The Department of Social Work offers both graduate and undergraduate degrees. The purpose of the social work major is to provide professional education and training to prepare graduates for employment as social workers at the beginning professional level. Students in the major acquire knowledge and skills for work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. An important aspect of the social work major is its emphasis on application of knowledge, theory, and skills during internships in community programs and agencies. The Social Work Department develops internships that are designed to be responsive to students' interests, abilities, and educational needs.

The Gallaudet social work major also prepares students for admission to graduate school in social work and related human service fields.

The undergraduate program in social work has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1976.

Since 1989, the department has offered the master's in social work (M.S.W.). The M.S.W. program prepares deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing students to assume leadership positions in the provision of social work services for deaf and hard of hearing people throughout the United States and internationally.

The Department of Social Work offers the following undergraduate program:

• B.S.W. in Social Work

The Department of Social Work offers the following graduate program:

• M.S.W. in Social Work

Our Mission

The mission of the Department of Social Work is to promote a learning climate that teaches the knowledge, values and skills of generalist social work practice consistent with the educational program standards of the Council on Social Work Education. The Department incorporates an empowerment model of social work practice that emphasizes strengths, embraces diversity of people, cultures and ideas, and provides quality social work education to deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing students in a bi-lingual environment where American Sign Language and English are equally valued. The graduate and undergraduate curriculum promotes social and economic justice and the well being of individuals, families, groups, communities, and nations.

Major Requirements

Summary of Requirements

Requirements to for a Major in Social Work

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.

In major courses, students must also demonstrate Eng¬lish language skills commensurate with professional require¬ments. 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 22 hours

To be taken during freshman or sophomore year:
BIO 105 Introduction to Human Biology (4)
ECO 205 Economics for Social Workers (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)