More about our degrees

Our social justice informed curriculum prepares you for community-based generalist social work practice through rigorous course work and hands-on learning.

Social work is adynamic, versatile, and rewarding profession. Our graduates report being well prepared for careers in social work and graduate school. Classroom experience is connected to real world practice through your field practicum. Students who seek a path to help others, improve society, and advocate for just social conditions thrive in social work and have many career options.

Mission

Our mission is to prepare undergraduate students to become competent and effective entry-level, generalist social work professionals who value and respect diversity, anchor economic and social justice and human rights as central to their practice, and seek to use their knowledge based on scientific inquiry and skills to improve and community human well-being.

Values

Our program values are adopted from the eight core values of the social work profession delineated in the CSWE Educational Policy 1.0:

Service.
Social justice.
The dignity and worth of the person.
The importance of human relationships.
Integrity.
Competence.
Human rights.
Scientific inquiry.

Goals

For competent and effective entry-level generalist social work practice with varying client systems (i.e., individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities)

To practice competently with diverse populations.
To effectively promote and advocate for economic and social justice and human rights.
To apply the values, ethics, and standards of the social work profession into generalist practice.
For service and leadership to improve human and community well-being in evolving contexts.

Social Work, BSW

Requirements: 70 credits including the 450-hour field practicum.

Academic Progression in Social Work

Students enter the social work major as degree candidates (SOCW.CAND). During candidacy, students must enroll in the foundation courses SOCW 1510 Introduction to Social Work and SOCW 2010 Social Justice and earn a “C” or higher. Students internally apply to advance in the major during fall of their junior year.

Required Courses

SOCW 1510: Introduction to Social Work

SOCW 2010: Social Justice *

SOCW 3010: Human Behavior and in the Social Environment

SOCW 3020 Human Development and Social Work

SOCW 3040: U.S. Social Welfare Policy

SOCW 3050: Advocacy and Activism

SOCW 3110: Practice 1: Social Work with Individuals and Families

SOCW 4010: Social Work Research Data Analysis

SOCW 4020: Social Work Research Methods

SOCW 4030: Social Work Research: Capstone

SOCW 4110: Practice II: Social Work with Groups

SOCW 4120: Practice III: Social Work with Organizations and Communities

SOCW 4510-4530: Field Practicum

SOCW 4610-4630: Field Seminar

Electives

Social work major requires 8 credits in electives from below list, or approved by the Program Director.

SOCW 3030 Juvenile Justice

SOCW 3170 Race and Ethnicity

SOCW 3910 Global Food Justice

SOCW 3910 Global Migration

SOCW 4320 Domestic Violence

SOCW 4330 Politics of Homelessness

SOCW 4340 Introduction to Alcohol and Drug Addiction

SOCW 4350 Social Work with Children and Youth

SOCW 4360 Queer Social Movements

Field Practicum

Your practicum is a key component of your degree.

Learn more now

Social Welfare, Minor

31 to 33 credits.

Required Courses

SOCW 1510 - Introduction to Social Work

SOCW 2010 - Social Justice

SOCW 3010 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment

SOCW 3020 - Human Development and Social Work

SOCW 3040 - U.S. Social Welfare Policy

Electives

Choose two from the following list of elective courses:

SOCW 3030 - Juvenile Justice

SOCW 4350 - Social Work with Children and Youth

SOCW 4340 - Introduction to Alcohol and Drug Addiction