Admissions

Students must be willing and able to meet the following requirements:

• Express ideas and feelings clearly;
• Demonstrate effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills, including the ability to listen objectively and to interpret nonverbal communication;
• Communicate responsibly and respectfully in all interactions with colleagues, faculty, field instructors, task supervisors, staff, clients, other professionals, and all others they might come into contact within their student role;
• Communicate clearly through written products at a level appropriate for graduate work, including using correct grammar and spelling and applying the SSW- designated writing style;
• Advocate for themselves in an appropriate and responsible manner that uses proper channels for conflict resolution as outlined in the MSW and BSW manuals.
• Mastery of both written and spoken English is required at matriculation into the program, although applications from students with sight, hearing, and/or speech disabilities will receive full consideration. In such cases, the use of assistive technology, a trained intermediary, or other communications aide may be appropriate if it functions only as an information conduit and does not serve integrative or interpretive functions.
• Demonstrate the ability to build rapport, and work effectively with colleagues, faculty, field instructors/task supervisors, staff, clients, and other professionals.
• Demonstrate openness to and integrate constructive feedback from professional mentors (e.g., faculty, staff, and field instructors/task supervisors) in academic and field settings. 
• Examples of violations:
  • Offensive language that perpetuates oppressive or discriminatory attitude in class, field.
  • Going directly to the director or coordinator prior to speaking with the instructor.
  • Communicating thoughts, beliefs or feelings via group text or social media related to faculty, school, or other students in a negative or offensive way.

Students must have sufficient sensory, motor, and cognitive skills to meet the following requirements:

• Prepare, attend, and participate in classes and field placements per the expectations outlined in the syllabi and in accordance with the field setting and the Council on Social Work Education Core Competencies of Social Work Practice;
• Navigate transportation to attend field and classroom requirements;
• Professional use of technology required to engage in scholarship and effective practice including, but not limited to, the use of computers, telephones, and agency databases;
• Demonstrate the ability to acquire knowledge and process experiences to inform practice; and
• Demonstrate the capacity to think critically and to apply effective problem-solving skills.
• Examples of violations:
  • Playing Tetris on your phone during class discussions or agency meetings.
  • Searching for clients on social media.
  • Paying for papers using AI.
  • Hearing feedback about your behavior in placement and not making any changes

In accordance with the National Association of Social Workers’ (NASW) Code of Ethics (§ 4.05), social work students should not allow their personal problems or issues to interfere with their judgment and performance or to jeopardize the best interests of people for whom they have professional responsibility. The social work student must demonstrate the emotional and mental stability necessary to execute sound judgment and performance in the program as well as generally to support the practice of social work. Students must be willing and able to meet the following standards:

• Demonstrate appropriate self-disclosure (the revealing of personal information) and professional boundaries in classroom and field settings, including all assignments; (Appropriate disclosure may look like a broad description without significant details. Open communication encouraged without over-disclosure without providing intricate details). 
• Maintain respectful relationships with colleagues, faculty, field instructors/task supervisors, staff, clients, and other professionals; (Disrespectful behaviors include slandering faculty and/or peers in and outside of classroom, using group chats or any other social media outlets to discuss peers and faculty, disrespecting alternative views).
• Seek appropriate help when personal issues interfere with professional and scholastic performance; (In our profession, our Code of Ethics invites us to practice self-care)
• Manage stress effectively through self-care and by relying upon supportive relationships with colleagues and peers. Consider strategies such as seeking counseling, contacting Student Success, and obtaining support from student colleagues. 
• The ability to respectively receive and integrate into practice constructive criticism received in both didactic and field settings.

Students must be willing and able to meet the following requirements throughout the curriculum:

• Demonstrate a willingness to continually reflect on their own values, attitudes, beliefs, biases, emotions, past and current experiences, and to consider how these factors affect their thinking, behavior, interactions, and relationships;
• Demonstrate the capacity to continuously reassess their own strengths, limitations, and suitability for professional practice;
• Take responsibility for their own actions and consider the impact of these actions on others; and
• Seek supervision and accept constructive feedback in a positive manner.

Students are expected to demonstrate ethical conduct and thoughtful decision-making that reflects the values and principles of the social work profession, as outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics, while also following all applicable University policies, including the University Honor Code.

The NASW Code of Ethics can be accessed here: Code of Ethics

As developing professionals, students are also responsible for meeting the following requirements:

• Adhere to a commitment to clients’ rights to freedom of choice and self- determination;
• Demonstrate behavior and decisions reflecting the highest standards of honesty and personal and professional integrity;
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with colleagues, faculty, field instructors/task supervisors, staff, clients, and other professionals;
• Understand their role in practice as a learner and social work student. This includes the ability to correctly judge the limits of one's own competence and to seek help from an appropriate source when necessary;
• Disclose to SSW administration any legal involvement that takes place during enrollment in the SSW program, including arrest, criminal charge, criminal conviction, plea of guilty, plea of no contact, plea of nolo contendere, Alfred plea, deferred prosecution, prayer for judgment, or any other acceptance of responsibility for the commission of a crime other than a traffic-related misdemeanor or infraction;
• Disclose any discipline imposed by a state licensing board or the equivalent; and
• Follow federal and state laws and agency policies regarding confidentiality and mandatory reporting, including seeking permission from agency administrators for the use of agency materials, records, or audio-visual materials for academic course work.

Students must be willing and able to meet the following requirements:

• Demonstrate the ability to build a professional rapport with colleagues, faculty, field instructors/task supervisors, staff, clients, and other professionals; and
• Demonstrate the capacity to understand the experience and perspectives of individuals or groups and use this empathy as a basis for a productive relationship; and
• Exhibit conflict resolution skills, including the ability to negotiate differing attitudes and opinions.
• Examples of lacking interpersonal skills would include belligerent responses verbally or through email
• Written communication that includes a greeting, complete sentences, and does not include emojis.
• Professional boundaries on social media, verbal communication and written communication
• Refraining from interacting with faculty and clients on social media unless it is through a professional account.
• Disclosing information regarding health and mental health to the appropriate entities on campus. For example, faculty should not receive information related to health or mental health, this information is private and should go through the correct resources on campus
• Recognizing the relationship between a faculty member or field instructor and student. This includes not disclosing personal mental health and physical diagnoses and seeking help in the classroom or field setting. The difference between professional social work self-reflection compared to personal therapy and mental health services.

Students must be willing and able to meet the following requirements:

• Demonstrate the ability to meet the Graduate School’s requirements to remain in good academic standing and to continue in the program (i.e., cannot receive a grade of C-or lower to remain in good academic standing). This includes following the policies and procedures of the University and the Graduate School;
• Show the capacity to successfully complete required field practicum hours and demonstrate positive progress in the required competencies and behavioral indicators in the field and classroom settings;
• Follow the policies, procedures, and operating standards of SSW, the Graduate School, UNC-Wilmington, and the field placement agency;
• Ensure that appearance, dress, and general demeanor are appropriate to the context;
• Be punctual and dependable, prioritize responsibilities and manage time well, attend class and field in accordance with relevant policy, observe deadlines, complete assignments on time, attend classes (including online courses) and conscientiously arrange and keep appointments; and
• Adhere to agency policies and practices through the learning process and supervision;
• Violations will be considered on a low, moderate, elevated risk on a case-by-case basis, considering harm to potential clients, agencies, peers, faculty, and School of Social Work and UNCW at large.