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

The mission of the undergraduate Social Work Program of Eastern University is to educate students to be competent generalist social work practitioners who are knowledgeable, skilled, and compassionate representatives of God’s mercy and justice in meeting common human needs with particular attention to vulnerable and oppressed populations and communities.

The goals of the BSW Program are:

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 considering the major should indicate their interest upon entering the University and seek the assistance of a social work faculty member in evaluating their vocational goals and in planning an academic program. They should declare the major as soon as possible. Application for admission to the Social Work program normally is made during the spring semester of the sophomore year, but no later than the fall semester of the junior year. During the admission process, students evaluate themselves and are evaluated by the social work faculty. Students are encouraged to seek employment or volunteer experience in social service agencies during their first and sophomore years in order to explore their interest in, and aptitude for, social work and to prepare for their practicum.

Practicum

A central feature of BSW education is 12-credit hours of practicum in a social service agency 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 has been offered at two locations. A day program is available at the main campus of Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. An evening program, that offers the last two years of the BSW, had been offered at the City Avenue campus in Philadelphia, PA, however this location offering is currently on-hold. All 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.