Social WorkBASW
What can I do with a BA in Social Work?
The mission of the BASW program is to prepare graduates to contribute to society through
civic participation and generalist social work practice. As critical thinkers and
self-directed learners, graduates are able to simultaneously use self-awareness and
sensitivity to the plight of humankind to promote social justice within our interdependent
global community. The program is designed to integrate these fundamentals with the
core principles and methods of social work, recognizing the context and consequences
of professional practice.
With a strong foundation of social work knowledge, values, and generalist intervention
skills gained through undergraduate education, our alumns go on to practice in a variety
of different settings, with different populations and social problems. While the general
public tends to have a very narrow vision of the profession, social workers work with
people of all ages, incomes, and cultures, whether as individuals or in larger-sized
systems such as small groups, large organizations, communities, and government bodies.
Social workers are employed in public and private organizations, as well as profit
and non-profit agencies. Working towards prevention as well as intervention, social
workers focus on many different social needs and problems, such as those related to
homelessness, child protection, chronic disease, aging, family interaction, or disability.
Just in the Lubbock area, graduates of our program are employed in schoools, hospitals,
community organizations, detention centers, veteran-assistance prorams, and mental
health agencies, among others.
Graduates of the BA in Social Work at TTU are eligible to sit for the national BSW-level exam with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) and to apply for corresponding licensure in most jurisdictions. In other words, our graduates are prepared for baccalaureate level social work practice in the community; in fact, a majority of those seeking employment have accepted a fulltime position prior to graduation. For those interested in continuing their social work education within 5 years of achieving the BASW, most of our students are eligibile for 1-year MSW programs.
For more information about the social work profession, such as fields of practice, professional roles, job opportunities, educational and licensing requirements, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Debra Lavender-Bratcher, Acting BASW Program Director, or another of the fulltime faculty members in social work.
Accreditation
The BASW Program at Texas Tech University is accredited with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) through June of 2031. CSWE is a national organization that regulates undergraduate and graduate social work education programs in the United States. In the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), CSWE has established nine areas of competency that graduating students should demonstrate. Accredited social work programs are held responsible for ensuring they maintain the standards and engage in ongoing assessment for these competency outcomes. Social work programs participate in an extensive review process on an 8-year cycle, which corresponds to the publication of new EPAS. Through this ongoing process of accreditation and reaffirmation with CSWE, students can have reasonable assurance of the quality of social work education programs and the rest of society can have confidence in the competence of their graduates.
Program Requirements
Course Requirements
Admission to Practice Course Sequence
Field Instruction
Field placement is an essential component of social work education and required by CSWE. Every major completes a 400-hour, closely-supervised practicum during their capstone semester in the degree program. The Director of Field Education, Cara Speer, LCSW, is responsible for arranging all memorandums of agreement with field placement agency sites and meets with each potential field student for placement consideration. Student applications for field placement are due the long semester BEFORE enrollment in SW 4340/4611. The field placement manual can be found on the program website, under the handbooks and forms tab.
More information on program admission, degree requirements, and much more can be found in the TTU Social Work Program BASW Student Handbook. All majors are responsible for being familiar with the information addressed there.
Student Representation
While any student can bring issues to the social work faculty at any time, BASW Student Representatives act as formal advocates for issues related to program functioning. The student representatives collect student concerns and meet with the faculty. Each student representative serves for two long semesters. For more information on becoming a student representative, please refer to the student handbook. Current representatives contact information is located here, when available.
Student Representatives, 2024-2025
 Madison Miller mil97286@ttu.edu |
 Kiersta Mills kiemills@ttu.edu |
 Zalanda Muniz zamuniz@ttu.edu |
 Adam Stalcup astalcup@ttu.edu |
Student Organizations
Social Work Students Organization (SWSO): is open to undergraduate students who have an interest in social work or other helping professions. To join in, message through Instagram (@ttu_swso) or sign up for the SWSO Groupme.
Phi Alpha National Social Work Honor Society: Social Work Majors with a 3.25+ GPA in at least 9 hours of social work courses & an overall institutional GPA of 3.0+ are eligible to join the Mu Epsilon chapter of Phi Alpha. Interested students should inquire with one of the faculty advisors, Profs. Kimberli Phillips and Bonnie Anne Rudd, for more information.
Resources for Students
BASW Scholarship
The undergraduate social work program has four endowed scholarship accounts, from which eligible majors may receive awards each long semester. The endowments and their eligibility criteria are described below. Inquiries about these scholarship endowments can be directed to sasw.socialwork@ttu.edu.
The Dr. Helen Morrow and Jan d'Orsay Medical Social Workers Endowed Scholarship was established to honor their service to the TTU social work program and the profession overall. Funds are awarded each long semester to a social work major in good program standing who has FAFSA-demonstrated need and demonstrates, through the professional satement essay submitted for admission to the practice course sequence, excellent social work knowledge, potential fit with the profession, and alignment with the profession's value base.
The Tony Carrasco Social Work Endowed Scholarship was established to honor the memory of this 1993 graduate. Mr. Carrasco was an exceptional student, person, and professional social worker who dedicated his life in service to others as a Marine in Vietnam, a foster parent to over 50 children, a field supervisor to students, and as a nursing home social worker. Social Justice and Integrity were especially important values to Mr. Carrasco, who upheld his professional ethical principles at the risk of losing a job. He loved learning and brought his depth of experience to the classroom. He was but 53 years of age when he died suddenly, but those years were filled with compassionate, ethical, and dedicated service to others. It is hoped that his story and scholarship will serve to inspire current students to aim high as scholars, as persons, and as professionals who embody the values of the profession. This scholarship is awarded each long semester to a social work major who meets the following eligibility criteria: non-traditional student (25 years of age or older), FAFSA-demonstrated need, admitted to or applying for the practice course sequence, demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of children, youth, elderly or chronically ill persons.
The Dr. Jerry B. Matthews Social Work Endowed Scholarship was established to honor Dr. Matthews' service as the Director of the program from its inception until his retirement in 2004. During that time, he worked tirelessly to ensure that students in the program would have the best possible preparation for professional careers and success in graduate school. This scholarship is awarded each long semester to a social work major with FAFSA=demonstrated need who is enrolled in field education (SW 4611).
The Hortensia Estrada Children's Protective Services (CPS) Scholarship was established to honor the memory of this 1979 graduate. Ms. Estrada had a 27 year
career with CPS as a caseworker and supervisor. She is remembered by friends and colleagues
as calm and fair regardless of the challenges she faced. This scholarship is awarded
each long semester to a social work major enrolled in field education (SW 4611) and
placed with an agency primarily focused on the health and well-being of at-risk children
under the age of 18 and/or their families. Additionally, scholarship recipients must
have FAFSA-demonstrated need and an institutional GPA of at least 2.75. First generation
college students are given preference for awards.
To apply for one or more of these scholarships, scan the QR code below with your smartphone
camera or click here to open the form.
Basic Needs
Academics
Be sure to bookmark this new link to The University Writing Centers. Remember, you should ALWAYS get feedback on at least one draft of EVERY writing assignment in EVERY class. Writing takes practice. Using the Writing Centers will not only likely improve your grade for a particular assignment, but it will also improve your writing skills in general.
Feeling the pressure this semester? Follow this link to get acess to the great resources for students offered through The Learning Center, such as drop-in tutoring and help with test-taking skills.
Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
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Address
Holden Hall 158, Box 41012, 1011 Boston Ave., Lubbock, TX 79409 -
Phone
806.742.2400 -
Email
sociology@ttu.edu