CANDIDATE SERVICES - Social Work Candidacy Process
Candidacy is the application process which all undergraduate Social Work students must complete in order to progress academically in their major and be admitted to a field course and site placement. Prior to applying to Candidacy, students progress academically through Pre-Candidacy; generally the first two years of general education and pre-candidacy coursework.
UNDERGRADUATE SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS
Requirements:
- Complete Social Work Pre-Candidacy classes: SWO 200, SWO 220, SWO 225, SWO 300, SWO 320, SWO 332, and SWO 350 OR SWO 351.
- Made satisfactory progress in completion of general education coursework
- WRT 120, WRT 200, SOC XXX, PSY 100, PSC XXX, PHI XXX, HIS XXX, Foreign Language 1, Foreign Language 2, Science, Math, and Art course (or complete/attain an Academic Passport).
- Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
**Please make an appointment with your faculty advisor to determine specific classes you'll take for any given semester.
Complete the Candidacy application and include the following:
- The Candidacy Application: *new link will be posted in Fall 22' when applications are being accepted
- Personal Data form*
- Unofficial WCU transcript
- Candidacy application checklist*
- Proof of Coursework Progress for Candidacy*
- Copy of your Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse training certificate
- Signed Professional Behavior Agreement form*
- Signed & Completed Verification Form confirming completion of the 20 hour Volunteer Service Requirement
- Letter of Recommendation (from a non-family member) who can vouch for and recommend the student as possessing the qualities and characteristics of a good social worker
*found within the application
Other Requirements for Candidacy:
- Every student is responsible for obtaining and storing the following forms and displaying them on request of the agency or site they’re placed at:
- Verification of Liability Insurance
- Criminal Background Check
- Child Abuse History Clearance
Application Process:
Any undergraduate student should follow this process in navigating the Pre-Candidacy period and applying for Candidacy:
- Access the Candidacy application at: *new link will be posted in Fall 22' when applications are being accepted
- Complete the required information and upload required documents to your jotform Candidacy application, including the Verification Form confirming completion of the 20 hour Volunteer Service Requirement.
- Confirm completion, concurrent enrollment of required coursework or possess an Academic Passport via unofficial WCU transcript.
- Questions or concerns about navigating this process, please email Candidateservices@wcupa.edu or call 610-436-2999.
CANDIDACY APPLICATION FORMS
Your Candidacy Application Must Include:
- Personal Data form
- Unofficial WCU transcript
- Candidacy application checklist
- Proof of Coursework Progress for Candidacy
- Signed Professional Behavior Agreement form
- Signed & Completed Verification Form confirming completion of the 20 hour Volunteer Service Requirement
- Letter of Recommendation (from a non-family member) who can vouch for and recommend the student as possessing the qualities and characteristics of a good social worker.
- Copy of your Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse training certificate
- If not yet completed, Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse online course is found here: https://www.reportabusepa.pitt.edu/
FIELD EDUCATION & PLACEMENT
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Please read this section for more information about the field education & placement process for Social Work majors (at both West Chester and Philadelphia locations).
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For more information visit the BSW Field Education site: https://www.wcupa.edu/education-socialWork/socialWork/fieldEducation.aspx
West Chester Students:
Contact Janet Bradley, Field Director, if you are in West Chester.
Philadelphia Students:Contact Keisha Kelley, Field Director, if you are in Philadelphia.
- Keep in mind that to be considered for junior field, students must do the following:
- Successful complete SWO 200, 220, 225, 300, 320, 332, and 350 by the end of this semester
- Have a GPA of 2.5 or better
- Be accepted into candidacy (students can begin to interact with the placement process
if they have completed and submitted their candidacy application and are just awaiting
acceptance of their application)
- The field placement process, and to successfully enroll in SWO 375, includes:
- Submitting candidacy application by October 1st and being accepted to candidacy.
- Schedule an individual meeting to discuss junior field with the Field Director. (Junior year students expecting to register for SWO 375 should expect a link to be emailed to them.
- Complete a field application on TK20, directions listed here.
- Upload an up-to-date resume into TK20. Your resume will be shared with potential field sites so please make sure it is formatted and free of grammar and spelling errors.
- Attend an interview with potential field placement site.
- Be accepted to field placement site (process clearances and other items as requested by site).
- Start SWO 375 in Spring of that next semester.
- Students are not to find their own field placement. They will work with the Field Director to secure
a field placement.
- Prior to your interview at the potential field site:
- Research the mission of the site and population served by checking their website as well as articles about the organization.
Social Work Candidacy Contacts
Anderson Hall, Room 404
725 S Church Street
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2527
Dr. Greg Tully
Department Chair
Department of Social Work
GTully@wcupa.edu
610-436-2785
Kelsey Organ
Associate Director
Office of Candidate Services
korgan@wcupa.edu
610-436-0042