Mission Statement

The mission of the BSW program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is to provide undergraduate social work education and training where students are prepared to provide competent, entry-level, generalist social work to diverse populations and systems with an educational emphasis on social justice, community empowerment, social work in rural communities and practice approaches and models that support specific needs and cultural understanding of identified vulnerable and/or marginalized populations. The social work program is committed to promoting professional social work practice and values in the development of social work knowledge, skills and scientific inquiry that supports a more responsive social service delivery systems. The program prepares students to be lifelong learners guided by the social work profession's mission.

In addition to the aforementioned main mission, the BSW program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville also seeks to develop well-rounded leaders and critical thinkers who can solve problems and leverage professional judgment and reflection in an increasingly complex, dynamic, global society, and who are able to utilize technology in a professional and ethical manner that ensures the wellbeing of systems at the micro, mezzo and macro level. The program's mission is rooted in the mission of the social work profession, which is as follows: Per CSWE (2008), “the purpose of the social work profession is to promote human and community well-being. Guided by a person and environment construct, a global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry, social work’s purpose is actualized through its quest for social and economic justice, the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the quality of life for all persons” (p. 1). The Bachelor Social Work Program at Texas A&M University-Kingsville embraces the CSWE’s stated purpose of the social work profession and incorporates it into its education and training and the overall program philosophy and student experience.Declaration of a Major in Social Work

Student admitted to the university may at any time declare social work as their major. When a student declares social work as their major, they are placed in a Pre-Social Work status. Before students are allowed to take practice-oriented coursework at the 3000 or 4000 level, they must be formally admitted to the BSW degree program by the BSW Program Director. As part of this process, students must formally apply to the Social Work Program and meet the prerequisite admission requirements stated below. 

Assessment Data Collected During AY 2022-2023

 

Admission Requirements

Formal admission into the BSW degree program is required to register for many of the professional social work courses. The requirements are as follows:

1. Completion of 42 semester hours of coursework including the following courses, or their equivalent, with an overall college grade point average of 2.50 or better. 

• BIOL 1106/1306 and BIOL 2401
• ENGL 1301, ENGL 1302, ENGL 2342, and ENGL 1171
• HIST 1301 and HIST 1302
• POLS 2301 and POLS 2302
• UNIV 1201
• University Mathematics requirement
• University Visual and Performing Arts requirement
• University Oral Communications requirement

2. Completion of PSYC 2301, SOCI 1301, SCWK 2331 and PSYC/SOCI 3381 with a “C” or better and a 2.50 grade point average in these courses.

3. Completion of 20 hours of social or human service work approved by the Social Work Program.

4. Submission of an acceptable personal narrative paper as outlined by the Social Work Program.

5. Submission of an Application for Admission into the B.S.W. Degree Program on forms provided by the Social Work Program and in accordance with the policies and procedures set out in the Social Work Student Handbook.

6. The Texas A&M University-Kingsville Social Work Program does not award academic course credit for non-academic experiences, life experience, or work experience.  Additionally, the Social Work Program does not award academic course credit for internships, practicum experiences, or field experiences that occurred at other colleges or universities.