Social Work Department

Meet the Social Work Faculty
Social Work Webpage

Program Director & Department Chair: Elisa Martin

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. BSW practitioners work in a range of settings such as (but not limited to) domestic violence programs, homeless shelters, foster care agencies, nursing homes and senior services, child protective services, county probation, mental health housing and case management services.

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:

Learning Goals / EPAS Competencies and Practice Behaviors:

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.

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 2015 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: 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 and two letters of recommendation.
Completion of an interview with social work faculty.
Academic Expectations - cumulative minimum GPA of 2.3, social work major course GPA of 2.7.
Writing Proficiency - demonstrated through the required admission essay and writing sample.
Acknowledgement of the Academic, Behavioral and Ethical Expectations - defined by CSWE and outlined in the Social Work Program Handbook.

Admission process for current Siena students: Formal admission to the Social Work Program is required to enter upper division courses. A student must submit an application before the end of the second semester of the sophomore year.

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

Criteria for Retention in the Social Work Program: In order to remain in the Social Work Program, students must meet the following academic, behavioral, and ethical expectations:

Academic Expectations: minimum overall GPA of 2.3 and a minimum 2.7 GPA in required Social Work major courses.
Writing Proficiency - demonstrated through written assignments in SWRK courses.
Behavioral Expectations - outlined in the Social Work Program Handbook and the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards of the Council on Social Work Education.
Ethical Expectations - outlined in the Social Work Program Handbook and the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers.

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

Eligibility for Advanced Standing and Affiliation Agreements: Students who successfully complete all of the requirements for the Social Work Program and their Baccalaureate Degree may be eligible to apply for advanced standing in those Master of Social Work Programs that offer this status.

Note: Each MSW program has its own GPA requirements, usually 3.0 or better. If granted advanced standing, a student could be awarded significant graduate credits toward the MSW degree. The Siena Social Work Program also maintains affiliation agreements with some MSW degree programs. These may provide 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: In addition to meeting requirements of the College Core, students must complete 37 Social Work credits as follows: 1st year-SWRK-100 Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work; 2nd year- SWRK-200 Social Work Practice Skills; 3rd year-SWRK-300 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I, SWRK-301 Internship in Social Work (or, by prior Department approval either PCST-480 Internship in Peace Studies or INSA-480 Internship in Franciscan Service and Advocacy), SWRK- 310 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II, SWRK-315 Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities, and SWRK-320 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families; 4th year-SWRK-415 Social Work Practice with Groups, SWRK-410 and SWRK-420 Field Education I and II, SWRK- 430 Social Work Research, and SWRK-440 Social Welfare Policy.

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 in the time, the student will 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 Masters in Social Work. The minor consists of 19 credits: SWRK-100 Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work; SWRK-200 Social Work Practice Skills; SWRK-300 and SWRK-310 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II, SWRK-301 Internship in Social Work and two social work electives (6 credits).

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Social Work, B.A.

Minor

Social Work Minor

Courses

Social Work