BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK (BSSW) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Medgar Evers College School of Liberal Arts and Education offers a Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree that prepares students for entry level positions in social work and for graduate school education. 
The program builds on a solid liberal arts foundation and provides a challenging generalist curriculum. It incorporates courses that focus on field practices, policies and services, and human behavior in the social environment. Social work courses are designed to impart knowledge and are aligned to comply with the standards for social work education as defined by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation. (www.cswe.org)
The overarching goal of the baccalaureate degree program is to graduate students who will demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge, ethical values and skills of the profession, be grounded in the profession’s history, purposes and philosophy, and practice social work in an ethical manner, helping to alleviate social and economic injustice as engaged, socially responsible citizens in a rapidly changing world.

The BSSW program utilizes the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) definition of generalist social work practice which is as follows:
Generalist social work practitioners work with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations in a variety of social work and host settings. Generalist practitioners view clients and client systems from a strengths perspective in order to recognize, support, and build upon the innate capabilities of all human beings. They use a professional problem-solving process to engage, assess, broker services, advocate, counsel, educate, and organize with and on behalf of client and client systems. In addition, generalist practitioners engage in community and organizational development. Finally, generalist practitioners evaluate service outcomes in order to continually improve the provision and quality of services most appropriate to client needs.
Generalist social work practice is guided by the NASW Code of Ethics and is committed to improving the well being of individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations and furthering the goals of social justice.
(Discussed and advanced by the Baccalaureate Program Directors Social Work Continuum Committee and approved by the Board of Directors, 2006.)

The Bachelor of Science in Social Work Program is designed to:

  • Prepare students for beginning generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
  • Prepare students for social work practice with diverse populations and cultures.
  • Prepare students in the use of social work research to inform and evaluate practice.
  • Prepare students for development of a professional identity in concert with social work ethics.
  • Prepare students to promote social and economic justice for disenfranchised groups through social change and advocacy.

There are three areas of special interest:
1. Child Welfare
2. Substance Abuse
3. Gerontology

 

PROGRAM MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY
Program Mission
The mission of the BSSW Program is to prepare students at the baccalaureate level for entry into generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations, as well as for continued study at the graduate level.

Program Philosophy
We believe that we can work together to create such an environment of learning that our SW students become conscious of their identities, roles, and responsibilities in society and are inspired to become change agents, seeking to facilitate the empowerment of others as they grapple with oppression and injustice.

CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION TO THE BSSW PROGRAM
The following are the admissions criteria for the Bachelor of Science in Social Work program:

  • Admission to Medgar Evers College
  • Completion of Core (Medgar Evers College) courses or enrollment in the final Core course(s) at time of admission to the Social Work Program
  • Completion of 55 credits including Part A College core and Part B Lower level BSSW courses as identified in the Handbook prior to admission to the Program
  • Completion of all City University of New York (CUNY) requirements including placement examinations (ACT).
  • Cumulative GPA 2.5 at time of application to the Program
  • Written application to the Social Work Program which includes a written admissions essay
  • Current copy of degree audit and all transcripts from other colleges if applicable
  • Individual interview with social work faculty
  • In order to remain in good standing in the Program, students must obtain a grade of C or better in all social work courses taken prior to and after admission
  • No Credit for Life Experience (CLEP)or CAEL will be considered

Transfer Students
Students who have attended a college or another post-secondary institution must file an "Application for Advanced Standing (Transfer) Admission." Transfer applications are available at the Medgar Evers College Office of Recruitment and Admissions or at The City University of New York Office of Admission Services. Transfer students interested in applying to the BSSW Program must meet the same requirements listed under Criteria for Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Social Work Program.

Transfer From Another Social Work Program
Students who wish to be admitted to the social work program who were previously accepted at a CSWE accredited program must show evidence via a reference letter from the social work program director that the student left the program in good academic standing. The student must grant permission to Medgar Evers College faculty to discuss his/her academic status with the program director at that institution(s).

Transferring Social Work Credits
The social work faculty adviser will review the official college transcript to determine if the student has met the requirements for satisfactory completion of the social work courses for which transfer credit(s) is (are) requested. In addition, specific standards must be met: 1) the courses must have been taken at a CSWE accredited social work program; 2) if deemed necessary, the student may be asked to take an exam in order to receive credit for the social work courses requested.

Please Note: The BSSW program does not grant social work Credit for Life Experience (CLEP) or Credit for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL).

Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) Program
Curriculum Code 32  HEGIS Code: 2104

BSSW Program Director
Eda F. Harris-Hastick, Ed.D., M.S.W. 
Professor of Social Work
718 270-4853 (Office)
718 270-4828 (Fax)
Email: hastick@mec.cuny.edu
Office: B1032 F

Field Education Coordinator
Elaine Reid, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. Assistant Professor of Social Work
718 270-4897 (Office)
718 270-4828 (Fax)
Email: ereid@mec.cuny.edu
Office: B1032 H

Barbara Newsome, D.S.W., M.S.S.W. Assistant Professor of Social Work (effective Fall 2010)