Gwynedd Mercy University
AY2021-2022 Undergraduate Academic Catalog
non-profit agency . Day camp counselor , babysitter , or running errands are not appropriate volunteer service activities .
5 . A letter of recommendation from a human service professional who supervised the student ’ s volunteer experience stating they believe the student has qualities for success as a social worker , including what they think will make the student successful .
6 . 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 .
7 . 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 in to their career goals . The paper should make the case for the student to be admitted into the BSW program including how they can contribute to leadership in the degree program ( participation in the Social Work Club , service , Phi Alpha Honor Society , etc .).
Upon receipt of the completed application packet and an interview with the Program Director and Field Director , the material submitted will be reviewed by the Performance Review Committee consisting of the Program Director , the Director of Field Education and other social work faculty with a decision for continuance or non-continuance in the major made 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 candidacy status by the Program Director by the beginning of the spring semester in a letter sent by email . The email will include their acceptance or non-acceptance to the program with instructions on their next steps if they are not accepted and instructions on what their next steps are if they are accepted . Students who are not deemed appropriate for 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 Candidacy Application . Students may start the program with less than a 2.5 GPA but must meet the minimum GPA at the time of formal application to the BSW degree program .
Internal transfers will meet with the Program Director to discuss their interest , the requirements of the program , and the transfer of credits from their previous major . During this meeting , students are provided with a copy of the student handbook , program goals , and program policies . Students must take the pre-requisite courses and then submit a Candidacy Application to enter the advanced level of the major in the same manner specified above .
Students who are re-admitted to the university after a long period away must meet with the Program Director to discuss their interest , program expectations , and requirements . They must then submit an application to the social work degree program .
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 . Candidacy Applications to enter the advanced level of the major will be reviewed in the same manner specified above . The Registrar ’ s office will conduct a transfer equivalency analysis of the applicant ' s completed credits . Transcripts of students who are transferring from another CSWE BSW program will be evaluated , and social work credits will be accepted if they correspond to the courses offered at Gwynedd Mercy University . The Program Director will review all transcripts and course descriptions from the sending university to determine course equivalency . All accepted transfer credits must
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