Articulation Agreement With Blue Ridge Community College

Articulation Agreement Between Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) Associate of Applied Science Degree: Human Services Major and James Madison University (JMU) Bachelor of Social Work Program

Blue Ridge Community College and James Madison University recognize the need and importance of facilitating the transfer of students from one institution to the other as they pursue their educational goals. Therefore, James Madison University (JMU) and Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) enter into this articulation agreement to facilitate the transfer of course credits and smooth the transition of students earning an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Human Services at BRCC into the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Program at JMU.

Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC)

1st Semester

2nd Semester

3rd Semester

4th Semester

Other Courses

James Madison University (JMU)

1st Semester

Information on the required courses for the first semester at JMU

JMU Class #	JMU Course Name or Gen Ed Requirement	Credit
SOWK 2881	Social Welfare	3
ISAT 112	(Cluster Three: Group 2)	4
POSC 225	(Cluster Four:AE)	4
HIST 101 (or other Cluster Two: HQC)	(Cluster Two: HQC)	3
Total		14

2nd Semester

Information on the required courses for the second semester at JMU

JMU Class #	JMU Course Name or Gen Ed Requirement	Credit
SOWK 3051	SW Research	3
SOWK 3171	SW Practice	3
SOWK 3201	Hum Beh & Soc Env.	3
SOWK 3351	SW Policy	3
HTH or KIN 100	(Cluster Five: W)	3
Total		15

3rd Semester

Information on the required courses for the third semester at JMU

JMU Class #	JMU Course Name or Gen Ed Requirement	Credit
SOWK 4651	Mezzo practice	3
SOWK 4661	Micro practice	3
SOWK 4671	Macro practice	3
IPE 4151	lnterprofessional Ethics	1
Social Work Elective1	Varies	3
ART/MUS/THEA	(Cluster Two: VPA)	3
Total		16

4th Semester

Information on the required courses for the fourth semester at JMU

JMU Class #	JMU Course Name or Gen Ed Requirement	Credit
SOWK 4811	Practicum 1	6
SOWK 4821	Practicum 2	6
SOWK 4941	Social Work Capstone	3
Total		15
Total Hours transferred from BRCC:		61
Total Hours taken at BRCC OR JMU:		3
Total Hours taken at JMU:		60
GRAND TOTAL:		124

¹ Required social work pre-requisite or course

² Field hour credit (SOWK 301) for HMS 290 will be awarded ONLY if student internship hours are completed in an agency that employs a degreed social worker.

³ Social work elective credit (SOWK 301) for MEN 225 will be awarded ONLY if the course is taught by a degreed social worker.

JMU Admission and Graduation Criteria:

This Agreement does not guarantee admission to JMU; additionally, students earning an A.A.S. degree from BRCC are not eligible for admission to JMU under the Guaranteed Admission Agreement (GAA).

Students following this agreement will be considered for admission to JMU on an individual basis. Before applying to JMU,students should have completed or be in the process of completing at least 24 credit hours after high school graduation and be in good academic standing. Competitive students will have a well-rounded program of study and a cumulative GPA of around 3.0 (''B" grade average with mostly "A" and "B" grades). Students must submit the JMU Application for Admission and request that all previously attended colleges/universities submit an official transcript to JMU's Office of Admissions. The JMU Application for Admission and all transcripts must be submitted by February 1 for the following summer term; by March 1 for the following fall semester; and by October 15 for the following spring semester.

JMU requires that students earn a minimum of 120 credit hours to graduate. Of the 120 credit hours, students must earn a minimum of 60 credit hours at a four-year institution and a minimum 30 credit hours at JMU.

JMU Social Work Program Admission and Degree Criteria:

Students transferring to JMU should declare the Social Work major when they register for orientation; however, students will only be officially admitted to the major after they have applied to the JMU Social Work Program and been accepted . Students who have declared the social work major and completed SOWK 287 and SOWK 288 are eligible to be fully admitted to the B.S.W. program. To be admitted, students must submit an application, personal statement and three references. Students are evaluated on their demonstration of community service and life experiences, academic performance,communication skills, work related skills, ability to work with others, motivation, professional value orientation and career plans. Applications and other advising documents can be found on the Department of Social Work website.

Unconditional Admission

Unconditional admission to Social Work is given to students with a cumulative GPA of 2.0, no single grade lower than a "C" (2.0) in SOWK 287 and SOWK 288 and completion of the 20 hours of community service-learning required in SOWK 287. In their application narrative, students must demonstrate the above criteria through their references and service-learning.

Conditional Admission

Students who do not meet the above requirements or whose application does not demonstrate the criteria discussed may be admitted conditionally with a contract specifying activities and objectives that must be met prior to their full admission into the program.

Students may NOT enter upper level Social Work practice courses until they have been admitted to the Social Work Program.

The JMU BSW Program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.

Once students have been fully admitted to the major,they must also meet requirements for continuation in the major. These requirements are outlined in the Social Work Student Handbook.

The minimum requirement for the B.S.W. degree is completion of the General Education requirements, 36 credit hours of core social work courses, one credit hour in inter­ professional education, prerequisite courses as specified in course descriptions and elective hours, six of which must be in social work, for a total of 120 credit hours. If a grade of "C" (2.0) or above is not achieved the first time a social work course is taken, the student may repeat the course only once. All social work majors are expected to abide by the NASW Code of Ethics. Additionally, all majors participate in social work student outcome assessment measures.