College of Health Professions
Social Work
The Social Work program prepares students to advocate for individuals and communities through compassionate service, ethical practice, and social justice leadership.
Overview
About the Program
The Social Work program at the University of Findlay prepares future-ready social workers to lead with compassion, ethics, and real-world skills. Grounded in scientific inquiry and a person-in-environment perspective, graduates are equipped to serve diverse communities and make a meaningful impact.
Program
Highlights
Field Placement
Experienced Faculty
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College of health professions
At a Glance
College
College of Health Professions
Degree
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
Format
On-Campus
Credits
120+ credits
Curriculum
Course Requirements
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Findlay complete required coursework grounded in human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy, research methods, and generalist social work practice to build a strong foundation for professional practice. Depending on academic preparation and career interests, additional coursework or specialized field experiences may be required.
Admissions
Admissions Requirements
- At least a 2.5 grade-point average in all college-level coursework
- At least a 2.75 grade-point average in all coursework in the social sciences (including social work) with no grade below a ‘C’
- Satisfactory completion of all academic competencies required by the university
- Successful completion (‘C’ or better) of SOWK 101 and either successful completion of or concurrent enrollment in SOWK 310 and SOWK 360
- Successful completion (‘C’ or better) of PSYC 100
- Submission of a completed Application for Admission to the Social Work Program
- Demonstration of a commitment to the values and ethics of the social work profession
- Demonstration of the characteristics necessary for the profession of social work
- Formal interview with members of the Social Work Program faculty
Students make formal application for admission to the program when they have completed the majority of their general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree. The application is usually made during the second semester of the junior year of study.
Program faculty reviews each application separately. The final decision for each application is based on a combination of academic excellence and professional potential. If the final decision is favorable, full admission to the program is granted. If there are problematic areas, provisional admission to the program may be granted with a specific time frame allowed for corrective action. If at the end of that time, the student has successfully completed all corrective actions, full admission is granted.
With nearly 60 areas of undergraduate study and 10 areas of graduate study to choose from, your transition as an Oiler transfer student will be seamless. The social work program has 2+2 agreements with many local community colleges.
opportunities
Hands-On Experience
Engage in hands-on experiences at the University of Findlay throughout your academic study.
n addition to classroom work, field instruction supervised by professional social workers in a variety of social service agencies in the community provides ‘hands-on’ learning experiences for social work students. Field instruction begins with SOWK 310, Field Instruction I, a one-semester course normally taken during the sophomore or junior year. In addition to classroom requirements the student will spend at least 60 hours over the course of the semester observing (and assisting as appropriate) a professional social worker in a formal agency setting.
The second component of field instruction is a two-semester sequence, SOWK 410, Field Instruction II, taken during the second semester of the fourth year. During this phase of instruction the student spends a minimum of 32 hours per week (480 hours during the semester) in an agency setting, again supervised by a professional social worker. During each of these field experiences program faculty closely monitors student progress. More information about field instruction may be found in the Field Instruction Manual.
Field Placement Options include but are not limited to:
- Awakening Minds Art;
- Children’s Mentoring Connection;
- Findlay City Mission;
- Family Resource Center;
- FOCUS Recovery and Wellness Community;
- Habitat for Humanity;
- Hancock County Children’s Services;
- Hancock County Veteran’s Services;
- Hope House;
- Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth;
- Good Shepherd Home;
- Crossroads Crisis Center;
- Crime Victim Services;
- Good Grief of Northwest Ohio;
- Firelands Mental Health and Recovery Center;
- Sisters in Shelter;
- Equality Toledo;
- Ada Exempted Village Schools;
- Financial Opportunity Center;
- Wood County Board of DD
financial aid
Cost of Education
Students can earn endowed scholarships in addition to their merit scholarships during their time at Findlay.
opportunities
Clubs and Activities
There are many opportunities outside of the classroom to get involved, including:
University of Findlay welcomes the opportunity to work with community organizations to sponsor continuing education programming for social workers. If you are interested in having your event sponsored for clock hours, please submit a co-sponsor application.
The Eta Theta chapter of Phi Alpha, a national honor society in social work, was chartered on the University of Findlay campus in April 1998. Membership is offered to social work majors who demonstrate both outstanding scholarship and dedication to the promotion of the humanitarian goals and ideals of the social work profession. The chapter of Phi Alpha meets monthly and has many activities and fundraisers planned each academic year with all proceeds benefiting a nonprofit charity chosen by the members.
Initiations for Phi Alpha Honor Society occur in December and April with a pinning and induction ceremony for new inductees.
Requirements
As an undergraduate student, you are eligible for active membership after achieving the following national requirements and meeting local chapter requirements:
- Declared social work as a major
- Achieved junior status
- Completed nine semester hours of required social work courses
- Achieved an overall grade point average of 3.0
- Achieved a 3.25 grade point average in required social work courses
- Received formal acceptance into the Social Work Program
The Social Work Club gives you an opportunity to implement those philosophies and values learned in the classroom while encouraging students and faculty to become better acquainted with each other outside the classroom.
As a member of the Social Work Club, you will participate in such activities as professional seminars/forums, field trips, community service and philanthropic projects, all of which allow you to expand and apply your knowledge of the social work profession.
Members of the club also can participate in the development of changes in the social work program by serving on the Social Work Program Advisory Council. More information about the club may be obtained from social work faculty or student members of the club.
college of Health Professions
Accreditation
University of Findlay’s Social Work program has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1995.
The program provides summary data and outcomes for the assessment of each of its competencies, identifying the percentage of students achieving the benchmark. Click here to view the summary of data and outcomes.
The social work program is fully accredited as a part of the University of Findlay and the College of Health Professions through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Contact Us
Need more information about the Social Work program at the University of Findlay? Have questions about admissions, coursework, field education, career pathways, or student support services? We’re here to help—connect with our team to learn how the Social Work program prepares students to make a meaningful difference in individuals, families, and communities through ethical practice and compassionate service.
Email: melissa.weber@findlay.edu
Phone: 419-434-5611
Location: 1000 N. Main St. | Findlay, OH 45840