Upon admission into the BASW program, new BASW majors will have a “New Student Welcoming Advising Session” with the BASW & PhD Program Assistant. They will be assigned an advisor by the BASW Program Director (students completing the Social Work minor maintain their Academic Advisor in their current college or school). Matriculating BASW majors can meet their assigned faculty advisor at the school’s orientation, which is held before the start of the fall semester. Each advisor will work with their advisee to clarify educational and course options, answer questions about the BASW degree, and discuss career opportunities.
In the senior year of the BASW program, students enroll for Practicum I and II, while attending the concurrent Practicum Seminar and Lab I and II. The Practicum Seminar & Lab courses center the practicum experience and give dedicated space and time to discuss the social work profession, and provide mentoring and coaching in real time: thus, in the senior year, advising is integrated with practice, class, practicum, and professional experience. The instructor for the seminar and lab section in which the student is enrolled becomes their faculty advisor for the remainder of their enrollment in the BASW Program.
Faculty advisors should be the first point of contact for any or all of the following:
1. Registration (including add/drop, leaves of absence, and withdrawals).
2. Clarification of all academic policies and procedures (e.g., grading policies, graduation requirements, directed study).
3. Academic advising discussions, including those regarding academic expectations and performance as well as grievance policies and procedures.
4. Information about other departments and/or programs within the School of Social Work and the University of Pittsburgh.
5. Planning for the student’s educational program per their career interests.
Professional advising can occur both formally and informally. Formal methods include structured one-on-one meetings, seminars set up by affiliated centers and programs, and specialized course offerings. Informal methods include open office hours, discussions before and after classes, and conversations about practicum placement experiences. Both formal and informal methods create space for students to practice professional behavior outlined in the Standards of Professional and Ethical Behavior in the classroom, at their practicum sites, and in the community.