UWM Undergraduate Catalog 2017-2018

Helen Bader School of Social Welfare

• Web Home Page:
  • Helen Bader School of Social Welfare
• Degree Programs
• Admission
• Degree Requirements
• Course of Study
• Academic Regulations
• Social Work
• Courses: Social Work (SOC WRK)
• Criminal Justice
  • Courses: Criminal Justice (CRM JST)
• Military Science
  • Courses: Military Science (MIL SCI)
• Certificate Program in Forensic Sciences
• Faculty and Staff

SOCIAL WELFARE

Student Services
Enderis Hall, Room 1110
(414) 229-4852
uwm.edu/socialwelfare

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science Criminal Justice, Social Work

Master of Science Criminal Justice

Master of Social Work

Doctor of Philosophy Social Welfare

The Helen Bader School of Social Welfare offers programs to educate students about social policies and programs, and to train them for beginning level practice in a variety of professional roles in social work and criminal justice. Its location in metropolitan Milwaukee gives students numerous opportunities to gain practical experience in social, health, educational, or criminal justice agencies.

Undergraduate majors in both social work and criminal justice lead to the Bachelor of Science degree, and are designed to prepare students for available entry-level positions in their respective fields. These programs also provide excellent preparation for graduate work.

The School also offers graduate programs at the master's degree level in both criminal justice and social work (see the UWM Graduate School Bulletin).

Requirements for Employment, Licensing, or Professional Organizations. Effective October 1, 1998, changes in Chapters 48 (Children's Code) and 50 (Uniform Licensure) of the Wisconsin State Statutes make it a requirement for selected organizations to perform rigorous background checks of persons who provide care for vulnerable adults and children or who have access to people who receive such care.

The results of these background checks are intended to help employers and government officials in making employment and licensing decisions. The law affects anyone who is employed as a caregiver or who has access to clients within caregiving organizations, including students. The organizations required to perform these background checks are those that are regulated by the State Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS).

The law means that if you are going to train (including a field or clinical placement) or work in an agency providing care to vulnerable adults or children, and that agency is regulated by DHFS, a background check will be required of you. A background check may be required even if you do not have direct caregiving responsibilities to clients. Depending on the circumstances, a student may be disqualified from field placement in certain agencies as a result of this law. Students are responsible for obtaining the information necessary for them to become knowledgeable about these requirements and plan their studies accordingly.

Admission

Freshmen entering UWM who indicate an interest in criminal justice or social work are admitted directly into the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, and are designated criminal justice or social work intended majors.

Admission to the University does not guarantee enrollment in the social work or criminal justice major; separate applications will be required for these programs in the junior year.

Transfer students who transfer from outside UWM to criminal justice or social work become criminal justice or social work intended majors upon admission regardless of the number of credits they transfer. They can apply for admission to the major when they have at least junior standing and have completed one full-time semester or the equivalent at UWM. Those who transfer from two-year UW College campuses, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and other two-year institutions (junior colleges) are generally allowed to transfer up to 72 credits toward a degree in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare.

Second bachelor's degree students applying to the University who already hold one bachelor's degree and who wish to pursue a second degree in either criminal justice or social work are admitted as intended majors and then apply for admission to the major. They must complete at least 30 credits at UWM beyond the credits that counted toward the first degree, and must satisfy the same degree and curriculum requirements as students working towards a first degree in the same major.

Special students in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare and University special students are permitted to register in any undergraduate course offered by the School, provided they meet the stated prerequisites or are admitted to the course by the instructor.

Degree Requirements

To receive the bachelor's degree with a criminal justice or social work major, the student must complete at least 30 degree credits at UWM. In both majors, an overall GPA (including non-UWM college work) of 2.0 and a total of 120 credits are needed for graduation. At least 15 credits in the criminal justice or 21 credits in the social work portion of the major must be earned at UWM. Social work students must complete at least one semester of field placement at UWM. Students must earn their last 30 credits at UWM.

Course of Study

All social work and criminal justice majors who began their education in fall 1999 or later must meet the requirements below. Others should contact an advisor in the School to determine their degree requirements.

GENERAL CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS: SOCIAL WORK AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

For courses that satisfy the distribution requirements in humanities, natural science, and social science, see the GER listing in the current Timetable. The UWM General Education Requirements apply to all students who were not enrolled in an accredited institution prior to 1986.

Proficiency Requirements in English and Mathematics. Refer to General Education Requirements. Contact a school advisor for specific information.

Liberal Arts Foundation. The student must fulfill the following course distribution requirements:

Arts. 3 credits of General Education-approved arts course in the history, philosophy, theory, or practice of the creative and interpretive arts.

Foreign Language. Completion of two years of high school-level instruction in a single foreign language, or satisfactory completion of at least two semesters of a single foreign language, or approved demonstration of foreign language ability.

Humanities. 12 credits of General Education-approved humanities courses, including Commun 103, Public Speaking.

Natural Science. 6 credits of General Education-approved natural science courses to include a lab or field course.

United States History and Institutions, 6 credits. Either one continuous-year course in U.S. history chosen from option I below or one semester in advanced U.S. history courses (numbered over 400) plus one of the courses taken from option II.