The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work is a 48-unit program that prepares students for beginning, generalist Social Work practice. All lower division general education courses must be completed prior to beginning the Social Work major. The curriculum consists of 42 units in professional foundation/beginning generalist requirement, 6 units of Social Work electives. Grades of "C" or better are required in all 48 units of the major. The student must agree to abide by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers and engage in ethical practice in conformity with the Professional Code of Ethics.

Upon successful graduation with the BASW, graduated students will be able to, among other knowledge and skills, effectively demonstrate, apply, engage with, and evaluate the nine social work competencies that are mandated for accredited social work programs per the Council on Social Work Education. This will be demonstrated at the generalist level. The nine mandated competencies are: 1) Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior; 2) Engage diversity and difference in practice; 3) Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice; 4) Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice; 5) Engage in policy practice; 6) Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; 7) Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; 8) Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; and, 9) Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Undergraduate students enroll in one academic year of field instruction (internship) during their senior year after successfully completing all prerequisites in their junior year. Field instruction is 16 hours per week for 32 weeks during two semesters for a total of 512 hours. Field instruction takes place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on either Mondays/Wednesdays or Wednesdays/Fridays. Placements only begin in the fall semester and are arranged by the Director of Field Education during the preceding spring semester through an application and interview process. Students are placed in a social services agency and practice under the supervision of an experienced MSW Social Worker. Since Social Work is an applied profession, the student is expected to be able to put into practice the knowledge gained in the classroom in order to receive the BA degree in Social Work.

Students must be capable of meeting field site/organization eligibility requirements which normally include obtaining a Department of Justice clearance (passing a criminal background), being free of communicable diseases, having a valid driver's license, and automobile insurance. In addition to the prerequisites and corequisites noted below, other eligibility requirements are delineated in the Field Curriculum and Policy Guide which is accessible from the Division's field website. Declaration of Social Work as the student's major does not guarantee enrollment in field instruction.

Pre-Major Requirements for Social Work Undergraduate Program

The Pre-Major is a total of 12 units: 3 units from G.E. Area B2, 3 units in Area D (Part A), 3 units in Area D (Part B), and SWRK 95 (3 units).

Students who want to become a Pre-Major in Social Work are required to take the courses from the following three G.E. areas and SWRK 95 and earn a "B" grade or better ("B-" is not accepted). Students must also have at least 2.5 GPA to declare the major. 

Recommended Lower Division Preparation

Completion of all lower division General Education requirements is a prerequisite for taking courses in the Social Work major. Lower division courses in the following areas are strongly recommended and most can be taken as part of completing GE requirements. These courses provide the basis for a Liberal Arts perspective which is required by the Council on Social Work Education, the accrediting organization for the professional Social Work degree: written communication; critical thinking; physical science; a biology course with human anatomy content; quantitative reasoning; world civilizations; introduction to the arts; humanities; psychology; sociology; cultural diversity; American Institutions; and foundations in social and behavioral sciences. Community college transfer students should consult a counselor to identify courses which qualify for General Education transfer credit.

Minimum Grade Requirement

Grades of "C" or better are required in all 48 units of the major.