BYU is getting really academic, phasing out programs that lead directly to a job in favor of those that lead to graduate school and academic research. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it makes it a lot harder to just get a Bachelor degree from the school and expect to be employed afterward.

This is a non story. A person can't do much of anything with a BSW so pick another degree like Psychology and move on to get a MSW. Or just go to another school to the the BSW. Or are you one of those weird people who think that a degree from the Y is the only degree thats worth having. If you must have a degree from the Y then get your under grad from somewhere else and get the MSW from the Y. You should't get your BSW and MSW from the same school anyway.

This is getting old...

A non-story? What does that even mean?

Have you considered the fact that it matters what you get an undergrad degree in? It is an entirely different education-whether psychology or social work. Weak argument.

Wow! Six protesters, that is the non-story.

I remember when BYU cancelled my major, Public Policy. Everyone simply picked a new major/minor combo (Economics/Management or PolySci/Management) and everyone moved on with their lives. There weren't any protests and everyone's life seems to have panned out.

I've seen this social work news thread come up a few times over the last few months, and I have no idea why it is newsworthy.

"Magleby said the primary purpose of eliminating the BSW program was to improve the Master of Social Work program"

And this comes from someone who is assumed to an intelligent person, Amazing.
At least the guy picked education rather than construction. Applying his logic, you would start with the roof tile, and never build a base or a foundation. If students have to go outside BYU to do undergrad work, is anyone going to return to BYU for their masters? Two question, I'd love to have answered.
1) Does Magleby have the authority to resume the BSW program, or anyone in the administration? I have my doubts that it isn't a SLC decision. 2) Is this a plan with the goal of eliminating the social work program entirely?
Who needs more social workers anyway, people in Utah and in the sponsoring church are VERY HAPPY, depression is unknown, right? They are TOLD they are happy anyway, doesn't that admonition work?

Do keep in mind that a BSW is entirely useless without graduate school.

A psychology degree or other program is just as good - and likely better - for this purpose. A friend of mine completed the BSW program at BYU a few years back - and got his MA so he could actually do something with it - and wished that he had studied something different the entire time.

BYU can't feasibly offer every major, and it certainly doesn't have to. BYU is a private institution. The administration has outlined its reasoning and made its decision. There's no need to protest. If it's that important, go somewhere else for an undergrad.

First, you need to understand how a MSW works before making an assumption that a BSW program needs to exist to support an MSW program. An MSW degree is the degree that allows you to being to actually obtain a license to do counseling. Some individuals will not pursue this and instead continue to work the more "menial" jobs in the social work field (i.e. P.O. or Case worker type work). These jobs do not have much upward mobility and a BSW is usually not a pre-requisite to obtain these jobs, other majors will do (i.e. Psychology or MFHD). If a person wants to advance (or even make enough to survive) in the field of SW they will go onto a MSW, therefore many go directly into an MSW program without even working in the field after their BS level degree.

The best reason to stop the BSW program is that it is not as marketable as the MSW!!!! Wake up and see it takes 5 years to get a BSW. While BYU did have a good program, it was adding two more years for the Masters.
I went to the U. Those who had a BSW from Weber or USU had to take extra classes to make up those that they already taken. Otherwise a master's would only take one year. Gee Whiz, why not put the Masters out there and move on and get real about doing the upper level. What's the matter can't some get into the M.S.W. slots? There have been more BSWs out there taking MSW jobs in some markets of social work. They (BSWS)also work for free. That could be why the local schools are so vocal about it. They lose out of the benefits of free. MSW's can do the same internships but do get paid, which is only fair. UVU will have a BSW program up and going soon, so no one can despair. BSWs can saturate that way like before... as freebies for hire.

I transfered out of BYU to the University of California because BYU did not have my major (Criminology). WHy wasn't there a loud media story written in 1999 about how BYU doesn't offer the major of Criminology ?? Answer: It's a stupid, insignificant topic to discuss why BYU has certain majors and not others. PLease, is this really a big story in Utah ? Even the Salt Fake Tribune is covering this non-sense.

Personally, I think any controversy about BYU or the church is highly magnetized, , and thats unfortunate.

Wake up and smell the roses. BYU never and I mean never changes it mind. Change schools or change majors. Get on with it. You are wasting your time. (But you are getting news space.)

I graduated in the first BSW class at BYU in 1969 and immediately entered the MSW program at the UofU. I recommend anyone who is really interested in Social Work aim for the MSW. You can get there from hundreds of different batchelor level degrees. The BSW is essentially only an opportunity to scratch the surface of what will be required of a person in the Social Work field. I'm not sad to see BYU let it go.

A protest is really just a public temper tantrum. I don't believe that I would value the advice of people who still have tantrums as adults.

These protesters need counseling themselves.

It is time they grew up and moved on with their lives.

Because this is a non-story (like everyone else says). For one thing, the professional standard in social work (and other behavioral sciences) is a master's degree (at least ... soon enough it will be a Ph.D. or DSW). Also, like others have said do an undergraduate degree in something else (like psychology) and move on to SW . . . it will allow you to branch out a little before the narrow focus of graduate school ... Trust me... my BA is in History and my PhD will be in Psychology (in 2010).

Why not just transfer to UVSC..It is 5 miles up the road, and yes UTA does go there.

I know there is no honor code, and sometimes girls do not dress the best, and also you may smell cigarette smoke, but their program can get you started in SW

The first thing I thought of was: what took this guy so long to get a degree? He's 30 years old! I wonder if he was too busy doing "social work" instead of going to school.

Why would it be any easier to get a job with a Psychology Degree than with a BSW? That sounds completely backwards to me.

This kind of problem and protest comes from Students being backed up to long. As being backed up becames abmormal it affects your brain. Why would you want to settle for a BSW, when you can have a MSW from a Top School.

For years the academic leadership at BYU have had to make decisions based on the vision they saw for the University as a whole. My major and a lot of other majors in the College of Family Living were eliminated years ago. I was sad at the time. But now that I have seen how things in the world have changed over the past 20 years, it makes perfectly good sense to see how things have turned out. There isn't an endless supply of funds for every single major out there. If we truly believe that this unique university is led by inspired men and women, it's good to seek for an understanding of what they are promoting here.

And I agree with the whole "public temper tantrum" theory stated by "The Rock". Not a good display of mature behavior there, "Mr. Social Worker". Dr. Laura Slessinger, popular radio personality just published a book entitled, "Quit Whining and Start Living". I highly recommend it!

UVU high school is a step down from BYU I'm sorry. IT feels like a high school there and they only offer some MD's. Plus the campus is built for a junior college size.