)

The ASWS is the official The ASWS is the official organization of the student body of organization of the student body of the school of social work.the school of social work.

All 3All 3rdrd,4,4thth, and 5, and 5thth year students are year students are members of the ASWSmembers of the ASWS

Each graduating year will form an Each graduating year will form an executive to represent them on the executive to represent them on the ASWSASWS

Common questions and Common questions and mythsmyths

If you are male are you automatically If you are male are you automatically accepted?accepted?

Do you give preference to single parents?Do you give preference to single parents? If you keep applying will you move up the If you keep applying will you move up the

list?list? Who should I use as a reference?Who should I use as a reference? Can you do prerequisites in the Winter Can you do prerequisites in the Winter

term?term? What courses should I take if I want to What courses should I take if I want to

continue applying?continue applying? What about the criminology certificate?What about the criminology certificate?

Continued…Continued…

What if I do not get accepted?What if I do not get accepted? How important is the average?How important is the average? What if I did well in my last ten courses but What if I did well in my last ten courses but

not so well in some of my prerequisites?not so well in some of my prerequisites? How important is volunteer/employed How important is volunteer/employed

work?work? What about students with special needs?What about students with special needs? Do you have to experience a traumatic Do you have to experience a traumatic

event to be accepted?event to be accepted?

THE END!THE END!