BSW Newsletter – August 2026

UA BSW Program

Mission: The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program prepares students at the baccalaureate level to become generalist social work professionals who are committed to the core values and professional ethics of the social work profession. Through rigorous education and community engagement, students develop proficiency in the knowledge, skills, and processes essential to professional practice that are anchored in the nine core social work competencies.

Aligned with the profession’s purpose to promote human and community well-being, the program is guided by the person-in-environment framework, a social justice education framework, a global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge grounded in scientific inquiry. This purpose is actualized through the program’s pursuit of social, racial, economic, and environmental justice, the creation of conditions that support human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the improvement of quality of life for all people, locally and globally.

The program’s curriculum is embedded in the social work’s core values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. These values shape both the explicit and implicit learning environment and affirm the program’s commitment to respect, collaboration, and accountability. Students learn how to advocate for vulnerable and marginalized populations and to promote the well-being of individuals, families, groups, and communities.

To learn more about our BSW Program, click here BSW Program.

Academic/Professional Advising

Advising– All students are assigned two advisors: an academic advisor to assist with educational plans in Degree Works and a professional advisor to help with career readiness. Please read the BSW Program Toolkit for more information. You can also find the name of your academic advisor in Degree Works.

Course Substitution- Occasionally, students wish to substitute another course for a required course. All such requests should be presented first to the student’s advisor, who will weigh the merits of the proposed course substitution and determine whether the content of the proposed course is appropriate as a substitute. If the advisor agrees, the advisor will recommend that the Program Director approve the substitution. The advisor will notify the student of the decision that is made, and a record of the substitution will be placed in the student’s file.

Academic credit for life experience and previous work experience will not be given as a whole or in part in lieu of the practicum education course or any other course in the BSW Program.

Understanding Access Granted

“Access Granted” means your instructor has worked with the Supe Store to grant you special access to course materials at the lowest cost. This is the only option we provide for this course. You were automatically enrolled in the Access Granted program when you registered for the class. The course content is available on the very first day of class through your Blackboard account. Instructions on how to log in are sent to your Crimson e-mail and may also be provided by your instructor. The cost of the course content plus applicable sales tax will be added to your student account after the add/drop deadline. If you choose not to participate in the Access Granted program, you must opt out before the add/drop deadline to avoid the course material charge to your student account. You will then need to find the course materials on your own. Access Granted | University of Alabama Supply Store

BSW Practicum Education Program

Starting your practicum is a rewarding experience. As a student in our Experiential Programs, you’ll work with seasoned social work professionals to develop a responsible, analytical approach to social work practice and discover areas you’re passionate about serving to help others. Click here to learn more about our BSW Practicum Education Program.

Undergraduate Research

Are you interested in engaging in undergraduate research? See resources below.

• Undergraduate Research & Creative Activity Conference (URCA)
• Student in Research Collaborative Action Training (SIR CAT) SIR CAT

For more research information, contact Dr. Brian Bride, Interim Associate Dean of Research and Development, bebride@ua.edu.  

BSW Student Spotlight

Meet Destiny McGee

Meet Hayden Badgwell

Meet Shaterrian Henry

Student Organizations

Student Government Association

Congratulations to the 2026-2027 SGA Senators!

Hello, my name is Elisa Robinson. I am deeply honored to share that I have been elected as the senator for The School of Social Work. My campaign was centered on three platforms: increasing engagement within the school, encouraging community service initiatives, and boosting readiness for the MSW and practicum. I look forward to working collaboratively to create Legendary Change and to ensuring every student in our School of Social Work feels supported, prepared, and empowered.

Thanks, 

Elisa Robinson

• Student in Social Work and African American Studies
• Resident Advisor- Housing and Residential Communities
• Board of Directors Member- Council on Social Work Education

Hello! My name is Emmi Luther, and I am a junior Social Work major at The University of Alabama, with plans to graduate in December 2026. I currently serve as the 2026–2027 School of Social Work Senator in SGA and am actively involved in Pi Alpha and the Undergraduate Social Work Organization. I am passionate about service and leadership, volunteering with organizations such as Home and Place, STARS Academy, and Jeremiah’s Garden. I also serve as President of Delta Gamma and work as a Returning Orientation Leader with Parent and Family Programs. After graduation, I hope to pursue a master’s degree in Higher Education and work with college students, helping them become engaged and make the most of their university experience.

The University of Alabama
Phone 2055655355
elluther@crimson.ua.edu

Emmi Luther

Social Work Major, Social Work

For more information on the Student Government Association, click here: Student Government Association.

Professional Program

The BSW Professional Program is for currently enrolled students who are majoring in social work and ready to begin taking 400-level professional social work courses.

Who Can Apply?

Applications for Spring 2027 will launch on 08/19/2026. Social Work majors who have earned 54 hours in core requirements (this does not include electives) with the required overall and social work GPAs. Students must seek admission to the BSW Professional Program through the School of Social Work. Please verify eligibility for the Professional Program Spring 2027 by using the link above to the BSW Professional Program Checklist. If eligible, the deadline to complete the application is September 15^th at 11:59 p.m. Please do not hesitate to contact renee.bell@ua.edu if you have any questions.

Transfer Credit

The University of Alabama and the School of Social Work accept credits from accredited Associate of Arts programs. An evaluation of each transcript is made by the Office of Academic Records and social work courses are reviewed by the Program Director to determine comparability with both the general education and the social work requirements for all students transferring to the school. 

There is a new process to request the evaluation of your social work transfer credit. Submit your request by using this link: BSW Transfer Credit Request Form and upload the official syllabus.

For additional information about the Transfer Credit, refer to the BSW Program Toolkit.

Suggestions for the BSW Newsletter?

Let’s celebrate our BSW community! ❤️

We encourage BSW students, faculty, and staff to contribute to this newsletter by sharing upcoming events, student accomplishments, and shout-outs for faculty, staff, or classmates who are making an impact in our School of Social Work community.

Submissions are welcome from everyone! Just email your contributions to renee.bell@ua.edu.