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School of Social Work 2009-2011 Online Bulletin

School of Social Work 2009-2011 Online Bulletin Table of Contents

 

 

School of Social Work
2009-2011
Academic Bulletin

socialwork.iu.edu
Indiana University School of Social Work
902 West New York Street  
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Local: (317) 274-6705
Fax: (317) 274-8630
Contact Social Work

 

Undergraduate Degrees

Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies
Self-Acquired Competency in Labor Studies Courses
Labor Studies Courses
Labor Studies Offices
Bachelor of Social Work
Certificates

Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies

Introduction
Credit Hour Requirements
Degrees and Minor
Admission Policies
Electives
Grades
Required Areas of Learning
Labor Studies Online
Academic Policies
Dean’s List
Graduation with Honors
Cheating and Plagiarism
Academic Probation

Introduction

With 60 years of leadership in Labor Studies and labor education, Indiana University continues to pioneer innovative and quality education. The Labor Studies Program educates students—with special emphasis on adult learners and workers—on work, the workplace, organized labor, and the changing effects of global economic markets. The program prides itself on being a locally, nationally, and internationally recognized, interdisciplinary labor education program. The program has been housed in the School of Social Work since July 1, 2007.

Labor Studies credit courses are offered at all eight Indiana University campuses and worldwide via the Internet. The program prepares students and workers to assume leadership roles in labor organizations and their communities. Labor Studies is designed to serve all constituencies, with a strong commitment to help working adults gain access to university-level education.

Labor Studies faculty members bring academic expertise and valuable union experience to their instruction. They are committed to continue the strengthening of the Labor Studies Program to make it the best it can be. The program offers online and face-to-face courses to fulfill requirements for Certificate, Associate, and Bachelor of Science degrees in Labor Studies.

Labor Studies is interdisciplinary; it draws from the fields of communication, economics, industrial relations, history, law, philosophy, political science, and sociology. The program integrates these disciplines in order to study work, the work process, and workers’ lives and experiences, and to understand the needs and questions facing labor in unions and labor organizations.

The Labor Studies Program educates current and future workers and leaders with the essential knowledge and skills to (1) strengthen the labor movement; (2) advance trade unionism; and (3) achieve workers rights and equity. These elements are central to the development of democratic institutions nationally and around the world.

The Labor Studies Program offers the following for-credit options:

  • Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies
  • Associate of Science in Labor Studies
  • Certificate in Labor Studies
  • Minor in Labor Studies

Students who demonstrate competency in one or more specific areas may apply to receive credit for prior learning. Labor Studies also offers a large selection of noncredit courses and programs tailored to the interests and needs of working people and their unions.

This program has produced distinguished alumni who hold positions of leadership around the country, including union president, bargaining committee chairperson, education director for an international union, director of organizing, union staff representative, occupational health and safety inspector, labor journalist, labor lawyer, labor educator, National Labor Relations Board staff member, executive director of a nonprofit organization, and community organizer.

Credit Hour Requirements

Bachelor of ScienceAssociate of ScienceCertificateMinor
Labor Studies Core Courses151515*
Additional LS Requirements27123*
Arts and Humanities1221223
Science and Math153653  
Social and Behavorial Sciences124943
Additional Credit Hours11203
Electives 2760
Total Credit Hours120603013

1 Courses must be from one of the three required areas of learning: Arts and Humanities; Physical Sciences and Mathematics; Social and Behavioral Sciences.
2ENG W131 and one additional writing course required.
3One computer course required.
4One course in economics required. L230 meets requirement.
*Minor requirement: A total of 15 credit hours from either core or additional or both Labor Studies courses.

Degrees and Minor

For the Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies, students must earn 30 credit hours in 300- and 400-level courses, and at least 12 of these 30 credit hours must be earned in labor studies courses. At least 24 credit hours must be earned from Indiana University. No more than 21 credit hours may be earned within a single discipline other than labor studies. Credits earned through prior learning, DANTES (Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support), and CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) cannot be applied to these requirements. Please consult with your advisor about how best to meet the requirements in the three required areas of learning outside the Labor Studies Program.

For the Associate of Science in Labor Studies, at least 12 credit hours must be earned from Indiana University. No more than 15 credit hours may be earned within a single discipline other than labor studies.

Labor Studies Certificate degree requirements: A Certificate in labor studies requires the completion of 30 credit hours. Contact the Labor Studies Office on your campus for further information.

A minor in labor studies requires the completion of 15 credit hours in labor studies courses. Each IU campus may have different policies that apply to minors. Contact the Labor Studies Office on your campus for further information.

Admission Policies

All prospective applicants must (1) possess a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, (2) apply to the university campus of their choice, (3) complete a labor studies application form, and (4) have a minimum GPA of 2.0. In addition to the above requirements, international applicants must complete an International Student Application form.

Electives

Any course offered by IU fulfills elective requirements. Students are encouraged to focus their elective course work in related subjects to complete a minor concentration.

Grades

An overall minimum grade point average of 2.0 (a C average) must be maintained. Course grades of D or lower in LS courses or in courses under “Required Areas of Learning” do not count toward the LS degree but are accepted as electives.

Required Areas of Learning

The following are representative subjects in the three major required areas of learning:

Arts and Humanities
African American Studies
Classical Studies
Comparative Literature
English
Fine Arts
Folklore and Ethnomusicology
History
History and Philosophy of Science
Journalism
Languages
Music
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Speech and Communication
Theatre and Drama

Physical Science and Mathematics
Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Geological Sciences
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
Zoology

Social and Behavioral Sciences
Anthropology
Economics
Geography
Linguistics
Political Science
Psychology
Social Work
Sociology

For the A.S. and B.S. in Labor Studies, courses within each major area must include at least two different disciplines.

Labor Studies Online

Labor Studies offers online courses and degrees to meet the needs of students seeking distance education opportunities. With the wide array of online course offerings, it is possible for students to fulfill degree requirements for all Labor Studies degrees entirely online.

Labor Studies online courses are designed to be flexible and are equivalent to classroom courses in content and workload.

Labor Studies online courses include students from all eight IU campuses and are available to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Labor Studies online faculty includes IU campus-based Labor Studies faculty and nationally and internationally known figures.

Students enroll in Labor Studies online classes the same way they enroll in classroom courses—through the Office of the Registrar at an IU campus. Faculty advisors provide guidance to Labor Studies online students throughout their course of study. The tuition and fees for online classes are the same as for traditional classroom courses.

Academic Policies

It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of all published academic regulations online or in the LS bulletin.

(E) Incompletes
A grade of Incomplete can be granted and noted on the final grade report by the instructor when (1) a substantial portion of the course work has been satisfactorily completed,
(2) the course work is of passing quality, and
(3) the student is experiencing some hardship that would render the completion of course work unjust to hold them to the time limits previously established. A grade of Incomplete will revert to an “F” after one academic year or when the incomplete contract requirements are not fulfilled.

Pass/Fail Option
Participants who are working toward a bachelor’s degree and are in good standing (not on academic probation) may take up to eight elective courses on a Pass/Fail basis (no letter grade assigned). A Pass/Fail course may not be used to satisfy any of the area requirements. Pass/Fail courses may, however, be used to meet the 300- to 400-level course requirements.

Dean’s List

All undergraduate students majoring in labor studies and achieving a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) or higher during a fall or spring semester are placed on the Dean’s Honor List. Part-time students will be placed on the list if they achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher for at least 6 consecutive credit hours. These honor students will receive letters from the dean recognizing their meritorious efforts.

Graduation with Honors

Participants who complete a minimum of 30 credit hours for the Associate of Science in Labor Studies or 60 credit hours for the Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies at Indiana University will graduate with honors if they attain the appropriate grade point averages. On most campuses, an average GPA of 3.90 or higher is recognized with highest distinction, 3.75 to 3.89 with high distinction, and 3.50 to 3.74 with distinction. No more than 10 percent of a class can graduate with honors.

Cheating and Plagiarism

A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, words, or statements of another person without appropriate acknowledgment. A student must give credit to the originality of others and acknowledge indebtedness whenever he or she does any of the following:

  1. Quotes another person’s actual words, either oral or written;
  2. Paraphrases another person’s words, either oral or written;
  3. Uses another person’s idea, opinion, or theory; or
  4. Borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the information is common knowledge.
  5. Please check the IU Code of Conduct for further information.

Academic Probation

Students are automatically placed on academic probation when their cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 for 12 consecutive credit hours. Students are removed from probationary status when their GPA, for 12 credit hours, increases to at least 2.0. If the cumulative GPA continues to be below 2.0 students will remain in probationary status. They remain in this status for another 12 consecutive credit hours of course work, during which time the GPA must be raised to at least 2.0. If after two consecutive semesters a student’s GPA is still below a 2.0, the student will be dismissed from the university.

Students admitted on a provisional basis may be dismissed if they fail to achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 during the first 12 credit hours of course work. Students may also be dismissed from the program for failure to comply with any other academic requirements stipulated by the program to remove the probational status.

Self-Acquired Competency in Labor Studies Courses

Self-Acquired Competency (SAC) can be awarded for learning gained outside of the university setting, such as learning derived from union activities. Students must demonstrate and document that their learning is equivalent to college-level material. To be considered for SAC, students must:

  • Be admitted to the university
  • Be admitted to the Labor Studies Program

and have successfully completed four Labor Studies credit hours before applying for SAC.

  • Be in good academic standing.
  • Prepare an extensive portfolio under the guidance of a faculty member.
  • Be interviewed and approved by two Labor Studies faculty.
  • Pay tuition for the academic credit awarded.

Credit for Prior Learning
Students entering the Labor Studies Program may be awarded academic credit for previous college-level learning and life experience. The general guidelines for awarding credit for prior learning are as follows:

Bachelor of Science Degree
Up to 30 credit hours may be awarded for Self-Acquired Competency in courses such as the following:

  • Collective Bargaining
  • Grievance Representation
  • Leadership and Representation

Associate of Science Degree
Up to 15 credit hours may be awarded for Self-Acquired Competency.

Applying Credit for Prior Learning Military or law enforcement training may count for up to 6 credit hours upon submitting the proper documentation.

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) can be taken in a variety of subjects. Credits will be awarded to students based on Indiana University guidelines.

Several non-collegiate educational programs, which appear in The National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs, will be seriously considered.

Previously awarded credits within the IU system are honored by the Labor Studies Program.

Transfer of Credit
Credit earned at other institutions will be evaluated by the appropriate Indiana University admissions office. If the course work is in the field of Labor Studies, it will be evaluated by the Labor Studies Program.

Union Education Program
The Labor Studies program offers the Union Education Program (UEP), a noncredit program offering workshops, short courses, and conferences that emphasize the development of union skills. UEP courses, scheduled to suit the needs of local unions and central labor councils, often meet on Saturdays for three to eight consecutive weeks and are held in union halls and on IU campuses. The LS program offers a variety of UEP courses and can design a course to meet specific unions’ needs. Some of the course offerings include:

  • Arbitration
  • Collective Bargaining
  • Contract Campaigns
  • Family and Medical Leave Act
  • Grievance Handling/Steward Training
  • Indiana Workers’ Rights
  • Labor Law
  • Legal Rights of Union Stewards
  • Mobilizing the Membership
  • Occupational Safety and Health
  • Researching a Company/Employer
  • Union Officers’ Training
  • Workers’ Compensation

The UEP does not have admission requirements, tests, or grades. Courses are tailored to meet the needs of local or international unions, with enrollments limited to the contracting union. Contact the IU campus nearest you to inquire about the UEP. Participants who complete 150 hours in the UEP are awarded a Certificate of Recognition.

Labor Education Advisory Committees, established on all LS campuses, consist of union and community leaders who advise the LS Program on credit and noncredit programming needs. A statewide advisory committee consisting of key labor leaders across Indiana assists the LS program in shaping its long-term plans.

Swingshift College provides shift workers and nontraditional students with flexible course schedules and extensive student support services, which include videotaped courses and tutoring. Initiated in 1993 in response to the educational benefits provided to steelworkers, Swingshift College is offered through the Labor Studies Program at IU Northwest in Gary in cooperation with the Institute for Career Development. It has expanded to include all students who need a student-centered program that combines academic excellence with life lessons.

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Labor Studies Courses

The courses are divided between core courses (all 100- and 200-level courses, except L190, L199, L290, and L299) and advanced courses (300-400 level).

Core Courses

L100 Survey of Unions and Collective Bargaining (3 cr.) This course includes coverage of historical development, labor law basics, and contemporary issues. It also discusses a survey of labor unions in the United States, focusing on their organization and their representational, economic, and political activities.

L101 American Labor History (3 cr.) This course explores the struggles of working people to achieve dignity and security from social, economic, and political perspectives. It also explores a survey of the origin and development of unions and the labor movement from colonial times to the present.

L104 Labor History (3 cr.) This course serves as an orientation for the study of labor history. It explores both critical and historical methodologies based on primary and secondary sources, biases, and interpretations. Discussions focus on selective questions and events.

L110 Introduction to Labor Studies: Labor and Society (3 cr.) This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary and advocacy approach of labor studies. Exploring labor’s role in society, the class will look at how unions have changed the lives of working people and contributed to better social policies. Discussions will highlight the relationship of our work lives to our non-work lives and will look at U.S. labor relations in a comparative framework.

L200 Survey of Employment Law (3 cr.) This course explores statutes and common-law actions protecting income, working conditions, and rights of workers. Topics include workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, fair labor standards, Social Security, retirement income protection, and privacy and other rights.

L201 Labor Law (3 cr.) This course reviews a survey of the law governing labor-management relations. Topics include the legal framework of collective bargaining, problems in the administration and enforcement of agreements, and protection of individual employee rights.

L203 Labor and the Political System (3 cr.) This course examines federal, state, and local governmental effects on workers, unions, and labor-management relations; political goals; influences on union choices of strategies and modes of political participation, past and present; relationships with community and other groups.

L205 Contemporary Labor Problems (3 cr.) This course examines some of the major problems confronting society, workers, and the labor movement. Topics may include automation, unemployment, international trade, environmental problems, minority and women’s rights, community relations, and changing government policies.

L210 Workplace Discrimination and Fair Employment (3 cr.) This course examines policies and practices that contribute to workplace discrimination and those designed to eliminate it. It explores effects of job discrimination and occupational segregation. It analyzes Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and related topics in relation to broader strategies for addressing discrimination.

L220 Grievance Representation (3 cr.) This course looks at union representation in the workplace. It evaluates uses of grievance procedures to address problems and administer the collective bargaining agreement. It also explores analyses of relevant labor law and the logic applied by arbitrators to grievance decisions. Students learn about the identification, research, presentation, and writing of grievance cases.

L230 Labor and the Economy (3 cr.) This course analyses aspects of the political economy of labor and the role of organized labor within it. It emphasizes the effect on workers, unions, collective bargaining of unemployment, investment policy, changes in technology and corporate structure. It also explores patterns of union political and bargaining responses.

L240 Occupational Health and Safety (3 cr.) This course reviews elements and issues of occupational health and safety. It emphases the union’s role in the implementation of workplace health and safety programs, worker and union rights, hazard recognition techniques, and negotiated and statutory remedies—in particular the OSHA Act of 1970.

L250 Collective Bargaining (3 cr.) This course emphasizes development and organization of collective bargaining in the United States, including union preparation for negotiations; bargaining patterns and practices; strategy and tactics; economic and legal considerations.

L251 Collective Bargaining Laboratory (1-3 cr.) This course provides collective bargaining simulations and other participatory experiences in conjunction with L250. L250 is either a prerequisite or a corequisite.

L255 Unions in State and Local Government (3 cr.) This course explores union organization and representation of state and municipal government employees, including patterns in union structure, collective bargaining, grievance representation, and applicable law.

L260 Leadership and Representation (3 cr.) This course evaluates organizational leadership issues for union, community, and other advocate organizations. It analyzes leadership styles, membership recruitment, and leadership development. It examines the role of leaders in internal governance and external affairs, including committee building, delegation, negotiations, and coalition building.

L270 Union Government and Organization (3 cr.) This course provides an analysis of the growth, composition, structure, behavior, and governmental processes of U.S. labor organizations, from the local to the national federation level. It considers the influence on unions of industrial and political environments to organizational behavior in different types of unions and to problems in union democracy.

L280 Union Organizing (3 cr.) This course explores various approaches and problems in private- and public-sector organizing. Traditional approaches are evaluated in light of structural changes in labor markets and workforce demographics. Topics range from targeting and assessments to committee building and leadership development.

L285 Assessment Project (1 cr.) This is a capstone experience for associate degree students.

Other Courses

L199 Portfolio Development Workshop (1 cr.) Emphasis for this course is placed on developing learning portfolios as foundation documents for academic self-assessment and planning and as applications for self-acquired competency (SAC) credit. This course applies only as elective credit to labor studies degrees.

L290 Topics in Labor Studies (1-3 cr.) This is a variable-title course. L290 can be repeated for credit with different subjects. The transcript will show a different subtitle each time the course is taken. Some courses focus on contemporary or special areas of labor studies. Others are directed toward specific categories of employees and labor organizations. Inquire at Labor Studies offices.

L299 Self-Acquired Competency in Labor Studies (1-15 cr.) Self-Acquired Competency (SAC) can be awarded for learning gained outside of the university setting, such as learning derived from union activities. Students must demonstrate and document their learning is equivalent to college-level material.

Advanced Courses

L315 The Organization of Work (3 cr.) This course examines how work is organized and how jobs are evaluated, measured, and controlled. It explores social and technical elements of work through theories of scientific management, the human relations school of management, and contemporary labor process literature.

L320 Grievance Arbitration (3 cr.) (Recommended only after L220 or with permission of instructor.) This course explores the legal and practical context of grievance arbitration, and its limitations and advantages in resolving workplace problems. Varieties of arbitration clauses and the status of awards are also explored. Students analyze research, and prepare and present cases in mock arbitration hearings.

L350 Issues in Collective Bargaining (3 cr.) This course includes readings and discussions on selected problems. A research paper is usually required.

L360 Union Administration and Development (1-3 cr.) This course covers practical and theoretical perspectives on strategic planning, budgeting, and organizational decision making. It addresses the needs and problems of union leaders by studying organizational change, staff development, and cohesiveness within a diverse workforce. This course may be repeated for up to 3 credits with department approval.

L380 Theories of the Labor Movement (3 cr.) This course examines various perspectives on the origin, development, and goals of organized labor. Theories include those that view the labor movement as a business union institution, an agent for social reform, a revolutionary force, a psychological reaction to industrialization, a moral force, and an unnecessary intrusion.

L385 Class, Race, Gender, and Work (3 cr.) This course provides a historical overview of the impact and interplay of class, race, and gender on shaping U.S. labor markets, organizations, and policies. It examines union responses and strategies for addressing class, race, and gender issues.

L410 Comparative Labor Movements (3 cr.) This course uses historical, analytical, and comparative perspectives to examine labor movements and labor relations in industrial societies. It also emphasizes interactions between unions and political organizations, national labor policies, the resolution of workplace problems, the organization of white collar employees, and the issues of worker control and codetermination.

L420 Labor Studies Internship (1-6 cr.) This course applies classroom knowledge in the field. L420 may be repeated for up to a maximum of 6 credit hours.

L430 Labor Research Methods (3 cr.) This course focuses on the study of research design, methods, techniques, and procedures applicable to research problems in labor studies.

L480 Senior Seminar or Readings (3 cr.) This course can be used as a classroom seminar or directed reading course. It addresses current issues, historical developments, and other labor-related concerns. Topics may vary each semester.

L490 Topics in Labor Studies (1-3 cr.) This is a variable-title course. L490 can be repeated for credit with different subjects. The transcript will show a different subtitle each time the course is taken. Some courses focus on contemporary or special areas of labor studies. Others are directed toward specific categories of employees and labor organizations. Inquire at Labor Studies offices.

L495 Directed Labor Study (1-6 cr.) This is a variable credit course. L495 may be taken for a maximum of 6 credit hours. Students arrange to study with an individual labor studies faculty member, designing a course of study to suit their individual and varied needs and interests. The contract might include reading, directed application of prior course work, tutorials, or internships. Competencies are assessed through written papers, projects, reports, or interviews.

L499 Self-Acquired Competency in Labor Studies (1-15 cr.) Self-Acquired Competency (SAC) can be awarded for learning gained outside of the university setting, such as learning derived from union activities. Students must demonstrate and document their learning is equivalent to college-level material.

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Labor Studies Offices

Indianapolis Labor Studies Programs—Indiana University—
Purdue University Indianapolis
Education/Social Work Building
902 W. New York St.
ES4138K
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Phone: (317) 274-8340
Fax: (317) 274-8630

Bloomington Labor Studies Programs—Indiana University
Bloomington
Poplars 628
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: (812) 855-9084
Phone: (812) 855-1563

Fort Wayne Labor Studies Programs—Indiana University—
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Kettler Hall, Room G28
2101 Coliseum Boulevard East
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
Phone: (260) 481-6831
Fax: (260) 481-5784

Gary Labor Studies Programs—Indiana University
Northwest
Lindenwood Hall 126
3400 Broadway
Gary, IN 46408-1197
Phone: (219) 980-6825/26
Fax: (219) 980-6834

Kokomo Labor Studies Programs—Indiana University
Kokomo
Kelley East 344
2300 S. Washington Street
Kokomo, IN 46902
Phone: (765) 455-9387
Fax: (765) 455-9502

South Bend Labor Studies Programs—Indiana University
South Bend
RS 123
1700 Mishawaka Avenue
P.O. Box 7111
South Bend, IN 46634-7111
Phone: (574) 520-4595
Fax: (574) 520-5006

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Bachelor of Social Work

General Information
Admission Requirements
Educational Requirements
Selected Educational Policies
Credit for Life Experience
Criminal History

General Information

This four-year degree program prepares students for generalist social work practice. It helps students develop the competence to apply knowledge, values, and skills to practice with individuals, small groups, organizations, and communities. The program also prepares students for graduate education. The B.S.W. degree equips the practitioner to work with people who are encountering challenges related to personal or social circumstances. In addition, qualified graduates may apply for advanced standing to the IU School of Social Work or other M.S.W. programs nationwide. Following the equivalent of a minimum of two postgraduate years of supervised social work practice experience, B.S.W. graduates of IU are eligible to apply for licensure by the state of Indiana. Upon successful completion of licensing requirements, the Indiana State Health Professions Bureau designates the B.S.W. graduate a Licensed Social Worker (L.S.W.).

The B.S.W. degree is offered on the Indianapolis (IUPUI), Bloomington (IUB), and Richmond (IUE) campuses. Students in the B.S.W. Program must complete all sophomore and junior social work courses and achieve senior standing before enrolling in the senior social work courses. A few social work courses are offered at Columbus and on the Kokomo campus.

For specific information regarding the B.S.W. Program, contact the appropriate campus below:

B.S.W. Program
Education/Social Work Building 4138
Indiana University School of Social Work
902 W. New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5154
Telephone: (317) 274-6705 or 274-8359
Web: socialwork.iu.edu
E-mail: kabrown [at] iupui [dot] edu (Katrina Patterson)

School of Social Work
Indiana University
1127 E. Atwater Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47401-3701
Telephone: (812) 855-4427
Web: bloomington.socialwork.iu.edu
E-mail: kvbyers [at] indiana [dot] edu

B.S.W. Program
Indiana University East
2325 Chester Boulevard
Richmond, IN 47374-1289
Telephone: (765) 973-8422
E-mail: efitzger [at] indiana [dot] edu

Admission Requirements

Enrollment in the B.S.W. program requires formal admission to the School of Social Work. The following are the minimum requirements for admission consideration:

  • Regular admission to the university.
  • Completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours.
  • Satisfactory completion (grade of C or higher) of the required course S 141 Introduction to Social Work.
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Evidence of characteristics or potential required for competent social work practitioners as defined in the mission statement of the school. Such evidence may be derived from application materials, letters of reference, pertinent work or volunteer experience, and performance in S 141 Introduction to Social Work.

The B.S.W. Program uses a rolling admissions policy. To allow the admissions committee sufficient time to consider a student for admittance the following semester, students are advised to submit their completed applications two months prior to the end of a university semester. Applications submitted less than two months prior to the end of the semester cannot be guaranteed consideration before the next semester begins.

Admission information may be obtained from:

B.S.W. Admissions
Education/Social Work Building 4138
Indiana University
School of Social Work
902 W. New York Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5154
Telephone: (317) 274-6705 or 274-8359
Web: socialwork.iu.edu
E-mail: iubsw [at] iupui [dot] edu

For information about admission to the university, contact:

Admissions Office
Student Campus Center
IUPUI
420 University Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5140
Telephone: (317) 274-4591

Admissions Office
Indiana University
300 N. Jordan Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405-1106
Telephone: (812) 855-0661

Admissions Office
Indiana University East
2325 Chester Boulevard
Richmond, IN 47374-1289
Telephone: (765) 973-8208

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Educational Requirements

A minimum of 122 credit hours is required for the B.S.W. degree. In addition to social work courses and electives, the following outlines the general liberal arts requirements.

General Requirements (8 courses)*

  1. English Composition (2 courses)
  2. Modern American History
  3. Two courses designated as arts and humanities courses from the following departments:
    African American Studies
    American Sign Language
    Communication and Theatre
    English (excluding the basic composition course)
    Fine Arts
    Folklore
    Foreign Languages and Cultures (100 level and above)
    Gender Studies
    History
    Music (non-performance courses)
    Philosophy
    Religious Studies
    Women's Studies
  4. Human Biology
    One course in human biological sciences
  5. Computer Science/Mathematics/Physical Sciences (2 courses)
    One Computer Science course (required). (On the IUPUI campus, it is strongly recommended that students take SWK-S 300 Computer Technology for Social Work.)
    For the second course, students select from one of the following: Astronomy
    Chemistry
    Geology
    Mathematics (110 or higher)
    Physical Geography
    Physics
    Statistics (strongly recommended)

Supportive Area Requirements (6 courses)

  1. American Government
  2. Cultural Anthropology
  3. Introductory Psychology
  4. 300-level psychology course
  5. Introduction to Sociology
  6. Macro or Microeconomics, or Labor and Economy (Labor Studies Course)

*Each campus may have additional requirements.

Social Work Requirements (17 courses)
S 100Understanding Diversity in a PluralisticSociety (3 cr.)
*S 141Introduction to Social Work (3 cr.)
*S 221Human Behavior and Social Environment I: Individual Functioning
(3 cr.)
*S 231Generalist Social Work Practice I: Theory and Skills (3 cr.)
*S 251Emergence of Social Services (3 cr.)
S 322Human Behavior and Social Environment II: Small Group Functioning (3 cr.)
S 323Organizational Behavior and Practice within a Generalist Perspective (3 cr.)
*S 332Generalist Social Work Practice II: Theory and Skills (3 cr.)
*S 352Social Service Delivery Systems (3 cr.)
*S 371Social Work Research (3 cr.)
*S 381Social Work Practicum I (4 cr.)
S 400Field Practicum Seminar (1 cr.)
*S 433Community Behavior and Practice within a Generalist Perspective
(3 cr.)
S 442Practice-Policy Seminar in Fields of Practice (2 courses, 3 cr. each)
*S 472Practice Evaluation (3 cr.)
S 482Social Work Practicum II (5 cr.)

*online option available at IUPUI

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Selected Educational Policies

For continuance in and graduation from the program, students are required to: (1) maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all letter-graded courses, (2) attain a minimum grade of C (2.0) or satisfactory in each required social work course, and (3) carry out professional activity in conformity with the values and ethics of the profession.

In the event of failure to meet such requirements, students will be ineligible to continue in the program. Such students are encouraged to consult with their faculty advisor regarding realistic planning for the future, including the right to petition for administrative review. Detailed descriptions of student continuation policies are in the B.S.W. Student Handbook or on the Web at socialwork.iu.edu.

Repeated Courses
Required social work courses may be repeated only after the student is reinstated in the program with permission.

Incompletes
Instructors at Indiana University School of Social Work follow closely the university policy regarding the assignment of grades of Incomplete (I). An Incomplete may be assigned by an instructor when exceptional circumstances, such as an illness, injury, or a family emergency, prevent a student from finishing all the work required for the course. Instructors may award the grade of Incomplete only when such hardship would render it unjust to hold the student to the time limits previously set. Furthermore, the grade of Incomplete may be given only when the student has completed three-fourths of the semester with course work of passing quality.

The instructor, on a case-by-case basis, evaluates incompletes. The grade of Incomplete (I) will be changed to a grade by the instructor of record, based upon the contract devised by the course instructor and approved by the B.S.W. Program Director.

If the terms of the Incomplete contract are not met by the student, the instructor will assign the original grade.

Pass/Fail Grades
A maximum of four pass/fail courses may be applied to the B.S.W. degree. All general requirements and supportive area requirements need a letter grade. All required social work courses receive a letter grade except for S 482 Practicum II, which is graded as Satisfactory/Fail.

Liability Insurance
Students are required to carry professional liability insurance. Under the school's blanket policy, the cost of insurance is included in the student’s practicum course fee.

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Credit for Life Experience

Academic credit for previous life and work experience is not given in whole or in part toward the social work degree.

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Criminal History

Students with criminal histories other than those deriving from sexual offenses may be eligible for admission into the B.S.W. program. Eligibility in these circumstances is determined by a case-by-case assessment. While having a criminal background may not preclude students from participating in the B.S.W. program, they should be aware of educational and professional implications. Agency policies and state laws may impose limitations for students and professionals with criminal histories attempting to obtain field placements, employment in certain practice settings, and/or professional licensure. Laws vary by state and are subject to change over time. Students should consult individual state licensing agencies for futher information. The B.S.W. program is not responsible for disruptions in a student’s educational plan resulting from a criminal background.

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Certificates

The School of Social Work at IUPUI offers two certificates: a Certificate in Case Management at the undergraduate level and a Certificate in Family Life Education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Both certificates are open to social work and non-social work students. The Family Life Certificate at the graduate level is open to M.S.W. students only.

Certificate in Case Management course requirements are as follows:
S 200Introduction to Case Management
S 221Human Behavior and Social Environment I: Individual Functioning
S 231Generalist Social Work Practice I: Theory and Skills
S 251Emergence of Social Services
S 300Crisis Intervention
S 332Generalist Social Work Practice II: Theory and Skills
S 371Social Work Research
S 381Social Work Practicum or
S 482Social Work Practicum II (or S 280 for non-social work students)
S 442Practice-Policy Seminar in Fields of Practice: Case Management

The requirements for the Certificate in Family Life Education at the undergraduate level are as follows:
S 221Human Behavior and Social Environment I: Individual Functioning
S 300/S 400Family Life Education
S 300Learning and Human Potential
S 300Working with Families
S 300/S400Human Sexuality or
F 255Human Sexuality or
R 320Sexuality and Society
S 371Social Work Research
S 442Practice-Policy Seminar in Fields of Practice: Family and Children or
L 100Personal Law

The requirements for the Certificate in Family Life Education at the graduate level are as follows:
S 503Human Behavior and the Social Environment I or
P 514Lifespan Development Birth to Death
S 600Human Sexuality
S 600Family Life Education
S 515Social Policy & Services II or
A 560Political Perspectives of Education
S 672Families, Theory, and Culture

Select one of the following:
J 637Curriculum Development Process
P 490Developing Human Potential
S 600Learning and Human Potential: An Introduction to Teaching and Learning

Select one of the following:
S 502Research I
Y 520Strategies for Educational Inquiry
Y 535Evaluation Models and Techniques
Y 611Qualitative Inquiry in Education

Please check the IUSSW Web site for updates on the Certificate in Family Life Education as well as upcoming certificates on Schools and Addictions/Substance Abuse.

The Social Work Program at IU East offers two certificates: a Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Studies and a Certificate in Gerontology at the undergraduate level. Both certificates are open to all students.

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Last updated: 28 March 2024 04 48 59

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