Name: ______________________________________________
Banner ID: ________________________________________
Date: ______________________________________________
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Application for Admission
to the
Bachelor of Social Work Program
Revised 3/27/14
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APPLICATION INFORMATION
The School of Social Work offers the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Masters of Social Work
(MSW) degrees. The BSW degree prepares beginning generalist social work professionals for social work
practice within a liberal arts education.
Graduates of the undergraduate social work program receive a BSW degree from the University of North
Carolina Wilmington, which is fully accredited by the North Carolina Association of Colleges and
Universities, the Commission of Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the
Council on Social Work Education.
The School of Social Work reflects the commitment of the social work profession to encourage diversity
both in our society and in the profession. This commitment thus seeks the development of a community
of students and faculty that reflects the diversity of our regional community.
Students must submit an application by the deadlines as posted on the SSW website and be
admitted to the program in order to be designated as a Social Work major and eligible to register
for the next sequence of social work courses.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the BSW degree program requires:
1. Completion of the 45 university basic studies or university studies credit hours
2. Completion of 13 hours of the following collateral courses with a “C” grade or better.
Required for admission to SWK 320:
o BIO 105 or BIO 160 (4)
o SOC 105 (3)
o PSY 105 (3)
Required for admission to SWK 335
o PLS 101 (3)
3. Students must enroll in the fall semester of the foundation year in the following courses:
o
o
o
o
SWK 240 (Basic Working Relationship Skills),
SWKL 240 (Working Relationship Lab),
SWK 355 (Issues in Diversity for Generalist Practice), and
SWK 320 (Human Behavior and the Social Environment I, including 25 hours of service-learning).
We would also prefer that a student has taken or is enrolled in SWK 235: Introduction to Social Work and
the Social Welfare System at the time of the social work application.
4. An overall UNCW GPA of at least a 2.50. If a transfer student, the cumulative transfer GPA will be
considered.
All students must meet University and School of Social Work admission requirements to continue in the
program. Students must read the BSW Student Handbook, which can be found on the School of Social
Work website, for a more detailed discussion concerning the BSW program and the application process.
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Denial of Admission/Conditional Admission
Denial of admittance is based the student’s qualifications, both academic and professional, as
communicated in his or her application. If a student’s essay reveals a poor fit with the major, or if the
student’s GPA is below the standards required for admittance or retention (using criteria set forth in the
University Undergraduate Catalog), that student may not be admitted.
If a student is denied admission, the applicant will be formally notified in writing by the BSW
Coordinator regarding the reason for denial. Students denied admission into the BSW program have a
right to appeal the decision. Students appealing a denial decision must inform the BSW Program
Coordinator, in writing, within a week of receipt of the decision. The letter of appeal should provide a
rationale for the appeal, including evidence or documentation that the student is capable of completing the
rigorous requirements of the undergraduate social work program. Upon receiving the appeal letter, the
BSW Program Coordinator will review all relevant materials supplied by the student. If a student’s appeal
is deemed suitable for admission into the BSW program, the Program Coordinator will meet with the
student to discuss the terms for a “conditional” acceptance. Students denied admission into the program
may reapply at a later date once they meet all the requirements for admissions into the BSW Program.
Conditional acceptance may be granted when a student's grade point average is below the required 2.50 if
the BSW Coordinator or BSW Assistant Coordinator feels that the student has good career potential and
the ability to meet the academic requirements within the following semester. Conditions may include
requiring students to complete specific coursework prior to beginning the practice or field internship
sequence. Students who are admitted with a conditional status are informed that they must comply with
the stipulations contained in their conditional agreement. This agreement contains a contract between the
student and the BSW Program Coordinator or Assistant Coordinator listing the efforts to be made and the
grade requirements for the following semester. Such a plan might include utilization of services provided
by the University Learning Center and other mentoring programs on campus. Both the student and the
faculty advisor continually monitor the student’s progress to ensure compliance and to determine if
successful progress is being made. The student’s academic progress will be reviewed by the BSW
Program Coordinator or Assistant Coordinator after each of the following semesters to determine his/her
continuation in the program. If the student is showing progress and the ability to successfully complete
the BSW degree and still does not have a 2.50 GPA, then a continuance of the “conditional agreement”
may be granted by the BSW Program Coordinator.
Admission and continuance decisions for BSW students remain within control of the program faculty,
subject to general university regulations and the appeals process described in the BSW Student Handbook.
If a student is uncertain about their fit with the major and a social work career, they can meet with a social
work advisor or the BSW Coordinator or Assistant BSW Coordinator to discuss their plans.
Retention in the BSW Program
To be retained as a BSW major, students must make no less than a "C" in all social work (SWK)
courses and must have a 2.50 overall UNCW grade point average to be admitted into the BSW
Program and the Field Internship, which is required for completion of the requirements for the BSW
degree. Students must also meet the university requirements for completion of any degree awarded
by the university. Students should carefully read the section on Retention and Reinstatement in the
UNCW Undergraduate Catalog (available on-line on the UNCW website.) for information regarding
requirements for retention at the University. Students should pay careful attention to the GPA
retention chart in the Catalog.
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Students with Special Needs
The School of Social Work supports the profession’s commitment to recognize and serve populations
with special needs; and in accordance with State and Federal law, the School does not discriminate or
deny admission on the basis of disability to any person who is otherwise qualified. In order to give
students with visual, learning, motor, or other conditions or learning disabilities the assistance they
require, the program must be aware of these needs. Although students are not required to reveal
disabilities during the application process, such information will be maintained in confidence and
will help the faculty and staff in planning and advising around special needs. If a student desires
special assistance, it is suggested that s/he advise the BSW Program Coordinator, the Assistant BSW
Coordinator, and/or the Field Education Coordinator.
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APPLICATION FORM
Please complete this Form by deadlines from the SSW website (Feb., May, Aug.) and attach all
materials requested. Return packet to School of Social Work Administrative Assistant.
Name: _______________________________________________________________________
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
Permanent Address: ____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Local Address _________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Home Phone Number: ________________Work/Cell Phone Number: _____________________
UNCW Email Address (required of all students): _____________________________________
Students are encouraged to have completed the following courses or should make every effort to
complete the following courses prior to applying to the BSW program. A grade of “C” or better in
each course is required for graduation.
Please check which of the following Collateral/Intro courses you have completed or in which you are
currently enrolled:
Taken or
Enrolled?
Course
Semester/Year
Course Grade
SOC 105
PSY 105
PLS 101
BIO 105 or BIO 160
SWK 235
Please check the following social work courses in which you are currently enrolled:
Enrolled?
Course
SWK 240
SWKL 240
SWK 320
SWK 355
Present overall UNCW GPA _________
Present overall Social Work GPA _____________
If you are transferring to UNCW this semester, what is your transfer GPA? _________________
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Please indicate any Basic Studies* or University Studies courses you have not yet completed:
Requirements
ENG 100 or 101 (Or ENG 103 covers both 100 & 200)
ENG 200 or 201 (Or ENG 103 covers both 100 & 200)
PED 101 (Lifetime Wellness)
Math/Stats
Foreign Lang. course 1 (or proficiency at 201 level)
Foreign Lang. course 2 (or proficiency at 201 level)
Aesthetic, Interp. & Lit. course 1 (Literature for BS)
Aesthetic, Interp. & Lit. course 2 (Fine Arts for BS)
Historical Approaches
Philosophical Approaches
Scientific Approaches (in addition to BIO)
Diverse Nation
Global Society
UNI 101 (Incoming Freshmen must take in 1st semester)
Basic Studies
*
*
*
*
*
Not completed
*
*
*
*
*
The following questions address potential criminal convictions. We request this information solely to
determine implications for field placement and career issues. Admissions decisions are not based on
whether a student has any criminal violations. Your responses will be viewed only by School of
Social Work faculty and the Office of the Dean of Students.
Have you ever been found guilty of a felony? Yes: ____ No: _____
Have you ever been found guilty of a misdemeanor? Yes ____ No _____
If you answer yes to either of the questions above, please explain in your written statement
(requested below).
WRITTEN MATERIALS
Written statement: Please submit (below) a statement that answers the following questions. This
should be one full page.
1. What life circumstances or other events and concepts led to your decision to pursue a Bachelor of
Social Work degree?
2. What strengths do you have that will be an asset to the BSW program and to the profession of
social work?
3. What goals do you have for yourself following the completion of your BSW?
4. If you answered “yes” to having been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, please explain the
circumstances and the outcome of the conviction.
Note: The material in your personal statement will be held in confidence and retained in your
folder in the School of Social Work files. It will be used to help you begin to focus on your
commitments to working with others, to help the faculty better understand the needs and plans of
our students, and to help faculty better advise you.
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Social Service Resume: Please list all service-learning, volunteer, and work experience you have had in
working with people or social concerns (i.e., summer camps for special children, crisis lines, homeless
shelters, scouting leadership or other youth programs, mission trips, political or community activities,
etc.). Please give approximate dates. Even if you described your service history in your statement,
please include the material on your service resume. Jobs not in a social service (i.e., restaurant jobs,
sales positions, etc.) should not be included in this service resume.
Please feel free to include any additional information you think would be important for your faculty
to know with your application. We want to give your application the best consideration.
Note: Completion of this application to the BSW Program does not guarantee admittance into the
program. Admission to the BSW program is on a selective basis, determined by the academic
preparation and personal qualifications of the applicants. Students deemed as intellectually and
emotionally capable of completing the rigorous BSW curriculum will be admitted.
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