Social Work Program

Program Overview/Mission

As our society grows in complexity, the role of social workers becomes more critical. Social workers help people achieve an effective level of psychosocial functioning in society. University of Houston-Clear Lake's Social Work undergraduate program prepares you for social work practice or graduate study.

Goals and Objectives

Upon completing your degree at UH-Clear Lake, you are prepared to take the Licensed Social Worker exam, making you more marketable to employers. You can pursue the field of social work in many areas, including the following:

• Adoption/Foster Care
• Criminal Justice System
• Disabilities Services
• Immigrant & Refugee Services
• Physical and Mental Health Care
• Social Policy and Advocacy
• Nonprofit Community Organizations
• Schools
• Senior Care
• Substance Use and Addiction Care
• Veterans and Military Affairs

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Program Degrees

• Social Work B.S.W.
• Social Work B.S.W. and Women's Studies Certificate

Accreditation Information

The Bachelor of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Admission Requirements

• BSW Secondary Admission Criteria and Policies
• Secondary Admission Criteria and Prerequisites
  Students may declare Social Work as their major at any point in time. However, students must apply for Secondary Admission and be accepted into the BSW Program in order to complete the curriculum and earn a Bachelor of Social Work.
  
  Before applying for Secondary Admission into the BSW Program, students must have completed the criteria and prerequisites listed below.
  

  • Current UHCL Student
  • Cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
  • Completion of the Texas Core Requirements.
  • Prerequisites: Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher.
    • Introduction to Psychology – PSYC 2301
    • Introduction to Sociology – SOCI 1301
    • Introduction to Social Work - SWRK 2361
    • Professional Issues and Ethics in Social Work - SWRK 3304
    • Natural Science Courses (complete one of the following): Human or General Biology; Anatomy & Physiology; Human or General Biology for non-science majors; or The Human Body.
• Application and Required Documents
  We encourage students to apply throughout the year. Admission into the BSW program is given on a rolling basis. Please review the Application Instructions and Supporting Materials before you begin. A completed application packet must include the following documents and information.
  
  

  • Application Form and Checklist
  • An unofficial copy of all college transcripts
  • 3 letters of recommendation from previous instructors or work supervisors
  • A 4–6-page autobiographical statement. Applicants should be certain that their autobiographical statement is a strong sample of their ability to express themselves in writing. Instructions for the statement can be found on the Application Form and Checklist.
  • Student Code of Conduct Form

  Fall Registration Important Note: To gain access to BSW advanced curriculum in the fall, students must apply to the program by July 15.
  
  Contact Dr. Heather Kanenberg (KanenbergH@uhcl.edu), Dr. Roberta Leal (LealR@uhcl.edu), or Dr. Maria Wilson (WilsonM@uhcl.edu) for BSW advising as soon as possible.
  
  Important Notice: We are currently working to make our application forms accessible. Please contact Dr. Heather Kanenberg to obtain the needed application documents.
  
  
• Admission Review Process
  Students are highly encouraged to attend a BSW Program Orientation, offered every semester.
  

  • Complete admission packets are reviewed by all full-time and/or part-time faculty.
  • Students receive admission decisions within 30 days emailed to their UHCL email address.
  • Students with a GPA lower than 2.5 may still be admitted to the BSW Program, if faculty determines other admission criteria are suitably strong.
  • Applicants should also note that a personal interview may be required as part of the admissions process. 

  UHCL BSW Program Orientations are offered every semester.  Students are highly encouraged to attend an orientation during their first semester at UHCL. 
  
  IMPORTANT NOTE: Students may declare Social Work as their major at any point in time. However, students must apply for secondary admission and be accepted into the BSW Program in order to complete the curriculum and earn a Bachelor of Social Work.
  
  

Program Faculty

Curriculum and Instruction

• Develop the knowledge and skills for working with oppressed populations who may have been discriminated against based on race, color, religion, gender identity/expression, age, sexual orientation, mental, or physical disability, veteran status or national origin
• Learn a respect and appreciation for diversity throughout all components of our applied learning environment
• Intern at one of several regional social service agencies
• Participate in faculty research projects

Student Data and Outcomes

Social Work Competencies and UHCL Students' Performance:

• Student Learning Outcomes

Student Resources

Information for Current Students

• UH Graduate College of Social Work Job Bank
• United Way of Greater Houston Job Bank
• Idealist
• Masters in Social Work Directory

University Student Resources

• Class Schedule
• E-Services
• Payment
• Enrollment Processes
• Waitlisting a Class
• Enrollment Verification
• Catalog
• Types of Aid
• Scholarships

• Academic Calendar
• Final Exam Schedule
• Payment Due Dates

Additional Information

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Advisory Board