2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Social Work
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Faculty
Professors
Carolyn Knight
B.A., Goucher College, 1975; M.S.W., University of Maryland, School of Social Work, Baltimore, 1977; Ph.D., 1985
Associate Professors
James Bembry
B.A., College of the Holy Cross, 1974; M.S.W., Temple University, 1978; Ph.D., University of Maryland, School of Social Work, Baltimore, 1993
Joshua Okundaye
B.A., University of Oklahoma, Norman, 1984; M.A., University of Oklahoma, Norman 1990; M.S.W. University of Maryland, School of Social Work, Baltimore, 1990; Ph.D., 1996
Laura Ting
B.A., Columbia University, 1987; M.S., 1989; Ph.D., University of Maryland, School of Social Work, Baltimore, 2003
Shelly Wiechelt
B.A., California University of Pennsylvania, 1982; M.S.W., West Virginia University, 1985; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1999
Assistant Professors
Jayshree Jani
B.A., St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, 1997; M.S.W., University of Illinois at Chicago, Jane Addams School of Social Work, 1999; Ph.D., University of Maryland, School of Social Work, Baltimore, 2008
Marcela Mellinger
B.A., Millersville University, 1988; M.S.W., Temple University, 1999; Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2011
Shady Grove Program
Jeanette Hoover
B.S.W, University of the District of Columbia, 1992; M.S.W., Catholic University of America, 1994
Kathleen Leiser
B.A., University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, 1976; M.S.W., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1980
Katherine Morris
B.A., College of the Holy Cross, 1996; M.S.W., University of Pennsylvania, 2000
Associate Dean & Professor
Carolyn Tice
B.S.W., West Virginia University, 1973; M.S.W., Temple University, 1976; D.S.W., University of Pennsylvania, 1987
Assistant Dean for Field Education
Adrienne Ekas-Mueting
B.S., Radford University, 1991; M.S.W, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1994; Ph.D. candidate, Unmiversity of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2012
Professors Emeriti
Gust Mitchell
B.A., West Liberty State College, 1964; M.S., University of Tennessee, 1966; D.S.W., The Catholic University of America, 1975
Betsy Vourlekis
B.A., Harvard University, 1964; M.S.W., Columbia University, 1966; Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, 1984
Courses in this program are listed under SOWK.
The social work major prepares students for generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups and communities at the beginning level. Students learn a range of skills and helping techniques that enable them to intervene effectively in addressing social problems.
UMBC’s Social Work Program, the baccalaureate component of the University of Maryland School of Social Work, meets the highest professional standards. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), a national organization founded to promote and improve the quality of education in social work.
- CSWE uses the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) to accredit baccalaureate social work programs. EPAS supports academic excellence by establishing thresholds for professional competence.
- EPAS describes four features of an integrated curriculum design: (1) program missions and goals; (2) explicit curriculum; (3) implicit curriculum; and (4) assessment.
Based on this accreditation, students are assured that the quality of education at UMBC meets national standards and prepares them for employment at the bachelor’s level, for graduate study and for meeting the various state licensing and employment requirements for social work practice. Social work students and graduates are also eligible for membership in the National Association of Social Workers. Graduates qualify to take the state examination to become licensed social work associates in Maryland, and they are qualified for examination in all other states that license baccalaureate practice.
Career and Academic Paths
Graduates of the Social Work Program succeed in the job market, as well as in graduate school. Alumni are employed in various human service positions with federal, state and local governments, as well as with non-profit agencies, corporations, health care organizations and hospitals. The undergraduate social work major at UMBC is the baccalaureate component of the University of Maryland School of Social Work. As such, students completing the social work major at UMBC may be eligible for consideration for advanced standing in the master’s degree program of the School of Social Work. Completion of the accredited program at UMBC also qualifies graduates for consideration for admission to all accredited master’s degree social work programs in the United States.
Academic Advising
Students enrolled in the social work major are assigned a faculty advisor from the program. Students are encouraged to contact their advisor early in their educational experience and every semester thereafter to plan and monitor their course of study. Advisors in the program are also available to meet with students who anticipate majoring in social work to plan prerequisite courses.
Honors Program
Students may choose to take honors courses in social work through the Honors College.
Evening and Part Time Options
All core courses, with the exception of the senior field education courses, can be taken in the late afternoon or evening on a space-available basis. In addition, the design of the program allows students to complete their course work on a part-time basis. Field education (SOWK 480 /SOWK 482 ) must be taken during the work week. The program does not arrange evening and weekend field placements.
Special Opportunities
The Social Work Program offers educational and community-based opportunities including:
- Educational
B. Community-Based
The Universities at Shady Grove
UMBC offers the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, MD. Students can complete the last two years of the program at this suburban Washington location. Because only upper-level courses are offered, students must have completed most General Education Program requirements (GEPs) and lower-level major requirements. Prospective students are invited to make an appointment with the Shady Grove program director to review their previous courses.
Student Organizations
THE SOCIAL WORK STUDENT ASSOCIATION: SWSA is the student organization of social work majors at UMBC. The SWSA works to introduce its members to the profession, promote social work through community activities and provide majors with the opportunity to discuss issues and concerns. It also provides them with information and resources related to their educational experience and career planning. Membership is open to all majors. Activities of the SWSA have included food drives, community volunteer activities, career planning conferences, newsletters and student socials. Information on the SWSA is available through the program or on the program’s web site: http://socialwork.umbc.edu
HONOR SOCIETY: The Social Work Program has established a chapter of Phi Alpha, the social work national honor society. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for social workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in social work. At present, there are approximately 400 chapters of the honor society in schools nationwide. Students are eligible to join if they have: declared social work as their major; achieved sophomore status; completed nine semester hours of required social work courses; and achieved an overall GPA of 3.0 and a 3.25 GPA in required or elective social work courses. Interested students may obtain an application from the program or from the program’s web site: http://socialwork.umbc.edu
ProgramsBachelor of ArtsNon-DegreeCoursesSocial Work
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