One of the many benefits to Champlain College's Upside-Down Curriculum is the ability to take SWK 100, Introduction to Social Work in your first semester. What better place to explore your interest in the Social Work Profession?

To recognize this this important time of discovery, formal admission into the Social Work Program occurs during the spring semester of the first year for traditional undergraduate students; transfer students apply for formal admission to the Social Work program simultaneously with their Champlain College admission process.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Traditional undergraduate students: To be accepted into the Social Work program at Champlain College - and given permission to enroll in 200-level and above Social Work courses at the College-the following criteria must be met:

• Completion of 15 credits and good standing with the College.
• Successful completion of SWK 100, or its equivalent, with a minimum grade of C.
• Enrollment in SWK 140 and 141 in the first spring semester.

A completed application to the Social Work program submitted during the spring semester of freshman year.

Transfer students: To be accepted into the Social Work program at Champlain College-and given permission to enroll in 200-level and above Social Work courses at the College, the following criteria must be met:

• Successful admission to Champlain College with 15 transfer credits and the College's minimum-required 2.0 GPA.
• Successful completion of SWK 100, or its equivalent, with a minimum grade of C, or enrollment in SWK 100 and SWK 140/SWK 141 in the spring semester.
• A completed application to the Social Work program submitted during the spring semester enrolled in SWK 140/SWK 141.

Change of major: To be accepted into the Social Work program at Champlain from within another major at the College-and given permission to enroll in 200-level and above Social Work courses at the College-the following criteria must be met:

• Completion of 15 credits and good standing with the College.
• Successful completion of SWK 100 with a minimum grade of C or enrollment in SWK 100 and SWK 140/SWK 141 in the spring semester.
• A completed application to the Social Work program submitted during the spring semester enrolled in SWK 140/SWK 141.

ADMISSION PROCESS TO THE CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM

Champlain College freshmen will submit a Program Application to their Social Work faculty advisor by mid-term of their second semester at the College.

The application includes:

• proof of 15 completed college credits
• the final grade achieved for SWK100 Introduction to Social Work
• letter of commitment outlining how their personal values are compatible with both the values of the social work profession and the Champlain College Social Work Program, as well as their ability to understand and abide by the ethical obligations of a social worker. The letter should also address the student's increased knowledge of and continued interest in the social work profession through course work completed in in SWK 100 Introduction to Social Work.

The Social Work Program Director and Field Education Coordinator at Champlain College will evaluate the academic performance and letter of commitment using a standardized measurement tool and send a final decision to the student.

Upon notification of formal acceptance into the Social Work program at Champlain College, students must sign the Student/Program Acceptance Contract and return it to the Social Work Program Director within one week of its receipt.

Reasons for any program denial will be included on the measurement tool which will accompany the Social Work Program Directors, or designee's, decision.

Transfer and Change of major: Champlain students in good standing will submit the application during the spring semester enrolled in SWK 140/SWK 141 to the Program Director. The process is then identical to that described above.

TRANSFER OF CREDITS

All social work courses from other CSWE-accredited programs will follow the Champlain College transfer of credit policy located here.

Foundation social work courses completed at non-accredited programs will be individually evaluated by the Social Work Program Director at Champlain College for compatibility with the content and standards of Champlain's foundation courses to determine if they meet the standards of required Social Work program courses.

All other non-accredited program social work courses will be accepted as elective courses as per the Champlain College transfer credit policy.

TRANSFER CREDITS FOR LIFE EXPERIENCE

While Champlain College's Social Work Program recognizes the value of life experiences and previous work or internship endeavors as ways to enrich a student's understanding and application of social work values, skills and knowledge, the College does not accept these experiences as a substitute for formal course or practicum credit.