The College of Social Work has begun an effort to enhance its course offerings and other programs for USC undergraduates who want to minor in social work.

The initiative includes the appointment of a faculty coordinator of the undergraduate social work minor, the introduction of new courses, and an Oct. 19 planning luncheon for undergraduate advisors and other campus administrators who work with the college in student recruitment and other areas.

Shirley Huisman-Jezowski

"We're shoring up our undergraduate program and initiating faculty development efforts to support teaching in the minor that until now has been handled primarily by adjunct instructors," Huisman-Jezowski added.

It's also planning for more curriculum coordination and a more visible presence on campus. Both will create an enhanced awareness that the college offers undergraduate courses and is a place where undergraduates can come for information about careers in social work.

"The college is looking to develop untapped resources and ways to enhance its own feeder system of undergraduates that includes students from other undergraduate majors who might not know about the program," Huisman-Jezowski said.

"In addition to undergraduate social work majors from other universities, the college enrolls the bulk of its master's degree candidates from undergraduate programs in psychology, political science, sociology, criminal justice, women's studies, education, and interdisciplinary studies," Huisman-Jezowski said.

The college has traditionally focused on its master's degree program, and more recently, its Ph.D. program, but Huisman-Jezowski said future plans call for it to look at options that might lead to the development of a baccalaureate degree.

"My experience shows that students are attracted to a particular course of study through a strong relationship with an instructor or somebody who has a deep commitment to a program, and that is how I see my role," she said.

"I want to be a pivotal point for the faculty and the person undergraduates can go to for information."

The college's graduate degrees have long provided a level of specialization in social work that is advantageous for its graduates. But South Carolina and other states also have licensure for social workers at the baccalaureate level and there are numerous career opportunities for generalized social work practitioners in the state, Huisman-Jezowski said.

Moreover, for those who also want to pursue a master's or doctoral degree in social work, an undergraduate minor or major in the field can offer students an accelerated route to the advanced degree. Much of the foundation course work would already have been completed.

In addition to publication of the new curriculum initiative on its Web site, the college has developed a brochure for distribution to faculty and prospective students. The Oct. 19 planning luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Alumni House will provide information for undergraduate advisors in campus programs where social work students have come from in the past.

Undergraduate advisors who would like to attend the luncheon should contact Huisman-Jezowski at 7-9763 or huismanj@sc.edu.

"We want to work more closely with the advisors to ensure their voice is heard and to create more awareness of what we have here," she said.

"Right now the minor in social work gives students background in the field and for many of them opens the window to social work. Outside of these courses the students probably wouldn't have knowledge or understanding of what social work is or what we do in the practical world.

"We see undergraduate social work education as an exciting place to be with possibilities for advanced practice. It has intrinsic value as an area of study and also is a very fine feeder system for continued study and practical knowledge."

9/06