BSSW PROGRAM APPLICATION PROFESSIONAL STATEMENT ESSAYS
For more information on how to complete your essays,
see page 4 of the BSSW Application Instruction packet.
ESSAY A: ACADEMIC READINESS
Assess your strengths and challenges in each of the four areas:
1. Academic abilities and achievements
2. Oral and written communication skills
3. Teamwork skills
4. Leadership abilities
Provide examples of your experiences which highlight not only your abilities and but identifies
areas that are challenging for you. Describe the steps that you have taken or plan to take to
improve areas you identified as challenges. You do not need to attach copies of your cited
evidence, just report it. Examples of student learning activities that can be cited as evidence
include, but are not limited to the following:
 Scholarships and/or university
 Volunteer experiences in human service area
honors; Membership in Honor
 Participation in campus or community
societies
organizations
 Faculty evaluation and feedback of
 Service-learning projects
class assignments, class
 Holding a position of responsibility in
presentations, participation in class
university or community organizations
discussions;
 Voluntary attendance at university,
 Evaluations of class experiences
community or professional
requiring cooperative learning
lectures/workshops related to the social work
 Exemplary papers from social work
field
classes
ESSAY B: DEFINITION OF SOCIAL WORK
The term social work has many meanings to many people. In this essay, present an explanation
of social work, drawn from the professional literature you read in your social work courses, that
is understandable by the public. Tell us why you selected social work and what your future
goals are. Show that you understand what is expected of you as a generalist social worker in
your chosen field of practice.
1. Provide your definition of social work as a profession.
2. Explain the reasons you chose social work as your profession and your future goals as a
generalist social work practitioner.
3. Identify and discuss a social work field of practice in which you are interested in
working.
4. Identify and discuss at least one (1) core social work theories/perspectives/models (i.e.
strengths perspective, systems or person in environment theories, or empowerment
model) as it applies to your selected field of practice.
5. Identify and discuss at least two (2) roles and tasks of social work professionals in the
field of practice you identified above.
BSSWProgram. Application Essays. Jan2015.
ESSAY C: PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENT TO VALUES, ETHICS AND PRACTICE IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY.
People choose the social work profession for many reasons. In this essay:
1. Identify two (2) NASW Code of Ethics core social work values that you possess. Discuss
how they guide your development and practice as a generalist social worker.
2. Identify your experience(s) with diverse communities. Discuss your strengths and
challenges as a social worker in an increasingly diverse society. Highlight social justice
or advocacy related activities in which you have experience. If you have limited
experiences with diversity, social justice, or advocacy describe steps you will take to
increase your experiences in these areas.
3. Define and identify privilege as it manifests itself (or not) in your life and how you plan
to address the impact of privilege in your future practice.
BSSWProgram. Application Essays. Jan2015.