Social Work

Program Description

The Associate of Arts, AA at JCCC is a general transfer degree and partners well with the first two years of most bachelor degree programs. Students pursuing the AA may select courses that satisfy both the AA degree requirements and lower division requirements for a bachelor’s degree at four-year institutions. The elective hours within the AA allow students to complete additional general education and lower division courses required for specific majors. The AA degree requires completion of 60 credit hours. Meeting with a JCCC counselor is strongly recommended for selection of appropriate courses. 

The 120 credit hour Bachelor of Social Work degree provides preparation for beginning level generalist social work practice in many human service fields. Students graduating with this major are immediately eligible to become licensed Social Work professionals who affect change in the feelings, attitudes, and behaviors of a client, whether an individual, family, group, organization, or community. Social Work is a popular major for students who want hands-on learning experiences in fields like hospitals, mental health centers, elderly care facilities, schools, child welfare or family services, shelters, courts, and many other types of social service agencies. Students completing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree are also well prepared to enter a graduate program in Social Work, often completing a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree with only an additional year of study.

Admission Requirements

• Admission: Students may immediately declare a Social Work major and begin taking Social Work classes. There is also a formal application process for final admission to the major. The process is described in the Social Work Department Student Handbook and on the Avila Social Work Department website. Additionally, prior to field experiences in SW 280, SW 303, SW 495, or SW 496, field agencies may require a criminal and/or child abuse background check.
• A minimum of 60 semester hours must be completed at a four-year institution. The final thirty (30) hours must be completed at Avila University.
• All students must complete the Avila University Core Curriculum as part of their degree programs. The Core consists of a minimum of 38 credit hours that meet the requirements below. 
• Transfer students coming to Avila with an Associate of Arts (AA), a Bachelor’s degree, or higher degree from an institution accredited by accreditors recognized by both the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the US Department of Education (USDE), or regional accrediting bodies, will be considered to have completed all Skills and Liberal Arts level requirements in the Core Curriculum. They are still required to complete the following Core Component Designations:
• • IS-Interdisciplinary Studies (3 credit hours)
  • GS-Global Studies or CE-Community Engagement (3 credit hours) Requirement met by practicum education, SW 495 and SW 496.
  • Any core courses specifically required as part of the general education curriculum for the student’s major not previously completed
• Transfer students coming to Avila without an Associate of Arts (AA), a Bachelor’s degree, or higher degree from an institution accredited by accreditors recognized by both the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the US Department of Education (USDE), or regional accrediting bodies, are required to complete all the Skills and Liberal Arts level requirements in the Core Curriculum as well as the following Core Component Designations:
  • IS-Interdisciplinary Studies (3 credit hours)
  • GS-Global Studies or CE-Community Engagement (3 credit hours) Requirement met by practicum education, SW 495 and SW 496.
  • Any core courses specifically required as part of the general education curriculum for the student’s major not previously completed
• Visit the Avila Core Curriculum Guide for JCCC equivalents.
• Criteria for completion of the BSW degree: Students must complete academic work with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all Social Work Courses (the credit/no credit option is not available in the major), and complete at least 45 semester hours of Social Work courses, including the courses listed below.