Gwynedd Mercy University 2025-2026 University Catalog 122
For Major Requirements, see Program Handbook and Curriculum Sheets. For Curriculum Sequence, see Program Handbook.
Academic Criteria for Admission, Progression and Retention
Program Admissions Requirements and Procedures: Any student accepted into the University can declare social work as a major. Students will undergo a performance review in the social work major after taking SWK 201 Introduction to Social Work.
The performance review will include:
1. A transcript review indicating an overall GPA of 2.5 or better and a 2.67 or better in required social work courses.
2. A completed and signed volunteer service form verifying that the student has performed 15 hours of volunteer service in the past three years. The volunteer service must be performed at a non-profit agency that provides social services.
3. A letter of recommendation from a human service professional or employer who has observed the student’ s volunteer or work experience.
4. A letter of recommendation from a non-social work professor stating they think they have the academic ability and discipline to succeed in the BSW program.
5. A three- to five-page self-assessment paper describing student qualities that would make them a good social worker. The paper should address any biases the student may be aware of and how the social work degree fits into their career goals. The paper should include how they can contribute to leadership in the BSW program( e. g. participation in the Social Work Club, service, Phi Alpha Honor Society, etc.).
6. Students will participate in an interview with the Program Director and the full-time BSW Faculty. The BSW Faculty will make a decision for continuance or non-continuance in the major by the beginning of the spring semester. Students will be assessed based on their scholarship, self- awareness, motivation for a career in social work, quality of the self-assessment paper, writing quality, and appropriateness of the social work degree for student’ s career goals. A Performance Review Rubric will be utilized to assess student’ s continuance in the BSW program.
Students will be notified of their performance review status by the Program Director by the beginning of the spring semester in a letter sent by email. The email will include their continuance or noncontinuance in the program with instructions on their next steps if they are not approved to continue in the major. Students who are not deemed eligible to continue in the BSW program will be directed to the university’ s professional advisors to choose another major.
Internal / External Transfers: Students who are currently enrolled at the university and who are interested in changing their major to the Bachelor of Social Work program may do so at any time but must have earned a GPA of 2.5 or higher at the time of the change of major. Internal transfer students will undergo a performance review, as described above, after taking SWK 201 Introduction to Social Work. Any student who has been enrolled in a regionally accredited post-secondary school of higher education and accepted into Gwynedd Mercy University as a transfer student may apply for admission into the Bachelor of Social Work program. A performance review will be conducted in the same manner specified above, after the transfer student completes SWK 201. If the student has a transfer equivalency SWK 201, the student will undergo a performance review after their first semester at the University. The