Mission, Goals, and Competencies of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program

The mission of the BSW Program is: 

Rooted in Christian values, the BSW program equips students with the knowledge and skills to serve vulnerable populations with compassion and mercy while upholding integrity and cultural humility. Committed to justice and belonging, we prepare graduates to advocate, promote human dignity, and foster community well-being. Guided by faith and service, our program integrates evidence and strengths-based practices to advance the core values of social work in an interconnected world.   

1. To prepare students for beginning professional social work practice with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
2. To educate students about the values and ethics of the profession and to ethically integrate a Christian perspective embodying empathy, justice, and the dignity and worth of each person.
3. To educate students to use critical analysis and scientific inquiry to develop a social work knowledge base and skills.
4. To prepare students to pursue lifelong learning, education, and a life of service.

The Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS 2022) of the Council on Social Work Education guide the content of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at Eastern University. Graduates of the BSW Program will have acquired the following core competencies:

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior;
2. Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice;
3. Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice;
4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice;
5. Engage in policy practice;
6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Admission

Admission to Eastern University does not guarantee admission to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program. Students who are interested in the major should indicate their intent upon entering the university and connect early with a social work faculty member to discuss their vocational goals and plan their coursework accordingly. Declaring the major as early as possible is strongly encouraged.

Admission requires application to the BSW program. Application typically occurs in the spring semester of the sophomore year and must be completed no later than the fall of the junior year. As part of the admission process, students engage in self-assessment and are also evaluated by the social work faculty. To help clarify their interest in social work and prepare for practicum, students are encouraged to gain experience through paid or volunteer work in social service settings during their first and second years.

Practicum

A central feature of BSW education at Eastern is 12-credit hours of practicum in a social service agency or host setting supervised by a social work professional. Students enrolled in the BSW Program gain practical experience by interning in agencies during the spring semester of their junior year and throughout both semesters of their senior year, while concurrently studying social work practice theory in the classroom.

Accreditation

Eastern University has been accredited since 1974 (the earliest year in which accreditation was available) by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for the baccalaureate Social Work major. The University is authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to confer the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree. Most accredited graduate schools of social work offer advanced standing of up to one year, in a normally two-year Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program, to graduates of CSWE accredited baccalaureate social work programs and who maintain a “B” average.

Location

The BSW program is a campus-based program with courses held during the day on the main campus of Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. Some of the prerequisite courses for the BSW are also offered in the CHS AA program at Esperanza College.

The Major for the BSW in Social Work

The Minor in Social Welfare

Students majoring in other disciplines who want to learn more about social welfare may declare the minor in Social Welfare. Although students participate in some of the same courses as those majoring in social work, the minor is not accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and does not prepare graduates for social work practice. Students wishing to qualify as social workers upon graduation should declare the Social Work major. The Social Welfare minor is not open to students majoring in Social Work.