School of Social Work
Overview of Curriculum and Requirements
The purpose of undergraduate social work education at the School of Social Work is to provide a comprehensive educational experience for students that is grounded in a liberal arts tradition and prepares graduates for excellence in the areas of social work practice, policy, social engagement and leadership.
Graduates will be prepared for entry into three potential trajectories upon degree completion including (but not limited to): professional social work practice, advanced standing in graduate social work education, and career opportunities and graduate education in the areas such as communications, corrections, education, government, health care, human resources, law, non-profit organizations, religious studies, and public service.
The focus of undergraduate curriculum delivery is through a student-centered strengths-based educational model that fosters student understanding by providing a challenging, yet supportive environment of high expectations that encourages the development of well-informed and engaged citizens.
Degree title: Bachelor of Social Work
The social work major prepares practitioners for generalist social work practice with individuals, groups, families and communities. The curriculum requires a minimum of 125 hours for graduation. Minimum required course work in the major equates to 50 course hours of core professional education, including 10 hours for an agency-based field practicum (internship) where students receive additional supervision and training in a 2-3 days per week experience for the academic year (approximately 510 clock hours). All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.
Summary of Degree Requirements
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 36-39 | General Education |
| 30 | Pre-Professional Required (Social Work Related) |
| 50 | Social Work Major (including 10 hours for Internship) |
| 9 | Open Electives |
| 125 | Minimum Total hours required for graduation |
Requirements
Admission
Admission to the School of Social Work is competitive.
Applications are submitted in the second semester of the sophomore year for junior year professional program entry. In some instances admission to the program in the junior year will be considered, per approval of the BSW Program Director.
Freshmen and Sophomores who are interested in gaining admittance to the Social Work Program will be coded as pre-social work majors which offers them special status to register for certain courses and establishes communication and support from the School of Social Work.
Professional Program entry requires the completion of pre-requisites (admission may be considered with certain co-requisites being completed during fall semester with permission from BSW Director). The following requirements must be met for consideration for admission into the BSW Program:
- Completion of 60 (sixty) semester hours of undergraduate coursework
- Completion of General Education Requirements
- Completion and documentation of a minimum of 50 (fifty) hours of volunteer or paid work experience in a social service agency within the last 2 (two) years
- Cumulative minimum GPA 2.5 or higher
- Minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher in SOCW 200
- Evidence of strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Evidence of personal attributes that are suitable for the profession of social work
- Successful completion of the application process for professional program entry
Applicants are asked to submit the on-line application form by February 1. Most decisions will be made by March 15. Competitive applicants who will have completed at least 30 hours of coursework at the end of their freshmen year may apply for sophomore pre-professional admission status. They will be granted professional admission status at the end of their sophomore year provided all requirements are met.
Admission for transfer from other institutions and for on-campus transfer is based on the following criteria: cumulative (and University of Illinois) grade point average, grades earned in social work courses, particularly SOCW 200, the quality of the applicant's personal statement, appropriate recommendations, and space availability in the program.
The minimum grade point average for transfer admission from outside institutions is 2.5. A student whose cumulative average is below the minimum criteria may be considered individually on a petition basis, if enrollment vacancies exist in the program and if a compelling rationale is presented.
General Education and BSW Major Requirements
| Hours | University Composition Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3-6 | Composition I: Principles of Composition |
| 3 | Advanced Composition |
| Hours | Non-Primary Language Requirement |
|---|---|
| 0-12 | Completion of the fourth semester or equivalent of a non-primary language is required for graduation. A student may also meet this requirement by completing two non-primary languages to the third level. Spanish strongly recommended; ASL (American Sign Language) is also acceptable. |
| Hours | Pre-professional (Social Work related) Requirement |
|---|---|
| 3 | Communication Courses |
| 3 (6) | Cultural Studies: Non-western/U.S. minority culture and/or Gender Studies Students are encouraged to select at least one course that includes African-American or Latina/Latino populations. Check with BSW Program for recommended courses. |
| (3) | STAT 100 or equivalent is required (EPSY 280; SOC 280; PSYCH 235; MAT 161) |
| (3) | U.S. GOV’T/ 20th century HISTORY. CHOOSE ONE: PS 101 - Intro to US Gov & Pol; HIST 172 - US Hist since 1877; HIST 272 – Twentieth Century America; or HUM 141/142 – Intro to American Civ |
| (3) | Life Sciences – Human biology component required. |
| 6 (9) | Social Sciences – 3 courses in one or more disciplines. (Ex: ANTH, ECON, HDFS, PS, SOC) |
| 3 (6) | Behavioral Sciences – PSYCH 100 - Intro to Psych REQUIRED AND Choose one course in of the area of Human Development (HDFS or PSYCH recommended) |
| 15 | 5 Advised Electives - Social Work related coursework that will complement the core program and area of student interest. These five courses are selected in conjunction with the student’s advisor and/or BSW Program Director and should include aat least two different disciplines. No more than six hours (2 classes) may be taken at the 100 level. Approved disciplines include any course in: Afro-American Studies; American Indian studies; Asian American Studies; Community Health; Economics; HDFS; Latina/Latino Studies; Political Science; Psychology; Social Work; Sociology; and Gender & Women Studies. See BSW Program List for some suggested recommended courses |
| 30 | TOTAL Pre-professional/ Social Work Related Requirements |
(*) Indicates combined General Education and Pre-professional Requirements in the subject area
| Hours | Social Work Major Core Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | SOCW 200 - Intro to Social Work |
| 3 | SOCW 300 – Diversity: Identities and Issues |
| 4 | SOCW 400 - Practice I – Overview of Generalist Practice |
| 3 | SOCW 402 - Practice II – SW with Individuals, Families & Groups |
| 3 | SOCW 403 - Practice III – SW with Organizations and Communities |
| 3 | SOCW 410 - Social Welfare Policies and Services |
| 3 | SOCW 427 – Social Work Research Methods |
| 3 | SOCW 451 – HBSE I: Human Behavior in the Social Environment |
| 3 or 6 | Advised SW Elective (397; 412; 415; 418; 420) |
| 3 or 6 | SOCW 380 - Current topics in Social Work (may be repeated) |
| 4 | SOCW 460 - Field Practicum I |
| 3 | SOCW 461 - Field Seminar |
| 6 | SOCW 470 - Field Practicum II |
| 3 | SOCW 471 - Professional Practice Seminar |
| 50 | Total |
| Hours | Electives |
|---|---|
| 9 | Open Electives |
| 125 | TOTAL Minimum hours required for graduation |
Special Programs
Honors at Graduation
Eligibility for graduation with honors is established after all grades are recorded following a student's final semester. A student who achieves the required scholastic average in all work presented for graduation (excluding credit for courses not included in the computation of the grade point average) may be recommended for honors as follows: honors, minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75; high honors, minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.85; highest honors, minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.90.
Departmental distinction: To graduate with distinction, a student must have a University grade point average of at least 3.5, a social work grade point average of at least 3.5, and complete the Senior Honors Seminar (SOCW 471) or Advanced Independent Study (SOCW 418). See Social Work Advisor for details.