Social Work, B.S.W.

The undergraduate program offers a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree as preparation for a number of careers from public service to work in the private sector. The undergraduate social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and its principal educational goal is to prepare students for beginning generalist social work practice.

Liberal Studies Hours: 42

Liberal Studies Program Requirements

Admission & Retention Information

Declaration of a major in social work does not guarantee admission to the program. Students are eligible to apply for admission when they have attained an overall 2.80 GPA, have completed 35 credit hours, and in addition, have completed SOCW 151, SOCW 251, and SOCW 253 (or be enrolled in SOCW 251 and SOCW 253). Students must maintain an overall 2.80 GPA each semester after admission in order to remain in the program. Students must complete an application and submit it to the department office by the third Monday in September or third Monday of February. The application and directions for the application process are located on the department’s website. A student in the Social Work program must maintain an overall GPA of 2.8 and adhere to the professional and technical standards of the program. All social work required courses must have a grade of ‘C’ or above to earn credit for the course. Students must adhere to the university maximum grade replacement allowance however only one Social Work course is eligible for grade replacement per required Social Work course. For information on these standards and information regarding admission and termination from the program, refer to the department’s website above.

BSW Major Requirements

42 hours Liberal Studies + 63 hours Social Work + 15 hours General Electives = 120 hours

Liberal Studies Requirements: 42 hours

Liberal Studies Program Requirements

Social Work Curriculum: 63 hours

A grade of C (2.0) or better is required in the following courses:

BIOL 104 - Human Biology Credits: 3
PSY 150 - General Psychology Credits: (3)
SOCW 151 - Introduction to Social Work Credits: (3)
SOCW 251 - Social Issues, Policy and Programs Credits: (3)
SOCW 253 - Practice I: Interviewing and Ethics Credits: (3)
SOCW 334 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Life Stages Credits: (3)
SOCW 335 - Social Work Research and Evaluation Credits: 3
SOCW 354 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment: Person-In-Environment Credits: (3)
SOCW 360 - Social Work Practice II: Case Management Credits: 3
SOCW 362 - Practice III: Interventions Credits: 3
SOCW 364 - Community Practice Credits: (3)
SOCW 402 - Diversity in Contemporary Society Credits: (3)
SOCW 486 - Field Practicum Credits: (12)
SOCW 496 - Field Practicum Seminar Credits: (3)
9 hours of Social Work electives

General Electives: 15 hours

General electives courses are considered any course whereby WCU grants course credit. Students are at liberty to pursue other areas of interest. The Social Work Program has been continuously accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1974.