Social Work Department

Meet the Social Work Faculty
Social Work Webpage

Program Director & Department Chair: Carla Sofka

Program Coordinator: Davina Mayo-Dunham

The Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) is considered the entry to the social work profession with the ability to work in any state, many of which offer credentialing/licensing of the BSW practitioner. Those with BSW degrees work in a range of settings such as (but not limited to) domestic violence programs, homeless shelters, foster care agencies, nursing homes, senior service settings, child protective services, residential programs for children in foster care, adults with intellectual disabilities or adults with mental illness, case management services for a range of issues, and criminal justice settings such as probation, family court and reentry programs.

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) at the baccalaureate level, and in keeping with the Liberal Arts focus and Franciscan Traditions of Siena College, and the values of our profession, our Mission is:

Prepare baccalaureate students for effective generalist social work practice, equipped with the requisite professional knowledge, values, ethics, and skills.
Foster dynamic interactions and a healthy exchange of ideas within the Program, College, and broader community.
Facilitate critical thinking augmented with the creativity and natural curiosity of our students.
Promote conditions which encourage respect for human diversity.
Foster a commitment to social, economic and environmental justice and the protection of human rights.
Provide students with strategies to eliminate human oppression, economic deprivation, discrimination and environmental degradation.
Prepare students to become leaders in creating a just world.

Our Learning Goals: Upon completion of the Social Work Program, students will possess the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive/affective processes to:

Master the 9 competencies specified by CSWE’s 2022 Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).
Engage in evidence-based practice in a diversity affirming and culturally competent manner.
Advocate for social, economic, and environmental justice and the protection of human rights through participation in social action.
Acquire a strong professional identity through ongoing self-reflection and a lifetime commitment to professional development.

Admission to the Social Work Program:

Current Siena students: Formal admission to the Social Work Program is required to enter upper division courses. A student must submit an application during the spring semester of their sophomore year.

Transfer students: Transfer students applying to enter Siena for their Junior year are encouraged to formally apply to the Social Work Program at the same time they apply for admission to the College. The application and admission process to the College and to the Program are separate. Contact the Social Work Department to coordinate the application process into the Social Work Program.

Applicants are considered for admission to the Social Work Program based on the following criteria:

Admission to the College.
Submission of the social work application with includes:
- one letter of recommendation
- admission essay (guidelines provided in the application)
- writing sample
- Acknowledgement of the Academic, Behavioral and Ethical Expectations
Completion of an interview with social work faculty.
Academic Expectations:
- cumulative minimum GPA of 2.3
- social work major course GPA of 2.7.

Criteria for retention in the Social Work Program: In order to remain in the Social Work Program, students must comply with the Department’s Academic, Behavioral, and Ethical Expectations which are grounded in the National Association of Social Worker’s Code of Ethics and the Council of Social Work Education’s Educational and Policy Accreditation Standards. A copy of these standards are available upon request and are provided as part of the application process.

Note: Admission into the Social Work Program does not guarantee completion of the program.

Eligibility for Masters of Social Work (MSW) Advanced Standing: Students who successfully complete all of the requirements for the Social Work Program and earn their Baccalaureate Degree may be eligible to apply for advanced standing in CSWE Accredited MSW Programs that offer this status. Each MSW program has its own GPA requirements, usually 3.0 or better, and minimum grade requirement for social work courses. If granted advanced standing, a student could be awarded up to a year toward the MSW degree.

While students can apply to any MSW program, the Siena Social Work Program maintains affiliation agreements with The College of Saint Rose which provides qualifying students with early admission, advanced standing and scholarship assistance. For more information, please see the “Siena College Affiliation Agreements” section of this catalog.

Requirements for the Social Work Major: See links below for “Social Work, B.A.” to obtain information on required courses for the major.

Students must achieve and maintain a minimum social work major GPA of 2.7 for required SWRK courses following admission into the Social Work Program as well as an overall GPA of 2.3. Any student who falls below a 2.7 major GPA for the required SWRK courses or falls below the required overall GPA of 2.3 at any point following formal admission into the program will have one semester to correct their GPA. If the GPA is not resolved during this timeframe, the student may be terminated from the program and required to declare another major.

The Social Work Minor is a great opportunity for students who want to explore social work content, discover social work later in their academic career, and/or are thinking of going on for a MSW degree. The minor consists of 19 credits. Click on the link for “Social Work Minor” to see list of required courses.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Social Work, B.A.

Minor

Social Work Minor

Courses

Social Work