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A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from TCU prepares you for a fulfilling career serving vulnerable communities. Whether with individuals, families, groups or organizations, our program equips you to drive real change.

Mission

TCU’s Bachelor of Social Work program is committed to cultivating compassionate, ethical and trauma-informed social workers who view the world through a critical lens. Its mission is to equip students with the knowledge, values and skills needed to address complex societal issues while upholding the highest ethical standards. It believes in the power of ethical care and trauma-informed practice to promote social justice, community healing and empower individuals.

Our program prepares students to critically examine systems of power through rigorous academic coursework, experiential learning opportunities and internships, as well as a strong emphasis on leadership development.

It strives to develop the next generation of social workers who are well-prepared professionals and passionate advocates for social change.

Small Classes for Top-Notch Instruction

Tailored internships that match your career goals
Trauma-informed practice curriculum
Engage in research through faculty projects
Engage in service through a social justice-focused student association

Field Education

At Harris College, we are all about challenging yourself and making a difference for others. As a student, you need opportunities to practice the skills you’ve learned. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.

Field education is the culmination of the academic experience as a student in social work. In this practice experience, you’ll work in an agency under the direction of field instructors who provide guidance and supervision to prepare you for professional practice.

TCU offers internship opportunities and does not support political or personal statements associated with any of them. We evaluate each opportunity to ensure academic value as it relates to a course of study. Beyond that, we encourage you to seek the opportunities that best match your interests and to choose how to best fulfill your internship requirements.

Student Outcomes

85% of graduates employed or continuing education upon graduation
Education institutions
Government agencies
Private counseling practices

Minor in Social Work

You can also learn about our social work minor.

Minor

BSW Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

Last updated: March 2024

This form is used to assist the Commission on Accreditation (COA) in the evaluation of the program’s compliance with the accreditation standards below:

4.0.2 The program provides its most recent year of summary data and outcomes for the assessment of each of the identified competencies, specifying the percentage of students achieving program benchmarks for each program option.

4.0.3 The program uses Form AS 4(B) and/or Form AS 4(M) to report its most recent assessment outcomes for each program option to constituents and the public on its website and routinely up-dates (minimally every 2 years) its findings.

All Council on Social Work Education programs measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies that comprise the accreditation standards of the Council on Social Work Education. These competencies are dimensions of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training.

A measurement benchmark is set by the social work programs for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent mastery of that particular competency.

Competency Competency Benchmark Percentage Of Students Achieving Benchmark
Competency 1:
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
85% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures 96%
Competency 2:
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
85% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures 96%
Competency 3:
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
85% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures 95%
Competency 4:
Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
85% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures 90%
Competency 5:
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
85% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures 96%
Competency 6:
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
85% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures 99%
Competency 7:
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
85% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures 95%
Competency 8:
Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
85% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures 95%
Competency 9:
Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
85% of students will demonstrate competence inclusive of 2 measures 96%

Summary of the Program’s Assessment Plan | Generalist Practice

Assessment Measure #1: Integrative Paper
Dimension(s) assessed: Knowledge
When/where students are assessed: SOWO 40823: Field Seminar 1 in Fall and SOWO 40883: Field Seminar 2 in Spring
Who assessed student competence: Director of Field Education and field seminar instructors
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-9: 75 out of 100 points
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-9: 85%
Assessment Measure #2: Field Evaluation
Dimension(s) assessed: Skills
When/where students are assessed: SOWO 40893: Field Education 2 in Spring
Who assessed student competence: Field instructor
Outcome Measure Benchmark (minimum score indicative of achievement) for Competencies 1-9: Score of “3” or “4” on 4-point scale
Competency Benchmark (percent of students the program expects to have achieved the minimum scores, inclusive of all measures) for Competencies 1-9: 85%