College of Humanities and Social Sciences

» Academic Degrees

» Academic Advising

» Departments

» Faculty & Staff

Student & Faculty Spotlight

Drs. Dawn McCarty and Jo Bailey

BSW Degree in Social Work

"A BSW is a value based degree and a valuable one. Students can make a lasting contribution not just to Houston but to the world."
--Jo Bailey

Mission Statement
The mission of UHD’s Bachelor of Social Work program will be to prepare entry-level social workers for theoretically-informed, value-based, justice-oriented, generalist practice in an urban environment and to prepare students for future professional development and graduate study.

The focus of the program will be to produce practitioners who:
(1) possess the cultural understanding and requisite skills to effectively work with, and empower, diverse populations, particularly minority and immigrant groups, and (2) are knowledgeable of social issues and policies from an international perspective.

Values of Social Work Profession

Service - help people in need & address social problems
Social justice - concern with poverty, unemployment, & discrimination
Dignity and worth of person - treat others with respect & promote self-determination
Importance of human relationships - Integrity - behave in an ethical & honest manner
Competence - practice according to their skills; increase their skills

Another advantage to pursuing a BSW degree at UHD is that the program will be applying for accreditation with the Council on Social Work Education. Once the program is accredited, graduates from the BSW program may apply for ”Advanced Standing” in social work graduate programs. For example, at UH’s GCSW, advanced standing allows the student to waive the foundation course work the equivalent of 15 semester credit hours of the 63 hours needed for the Master’s in Social Work program. See the University of Houston’s site for further information about advanced standing.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States. The profession is expected to grow by 30% by 2010, but a recent study by the National Association of Social Workers indicates that at current levels, social work programs will not be able to adequately supply these workforce needs.

The role of a social worker in a community is vital, this person can not only offer support, but also can connect clients with the services and care they need. A social worker is a person that can effect change in others lives and well as the community.

Our professional organization is the National Association of Social Workers http://www.naswdc.org/