Social Work

Chairperson: Cory Cummings, Ph.D.; B.S.W. Program Director: Leanne Wood Charlesworth, Ph.D.; M.S.W. Program Director: Rebecca Rouland, Ph.D.; Professor: Wood Charlesworth, Ph.D.; Associate Professors: Cummings, Ph.D., Primus, Ph.D. and Rouland, Ph.D.; Assistant Professors: Bobadilla, Ph.D., Cole, DSW; Clinical Associate Professors: Rood, M.S.W. and Sharp, M.S.W.; Professor Emeriti: Brownstein-Evans, Ph.D., David, M.S.W., and Metzger, Ph.D.

BSW Program Mission Statement
The mission of the Nazareth BSW Program is to educate ethical, competent social workers prepared for graduate education and generalist practice. The Nazareth BSW Program provides a supportive, equitable and inclusive learning environment that facilitates learning among a diverse student body and emphasizes social work values as well as knowledge and skill development to improve the effectiveness of social work practice, programs and policies. The Nazareth BSW program prepares students to engage in strengths-based, culturally responsive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive practice and to advance human rights as well as social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Goals
The Nazareth University BSW program:

Prepares competent, ethical, strengths-based generalist practitioners committed to culturally responsive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive practice with diverse populations and to advancing human rights as well as social, racial, economic and environmental justice.
Provides a supportive, equitable and inclusive learning environment that facilitates learning among a diverse student body and emphasizes social work values as well as knowledge and skill development to improve the effectiveness of social work practice, programs and policies.
Develops qualified candidates for graduate education and generalist practitioners dedicated to life-long learning.

Accreditation
The baccalaureate program in social work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This accrediting body ensures that all baccalaureate and graduate-level social work programs are of a high quality and graduate competent professionals. Graduating from a CSWE-accredited baccalaureate program enables students to apply for both entry-level professional social work positions and for advanced standing in graduate programs of Social Work.

The Department of Social Work also offers a CSWE-accredited MSW degree program.

Both Nazareth programs are registered also with the Division of Professional Education New York State Education Department.

Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) Pathway
The NazarethDepartment of Social Work offers the coursework required to become a CASAC (and is approved as a New York State OASAS Certified Education and Training Provider). The curriculum develops knowledge and skills relevant to this practice area.

Child Life Specialist Pathway
Courses in the social work major and the developing children and families minor, plus a child life specialist theory and practice course, combine to prepare students well for a career in social work, including as a child life specialist. This undergraduate pathway offers students the opportunity to complete the academic requirements for Child Life Specialist (CLS) certification.

General Information
The B.S. degree in social work requires extensive supervised practicum experience. The social work faculty partner with Rochester-area health and human service agencies to acquaint students with the diverse opportunities existing in the social work profession.

Students are required to receive at least a ‘C’ grade in all required SWK courses and maintain a 2.5 overall average in SWK, in order to continue in the major.