BSSW Program Application Professional Statement Essays

For more information on how to complete your essays,

seepage 4 of the BSSW Application Instruction packet.

Essay A: Academic Readiness
Assess your strengths and challenges in each of the four areas:
  1. Academic abilities and achievements
  2. Oral and written communication skills
  3. Teamwork skills
  4. Leadership abilities
Provide examples of your experiences which highlight not only your abilitiesand but identifies areas that are challenging for you. Describe the steps that you have taken or plan to take to improve areas you identified as challenges.You do not need to attach copies of your cited evidence, just report it. Examples of student learning activities that can be cited as evidence include, but are not limited to the following:
  • Scholarships and/or university honors; Membership in Honor societies
  • Faculty evaluation and feedback of class assignments, class presentations, participation in class discussions;
  • Evaluations of class experiences requiring cooperative learning
  • Exemplary papers from social work classes
/
  • Volunteer experiences in human service area
  • Participation in campus or community organizations
  • Service-learning projects
  • Holding a position of responsibility in university or community organizations
  • Voluntary attendance at university, community or professional lectures/workshops related to the social work field

Essay B: Definition of Social Work

The term social work has many meanings to many people. In this essay, present an explanation of social work, drawn from the professional literature you read in your social work courses, that is understandable by the public. Tell us why you selected social work and what your future goals are. Show that you understand what is expected of you as a generalist social worker in your chosen field of practice.

  1. Provide your definition of socialwork as a profession.
  2. Explain the reasons you chose social work as your profession and your future goals as a generalist social work practitioner.
  3. Identify and discuss a social work field of practicein whichyou are interested in working.
  4. Identify and discuss at least one(1)core social work theories/perspectives/models (i.e. strengths perspective, systems or person in environment theories, or empowerment model) as it applies to your selected field of practice.
  5. Identify and discuss at least two (2)roles and tasks of social work professionals in the field of practice you identified above.

Essay C: Professional Commitment to Values, Ethics and Practice in a Diverse Society.

People choose the social work profession for many reasons. In this essay:

  1. Identifytwo (2)NASW Code of Ethics core social work values that you possess. Discuss how they guide your development and practice as a generalist social worker.
  2. Identify your experience(s) with diverse communities. Discuss your strengths and challenges as a social worker in an increasingly diverse society. Highlight social justice or advocacy related activities in which you have experience. If you have limited experiences with diversity, social justice, or advocacy describe steps you will take to increase your experiences in these areas.
  3. Define and identify privilege as it manifests itself (or not) in your life and how you plan to address the impact of privilege in your future practice.

BSSWProgram. Application Essays. Jan2015.