Department of Social Work

Mission Statement

The Department of Social Work is committed to providing quality educational opportunities that incorporate professional values and evidence-based theory and practice with emphases on social justice, community service, and continuing professional and personal growth for a diverse population of students and community practitioners.

Department Information

The Department of Social Work offers the major in Social Work that emphasizes development of generalist practice skills based on academic and experiential knowledge, preparing the student for entry-level employment in a wide variety of practice settings and/or graduate education. The program requires senior year field experiences with professional agencies. The Social Work major is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Graduates of the program are eligible for licensure as baccalaureate social workers. Students may participate in the SHARE Club and may be selected to Phi Alpha, the National Honor Society in Social Work. Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in required courses applied to the Social Work major. If two grades below a “C” are earned in SOCW courses, whether in the same semester or different semesters, the student will not be eligible for admission, readmission, and/or progression in the social work program. Any student with an Incomplete (grade of “I”) in any SOCW course (s) will not be allowed to enroll in subsequent SOCW courses until the Incomplete has been removed from the transcript.

The Social Work Program requires the completion of an admission process. Phase I Admission to the Social Work Program allows the student to participate in the first practice course (SOCW 340). Phase I Admission is based on completion of nine hours in SOCW courses at LMU with grades of “C” or higher, a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher, three letters of recommendation, a professional philosophy statement, and an interview with the Admissions Committee. Phase II Admission to Field Experience and the senior 400 level courses is contingent upon successful completion of all the 200 and 300 level Social Work courses with grades of “C” or better, completion of all except 6 semester hours of general studies and elective requirements, and no less than 94 semester credit hours completed before enrolling in SOCW 497.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 allows the student to apply for Phase II Admission to Field Experience and the senior 400 level course.