Bachelor of Social Work Department Application for Admission

 If you have any questions or need help with the application process, please contact the Social Work Department (518)783-2363 or dmayodunham@siena.edu.

Instructions 

Completed applications for the Social Work Program will be reviewed in the declaration of the major( Freshmen and Sophomore year) or upon admission to Siena College (transfer students). Students must meet the academic requirements upon submission.  Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.3, and a minimum 2.7 GPA in social work courses is required for admission and retention in the Program. 

In order for your application to be considered complete, you must submit 

The application process includes:

• Complete the online application form   - the form will require the following to be uploaded
  1. Current Resume, including ( Please refer to the p. 21-28 of the Career Guide for assistance in creating your resume) 
     • Job Experience
     • Volunteer / Internship  Experience
     • Clubs/ Campus involvement 
  2. Personal Statement (Essay) including
     • Interest in the study of Social Work and how your experiences influenced this
     • Values: The Social Work profession rests on a foundation of six core values: social justice, service, dignity and worth of a person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.  Read the more about these values in the National Association of Social Workers' (NASW) Code of Ethics . From the list: (a) discuss one that 'speaks to you', that fits well with your own values system; then (b) discuss one that challenges you or raise conflicts within you as you envision serving others. 
     • As a professional it is necessary to be able to identify various types of discrimination and their impact on people. Please describe an experience you have had being treated differently form others, or where you observed another person experiencing discrimination. What insight did you gain from this experience?
     • Racism is a pervasive problem in the United States and impacts the ability for all people to live in a socially, economically and environmentally just society.  Describe in your own understanding of racism and what actions social workers can take to advocate for and create systemic change. 
     • Review the Academic/ Behavioral/ Ethical Standards. These criteria set different expectations for student performance and are used to monitor student progress throughout the program. In thinking about your next two years of study, identify and briefly discuss two of your strengths as well as two area that you anticipate to be challenging.
     • Discuss your future academic and career goals as they relate to the Social Work and or another field and explain what you hope to gain from your involvement in the Social Work Program. 
  3. A writing sample; a written assignment from a non social work course, written within the last semester, in order to provide a representation of your current writing skills.
  4. Read and electronically sign the Academic, Behavioral and Ethical Expectations
• Request One letter of recommendation written by a previous faculty member  outside of the social work department or an individual can speak to your academic and/or professional ability.

Once the completed application and the supporting documents have been submitted the students are required interview with one or  two Social Work Department members to ensure the program is a good fit with the student’s abilities and interests

Admission and retention in the Program is dependent upon the student's adherence with our Academic, Behavioral, and Ethical Expectations.