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Mission Statement

The mission of the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ Social Work (BSW) Program is to educate and prepare competent and effective professionals for generalist practice in social work. The program seeks to develop a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to facilitate ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs in becoming effective social workers. In preparing ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs for effective generalist social work practice, the program’s mission instills in ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs the knowledge, values, and ethics of the social work profession based on our competency standards as set forth by the  and the .

Advantages of Miami’s BSW program

• Miami’s undergraduate social work program is fully accredited by the .
• Our faculty have expertise in a wide range of areas including gerontology, cultural diversity, interpersonal violence, veteran concerns, mental health, and clinical care (psychotherapy).
• In your senior year, you complete an internship at one or more agencies. You chose your internship placement based on your interests and career goals.
• Graduates of our program are eligible to take the national Social Work Board licensure examination. Our licensure pass rates are well above state and national averages.
• Graduates of our program are eligible for advanced standing and can complete their master’s degree in social work in one year.
• Our low faculty-¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ ratios provide opportunities for personal attention and interaction with faculty in and out of the classroom.
• Our graduates are employed in a variety of settings including schools, mental health clinics, hospitals, military bases, public social service agencies, and corporations.
• Graduates of our program are eligible to become professionally certified as a family life educator through the National Council on Family Relations. 

With a major in Social Work, ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs will be able to:

• Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
• Engage diversity and difference in practice.
• Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
• Perform practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
• Engage in policy practice.
• Work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Program and Licensure Information

¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ’s undergraduate program in social work leads to a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and prepares ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs for generalist social work practice. Through classroom instruction and field-based classes, ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs gain the knowledge and skills to assess the needs and resources of people and their social environment; provide services to individuals, families, groups, organizations and; and improve the resources available in the community.

Curriculum

To complete the BSW degree program, ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs need to successfully complete a variety of traditional courses, field-based classes, and a field practicum. Please note: requirements may be different depending on the year of your enrollment. Please contact your advisor for details.

BSW Field Practicum

Social work majors are required to complete an internship consisting of 450 hours at one or more agencies over a two-semester period their senior year. Students choose from a variety of field placements.

For more information or questions, please email socialwork@MiamiOH.edu.

Family Life Education Certification

Upon completion of the BSW degree, graduates are eligible to apply for provisional certification as a Family Life Educator from . The certification emphasizes academic preparation and experience to enable the individual to know how to design and implement curricula, workshops and other family life education programs.

Family life education substance areas include families in society, internal family dynamics, lifespan human growth and development, human sexuality, interpersonal relationships, family resource management, parent education and guidance, family law and public policy, ethics, and family life education methodology.

Student Experiences

Helping Struggling Communities Heal and Thrive

There are a lot of different ways to help struggling communities heal and thrive. And in this podcast episode, we hear from Naomi Gaston, a social work and individualized studies major who wanted to learn how she could better serve her local community by learning the ins and outs of our political system. And along the way, she also unexpectedly found herself helping another local community heal in the aftermath of a national tragedy.