The CSC Social Work program has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1993. Students who graduate from Chadron State College in Social Work are prepared for social work practice in a multicultural context within the region, as well as nationally and globally. The challenges of and capacities for addressing human diversity are integrated throughout the social work curriculum. The social work curriculum is also designed to encourage the development of knowledge and skills in collaboration, collegiality, and networking. Graduates of the CSC Social Work program are prepared to provide professional leadership within the region.
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at Chadron State College provides an undergraduate experience that fosters student development of practice behaviors and competencies including the knowledge, skills, and values in order to function as generalist Social Workers. The acquired competencies prepare social workers who demonstrate practice abilities that enhance the capacities and quality of life for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities within the region of western Nebraska, southwest South Dakota, southeast Wyoming, and northeast Colorado.
In order to carry out the Social Work Program mission of Chadron State College, the Social Work faculty strive for excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. Social Work faculty teach foundation curriculum with a sensitivity to student needs and with an awareness of the requisite practice behaviors and values appropriate to a competent social work practice at a baccalaureate level. To maintain student learning, Social Work faculty use innovative technology, experiential and active learning approaches, and outcome-based learning that individualize curriculum and instruction to the needs of individual learners.
Social Work faculty continually evaluate courses through student process evaluations, course evaluations of teaching and objective attainment, peer reviews of teaching, assessment of written assignments, and tests of student learning and evaluation of student demonstration of competencies through practice behaviors identified by the Council on Social Work Education. Social Work faculty seek to integrate scholarship with student learning through presentations at regional and national conferences, special projects, and community consultation. Social Work faculty provide service to the College, community, and professional associations by serving on local and regional boards and committees and participating in projects with local human service systems.
To carry out the mission of the Social Work Program and Chadron State College, the Social Work Program seeks to prepare students to become Social Work Professionals who will, upon completion of the Program, be able to:
1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
2. Engage diversity and difference in practice
3. Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
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
Students considering Social Work should consult the Social Work faculty early in their academic career to insure that the necessary Prerequisite coursework is completed prior to admission to the Professional Social Work program.
The admissions policy of the Chadron State College Professional Social Work Program is to accept all qualified students within the limits of its resources, facilities, and mission. Qualified students are admitted without regard to age, race, marital status, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. Educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other programs and activities, are administered without discrimination. Chadron State College offers a B.A. degree with a comprehensive major in Social Work which is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Graduating students are prepared to practice as competent beginning Social Work professionals.
Generally, students make application to the Professional Social Work Program during the fall semester of the junior year. Students who change majors or transfer to Chadron State College make application to the Professional Social Work Program when they have either completed or enrolled in all Prerequisite Social Work courses. Applications to the Professional Social Work Program are available online in the Social Work Student Handbook.
Admission to the Chadron State College Professional Social Work Program is based on the following criteria:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 121 & 121L | HUMAN BIOLOGY and HUMAN BIOLOGY LABORATORY | 3 |
| PSYC 131 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES | 3 |
| MATH 232 | APPLIED STATISTICS | 3 |
| SW 231 | PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK | 3 |
| SW 251 | HUMAN BEHAVIOR/SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I | 3 |
| SW 252 | HUMAN BEHAVIOR/SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II | 3 |
| SW 331 | SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES | 3 |
In accordance with the educational standards of the Council on Social Work Education and Chadron State College, the Social Work Program does not grant academic credit for life experience for any social work course requirement.
After discussion with Social Work faculty, a student who does not meet the admission requirements for the Social Work Program may petition the Social Work Advisory Committee for special consideration.
Once accepted into the Professional Social Work program, students who apply to enter the Social Work Field Program are required to complete a criminal background check. The background check will include states and counties of prior residence and will be completed at the expense of the student.
A student with a major felony conviction(s) including but not limited to the use of weapons or abuse of vulnerable individuals may not be able to complete SW 464 SOCIAL WORK FIELD PRACTICUM, depending upon the Program’s ability to find a field placement site. If a student completes the Social Work Professional Program, he/she may not be able to secure a license to practice Professional Social Work, depending upon a given state’s social work licensing board’s standards or depending upon a given agency’s hiring standards. Students with questions about prior convictions must schedule a meeting with the Social Work Program Director and Field Director to discuss circumstances and options available.
Applications for admission to the Professional Social Work Program are reviewed by the Social Work Program Advisory Committee. Students also interview with the Social Work Program Advisory Committee. Action on admission requests may include admission, conditional admission, or denial of admission. Students are notified of the decision of the Social Work Program Advisory Committee by an official letter from the Director of the Social Work Program. Students who are not accepted may appeal the decision by initiating the appeal process as outlined in the Social Work Program Student Handbook.
Students transferring into CSC may upon completion of Prerequisite Social Work courses or upon enrollment in Prerequisite Social Work courses, apply for admission to the Professional Social Work Program. Before a student can be admitted to the Professional Social Work Program, the application process must be completed.
In situations where students are applying to the Professional Social Work Program while finishing Prerequisite courses, students may enroll in Professional Social Work courses on a conditional basis with permission of the Director of the Social Work Program.
Students wanting to transfer credits from another institution must submit an official transcript to Chadron State College for evaluation. Unless an articulation agreement related to Social Work courses exists between Chadron State College and the institution, students must submit syllabi from prior Social Work courses to the Director of the Social Work Program. For Social Work Program courses, the final decision concerning content and acceptability of transferred courses rests with the Director of the Social Work Program.
Please refer to the Chadron State College Termination from Social Work Program policy for further details.
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