Advancement Policy

Students may continue in the major by accomplishing the following:

(A) Receiving a minimum grade of C in SW 315: Introduction to Social Work and SW 321: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I. These are the first two courses that students are allowed to take beginning in their sophomore year.

(B) Achieving a minimum grade of C in all social work courses. No social work course may be repeated more than once.

(C) Obtaining a minimum grade of C in prerequisite social work courses prior to enrolling in a social work course at the next level.

(D) Completing all lower level graduation requirements prior to entering SW 436, SW 437, or SW 438.

(E) Completing all other degree requirements including having a 2.0 GPA prior to entering SW 496 Internship.

(F) Reading and adhering to the NASW Code of Ethics.

(G) Interviewing with the Field Education Director while enrolled in SW 450 and prior to enrolling in SW 495 Seminar and SW 496 Internship. At this time, student will again affirm his/her ability to meet the requirements for becoming licensed in the State of Mississippi as set forth in Section 73-53-1-29, Mississippi Code.

Academic and Professional Reasons for
Terminating Students Out of Social Work

• Failure to maintain at least an overall 2.0 GPA.
• Failure to have a 2.0 GPA before entering SW 495: Social Work Internship and SW 496: Internship Seminar.
• Failure to pass SW 339: Research Writing with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Failure to make at least a grade of “C” after two attempts in any social work course.
• Failure in Internship SW 495: Social Work Internship.
• Students found to have cheated or plagiarized on papers, exams, or other school work.
• Falsifying student records.
• A diagnosed disorder (uncontrolled) that significantly limits major life activities.
• Derogatory attitudes or inappropriate behaviors such as uncontrolled outbursts of anger, threats of harm, and verbal abuse directed at peers, faculty or staff, agency staff or clients or other unprofessional conduct could be grounds for dismissal from the social work program.