Degree offered at: Campbellsville, Harrodsburg, Louisville, Somerset, Available Online
The Social Work Area is designed to educate students to perform generalist social work practice in a variety of social service settings. This curriculum prepares graduates to practice social work with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations at all levels (micro, mezzo, macro) of practice using a solution-focused process that includes assessment, strengths building, planning, intervention, monitoring/evaluating and termination/follow-up.
The Carver School of Social Work views social work as a helping profession sanctioned by society to assist in the elimination of human suffering. In order to address social problems and human needs, the profession takes two approaches: (1) to work to change social institutions, organizations and communities to better meet the needs of people and (2) to help people identify and utilize their own strengths in problem solving and to connect them to the resources they lack. When resources are not available, social workers advocate and work to establish programs to enhance the well-being of humans and alleviate the suffering brought about by various psycho-social-behavioral issues. Social work promotes the advancement of economic and social justice for all, particularly those classified as vulnerable populations. Generalist social work draws upon common processes, specialized knowledge, communication, and intervention skills for the purposes of intervening on the behalf of people to create changes, which maximize the functioning of systems.
Students wanting to study social work may choose either the Social Work Area leading to the Bachelor of Social Work degree or the Social Work Minor which, when coupled with a major from another discipline, leads to a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. Students must complete ENG 111 with a grade of “C” or better, to enroll in Social Work courses.
Social work students seeking the BSW degree are required to complete 45 hours of designated social work courses and six hours of social work electives. In conjunction with the BSW degree, students may pursue a minor in another discipline, but are not required to do so. Students electing to study Social Work must meet requirements as specified in the BSW Student Handbook before gaining acceptance into the program. There is no credit for life experiences or previous work experience given to social work students as substitutions for curriculum or field requirements.
