Program Description
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in Social Work degree builds knowledge and skills related to the delivery of social services to individuals, families and groups. Students complete 480 hours of practicum with a social services agency or organization as part of this program.
Delivery Mode
Traditional (on campus)
Accreditation
This BSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Curriculum
The following eight-semester schedule of courses provides a recommended framework for completing this program of study in four years.
| Course | Credits |
| Freshman Year | |
| First Semester | 16 |
| ENG 101 English Composition I** | 3 |
| PSY 100 General Psychology* OR SOC 100 Principles of Sociology** | 3 |
| SOW 150 Introduction to Social Work* | 3 |
| UNI 100 First-Year Seminar** | 1 |
| General Education Courses | 6 |
| Second Semester | 15 |
| ENG 102 English Composition II** | 3 |
| SOC 100 Principles of Sociology** OR PSY 100 General Psychology* | 3 |
| General Education Courses | 9 |
| Sophomore Year | |
| Third Semester | 15 |
| SOW 201 Interviewing for the Human Services* | 3 |
| SOW 208 Diversity in a Changing World* | 3 |
| SOW 215 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I: Life Course* | 3 |
| General Education Courses | 6 |
| Fourth Semester | 15 |
| SOW 302 Social Work Practice with Individuals* | 3 |
| SOW 316 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II: Groups, Organizations and Communities* | 3 |
| General Education/Elective Courses | 9 |
| Junior Year | |
| Fifth Semester | 15 |
| SOW 304 Social Work Practice with Families* | 3 |
| SOW 360 Social Welfare History, Policy Analysis and Social Service Delivery* | 3 |
| Social Work Special Interest Course* | 3 |
| General Education/Elective Courses | 6 |
| Sixth Semester | 15 |
| SOW 303 Human Sexuality and Society** | 3 |
| SOW 345 Social Work Practice with Groups* | 3 |
| SOW 370 Policy Practice in Social Work* | 3 |
| Social Work Special Interest Course* | 3 |
| General Education/Elective Course | 3 |
| Senior Year | |
| Seventh Semester | 15 |
| SOW 405 Social Work Research Methods* | 3 |
| SOW 349 Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities* | 3 |
| Pre-Practicum Orientation | 0 |
| General Education/Elective Courses | 9 |
| Eighth Semester | 15 |
| SOW 425 Field Education* | 12 |
| SOW 435 Field Education Seminar* | 3 |
| Total | 120 |
* Required major and related courses
** Required and recommended General Education courses
Special Interest Courses
- SOW 306 Social Work in the Rural Environment
- SOW 330 Child Welfare
- SOW 340 Poverty and Related Social Problems
- SOW 350 Social Work with the Aging
- SOW 364 Juvenile Delinquency
- SOW 410 Social Work in Mental Health
- SOW 495 Seminar in Special Topics
Additional Requirements
Full admission into the upper-division skills classes of the social work program requires that the student apply for degree candidacy prior to entering SOW 302. By the start of this class (SOW 302), students must have:
- completed a minimum of 45 credit-hours;
- completed SOW 150, 201, 208 and 215 and ENG 101 and 102 with a minimum grade of C; and
- achieved an overall GPA of 2.00.
Social work majors also need to complete Social Work Pre-Practicum Orientation the semester before they enroll in SOW 425 and 435.
Students need to maintain a 2.50 GPA in the major to remain in good standing and to graduate from the program.
Related Courses/Electives
To earn the BSW degree, students must take the following courses as related courses and related electives:
- PSY 100 General Psychology
- Any two ANT, ECO, GTY, POS, PSY, SOC, SOW or WST courses, one 200 level or above, one 300 level or above
General Education Requirements and Recommendations
To earn the BSW degree, students are required to take the following courses to complete their General Education requirements:
- ENG 101 and 102 (with grades of C or better)
- SOC 100 Principles of Sociology (social sciences menu)
- Any PHI (ethics preferred), ENG literature or foreign language (humanities menu)
- Any natural science (anatomy/physiology or BIO preferred) (natural sciences menu)
- Any HIS course (U.S. history recommended) (General Education options)
- Any POS course (American government recommended) (General Education options)
The Department of Social Work recommends that students in the major choose from the following courses for other General Education requirements or for free electives:
- BIO 103 Contemporary Issues in Biology
- BIO 112 Biology of Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- CSC 101 Personal Productivity Software (technological literacy menu)
- ECO 100 Elements of Economics
- GIS 311 Geographic Information Systems
- GTY 100 Introduction to Gerontology
- MAT 215 Statistics (math menu)
- PSY 400 Abnormal Psychology
- SOC 205 Contemporary Social Problems
- SOW 303 Human Sex and Society (health and wellness menu)
Program Webpage
https://www.calu.edu/academics/undergraduate/bachelors/social-work/index.aspx