Major Requirements

Students who wish to declare a major at Gallaudet University use the "Major Selection/Change Form," available from Academic Advising (in the Jordan Student Academic Center, Room 2220) or from the Registrar (in Chapel Hall, Room 101). Students need to get signatures of their advisors and the department chair. Some departments have specific requirements for students to be majors. Those requirements are listed below.

Requirements for Admission to a Major in Social Work

1. A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00
2. Two letters of reference that provide information about the applicant's character, maturity, stability, achievements, interactional skills and special qualities that would make the applicant a good candidate for social work. The letters may be from teachers, employers, academic advisors, or other professionals.
3. An admissions essay that is 1-2 pages in length. The essay should address the following:
   • the reason for selecting social work as a major,
   • career goals,
   • personal assets,
   • the contribution that will be made to the Social Work Program,
   • the contribution that will be made to the profession of social work, and 6) a discussion of a plan to meet the Program's requirements.
4. Meet with the BA Program Director.
5. Most recent copy of your transcript.
6. Completion of the admissions application located in the Appendix I.

Each applicant is evaluated based on the strengths of the letters of recommendation, and the merits of the admissions essay.

Individuals who are accepted into the social work major must sign the Student Code of Conduct Contract (Handbook Appendix II) and the University's Major Declaration Form. They are also given a Student Handbook, the NASW Code of Ethics and other printed material from NASW that offers information related to careers in social work, and assigned an academic advisor. If admission to the social work major is denied, a letter providing the reasons is written by the BA Program Director and given to the applicant.

Deadline for submission of two letters of recommendation, transcript, essay and the completed admissions application are from September 08, 2007 to October 31, 2007 for acceptance in January 2008. Admission materials must be submitted between February 5, 2008 and April 30, 2008 in order to be considered for acceptance in the fall 2008. All of the admission materials must be received by the stated deadlines in order to be considered for acceptance to the social work program.

A new general studies curriculum was approved by the Gallaudet faculty on June 25, 2007. Students entering in Fall 2007 follow the new curriculum. An introduction to the new General Studies Curriculum is online, presented in ASL and English.

Summary of Requirements

	2006-2007	2007-2008
General Studies	60	40
Additional Pre-Major Courses		26
Major and Related Courses	6	47
Free Elective Courses	47	7
TOTAL	124	120

The requirements below are for students who enter during or after Fall 2007. Students who entered in previous semesters will find their requirements in the archived catalogs.

Requirements to Continue in the Major

For continuation in the major, a student must earn a grade of C or better in courses requiring mastery of principles, methodology, and practice and demonstration of professional values and ethics considered necessary for satisfactory performance in the profession (SWK 335, 337, 436, 482, 484, 486, and 494). Internships may be repeated only with permission of the department. In major courses, students must also demonstrate English language skills commensurate with professional requirements.

2007-2008 Course Requirements

Students are encouraged to have completed ENG 103 or the equivalent before beginning the major and during the major are advised to use the services of the English Works!.

Required pre-major courses 26 hours

To be taken during freshman or sophomore year:
BIO 101 Introduction to Biology I (3)
BIO 102 Introduction to Biology II (3)
BIO 103 Introduction to Biology Laboratory I (1)
BIO 104 Introduction to Biology Laboratory II (1)
ECO 203 Introduction to Economics I (3)
GOV 101 American Government and Contemporary Affairs I (3)
GOV 102 American Government and Contemporary Affairs II (3)
MAT 102 Introductory Probability and Statistics (3)
PSY 201 Introduction to Psychology (3)
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3)

Required social work courses 44 hours

SWK 203 The Field of Social Work (3)
SWK 304 Development of the American Social Welfare System (3)
SWK 307 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (3)
SWK 308 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3)
SWK 318 Human Diversity (3)
SWK 335 Social Work Practice I: Individuals (3)
SWK 337 Case Management (3)
SWK 436 Social Work Practice II: Families and Groups (3)
SWK 441 Research Methods in Social Work I (3)
SWK 442 Research Methods in Social Work II Data Analysis (3)
SWK 482 Social Work Practice III: Organizations and Communities (3)
SWK 484 Social Work Practicum I: Internship (4)
SWK 486 Social Work Practicum II: Internship (4)
SWK 494 Senior Seminar (3)

Elective social work courses 3 hours

Choose three hours:
SWK 200 Contemporary Gender Issues (3)
SWK 201 Social Work Practice and AIDS (3)
SWK 202 Adoptive Family Systems (3)
SWK 265 Child Welfare (3)
SWK 267 Alcohol and Drug Addictions: Intervention Strategies (3)
SWK 495 Special Topics (1-3)
SWK 499 Independent Study (1-3)