Social Work - Major
For information contact Professor Maynard Cressman, mlcressm@cedarcrest.edu, 610-606-4666, ext. 3502
Program Description
The Social Work Program at Cedar Crest College is dedicated to the provision of the highest quality educational preparation of students for entry into beginning social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Consistent with the mission of the College, the Social Work Program seeks to provide students with a liberal arts perspective and a particular focus on the development of women. The Social Work Program is philosophically guided by a holistic approach to practice that includes the spiritual dimension of the human condition. The program is also committed to preparing professionals who will work to alleviate poverty, oppression, and discrimination through a dedicated advocacy for social and economic justice.
The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and is designed to provide students with a generalist approach to social work practice. Students who complete the major outlined below will be prepared for a beginning professional social work practice and usually are awarded advanced standing in graduate social work study.
Recent social work graduates of Cedar Crest College have been employed as medical social workers in hospitals, as social workers in long-term care facilities, as psychiatric social workers in mental health settings, as counselors in substance abuse and family service agencies, as employee assistance counselors in occupational settings, and as social workers in child welfare, and in health care settings.
Program Mission Statement
The Social Work Program at Cedar Crest College is dedicated to the provision of the highest quality educational preparation of students for entry into beginning generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Consistent with the mission of the college, the Social Work Program seeks to provide students with a professional education grounded in a liberal arts perspective with a particular focus on the development of women. The Social Work Program is philosophically guided by a generalist approach that is grounded in the core competencies and practice behaviors. The Social Work Program is also committed to preparing professionals who will have a lifetime commitment to incorporate diversity in practice, and to uphold human rights, and social and economic justice in professional practice.
Total number of credits required by program: 59 credits (professional social work courses)
Program Requirements
Completing the social work program requires completing the required foundation and professional courses, who have achieved at least a C in each of the professional courses, who have achieved at least a C or better in the foundation courses, and who have otherwise satisfied the College’s requirements for graduation.
Each student’s academic progress and ability to remain in the program is regularly monitored by the social work faculty. A formal review of the student’s status occurs in the spring term of the junior year to evaluate her preparation for the senior field education experience (Social Work 339). Acceptance is based on overall academic course work and particularly on performance in Social Work 327 (a C or better), which is normally taken in the junior year.
Course Requirements
The major in social work consists of the following foundation courses:
ANT 100 Cultural Anthropology 3 credits
SOC 100 Introduction to Culture and Society 3 credits
SOC 321 The Family as a Social Institution 3 credits
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credits
PSY 210 Life-Span Development 3 credits
Additional Requirements
Social work students are required to demonstrate proficiency in Math 102, College Mathematics, and take Sociology 324 or Math 110. To fulfill their scientific reasoning requirement, social work students must take Biology 111, The Human Agenda: Environment, and BIO 112, The Human Agenda: Health Issues, in their freshman or sophomore year. Students transferring from other programs who have completed upper level biology courses may be exempted from this requirement with the approval of the faculty.
Plus the following required professional courses:
SWK 201 Introduction to Social Work 4 credits
SWK 171 Understanding and Using APA Editorial Style for Social Work Majors (must be taken concurrent with SWK 201) 1 credit
SWK 202 The Social Welfare Institution 4 credits
SWK 243 Social and Psychological Aspects of Aging 4 credits
SWK 300 Community Organizing and Social Planning 3 credits
SWK 303 Human Behavior and the Social Environment 3 credits
SOC/SWK 313 Minorities and Human Relations 3 credits
SWK 324 Social Sciences Statistics 3 credits
SWK 325 Social Work Research Methods and Design 4 credits
SWK 326 Evaluating Social Work Research 4 credits
SWK 327 Social Work Processes: Individuals, Families, Groups 4 credits
SWK 328 Poverty and Income Redistribution 4 credits
SWK 329 Generalist Social Work Practice 3 credits
SWK 339 Field Education in Social Work I (Capstone Experience) 9 credits
SWK 345 Field Education Seminar I (Capstone Experience) 3 credits
SWK 346 Field Education Seminar II (Capstone Experience) 3 credits
Fulfillment of LAC Requirements
The technology, information literacy, and oral presentation requirements are embedded in the social work courses in varying degrees. Thus, these requirements are met in full by completing the social work major.
Departmental Review for Field Education Experience
Students majoring in Education, Forensic Science, Nursing, Nutrition or Social Work are required to complete a field practicum or clinical experience. Because this requirement necessitates working with the public in a professional setting, it is important that the student has advanced interpersonal skills, mature judgment, and appropriate professional demeanor. Thus, faculty in these programs will review students prior to the engagement in field education and make appropriate recommendations for improvement to the student. If deemed necessary by the faculty, students who fail to maintain these standards can be dismissed from their field education placement.
Program Outcomes
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Engage diversity and difference in practice.
- Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
