Academic Advising

Office of Admissions and Student Services
Ritter Annex 521
215-204-8623

Academic professionals serve as academic advisors to social work majors.  Early and regular contact with the advisor can be extremely helpful. The advisor is a knowledgeable person with whom students may discuss issues of concern in relation to university regulations, as well as course selection.  At SSA, advising services are provided through the Office of Admissions and Student Services.

Academic advisors are particularly important for social work majors.  The BSW curriculum is organized so that courses scheduled to be taken taken later in the program assume, and build on, the knowledge and skill foundation provided in the liberal arts and social work courses taken earlier.   For this reason, most social work courses designate successful completion (with a C- or better) of earlier courses as prerequisite to taking later courses.   Additionally, SSA requires that three of the social work courses required in each semester of the senior year -- research, the seminar in social work practice, and the field practicum -- be taken concurrently.   This program of study for BSW students has been carefully designed and approved by faculty.  It is intended to provide students with a coherent, integrated, and high quality learning experience.   Advisors can be especially helpful in suggesting the best ways to complete the program of study.

Although students must assume primary responsibility for knowing the requirements for their degree and for acquiring information about their academic status, student advisors can help students if they have any questions.  Academic advisors attempt to avoid errors when advising students about their program requirements, but schools and colleges cannot assume liability for errors in advising.

New Career Ladders in Social Work

Ritter Annex - Fifth floor
215-204-8623 (Sandra Gideon)

New Career Ladders is an alternative entry route to college for persons with demonstrated interest and motivation in the human services field and who meet the following criteria: 1) have been or are currently an employee or volunteer in a human service organization; 2) have a high school or GED diploma; and 3) are 22 years of age or older.

New Career Ladders students enter the undergraduate program leading to the degree of Bachelor of Social Work and are expected to meet all requirements of the curriculum. The resources of the University are available for tutoring and aid with study skills as well as for assistance in obtaining financial aid for those eligible.  All New Career Ladders students attend communication skills classes to aid in their transition to higher education.

Transfer Students from Schools Outside of Temple

Persons expecting to transfer to Temple's Undergraduate Social Work Program are urged to contact the School at 215-204-8623 for an appointment as soon as they have identified interest in this program. (See Undergraduate Admissions regarding transfer admissions.) Those who transfer more than 30 semester hours will begin their course work with Social Work 3005, Helping Processes I, which is only offered in the fall.

Students who transfer from two-year associate degree programs in Human Services are expected to complete all professional courses as well as the Core Curriculum.

SW 2003 and SW 2004 are offered in the summer for transfer students who have successfully completed SW 3005-3006 and have the necessary credits (85) and courses to enroll in Senior Seminar and Senior Practica (SW 4096/4187 - 4097/4287) in the fall. Students are expected to be majors in the program a minimum of two years and a summer.