Social Work Requirements (BA/BS)
Students may declare a Social Work major at any time, but entry into the Social Work Professional Training Program is by application only. Students must be formally admitted into the professional training program before they may enroll in SOCWORK 371, which is the first social work practice course. The professional training admission criteria include: completion of 40 or more college credits; a combined cumulative GPA of 2.30 (including all UW-W and transfer course grades)*; completion of CORE 130 or PSYCH 211; completion of SOCWORK 102 with a grade of C or better; concurrent enrollment or completion of SOCWORK 101 and SOCWORK 311, both with grades of C or better.
- *
If your GPA is below 2.30, you are still encouraged to apply, but you will need to indicate why your grade point is below 2.30 and what you will do to improve it.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements - 37 units 1, 2 | ||
| SOCWORK 101 | INTRODUCTION TO THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION | 1 |
| SOCWORK 102 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WELFARE | 3 |
| SOCWORK 311 | HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT | 4 |
| Social Work Professional Training Program (admission required): | ||
| SOCWORK 371 | PRACTICE I: SOCIAL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS | 3 |
| SOCWORK 372 | PRACTICE II: SOCIAL WORK WITH FAMILIES AND GROUPS | 3 |
| SOCWORK 402 | SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH | 4 |
| SOCWORK 462 | SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY | 3 |
| SOCWORK 473 | PRACTICE III: SOCIAL WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES | 3 |
| SOCWORK 489 | SENIOR SEMINAR IN SOCIAL WORK | 1 |
| SOCWORK 493 | SOCIAL WORK EXPERIENCE 3 | 12 |
| Total Units | 37 | |
- 1
2.25 GPA in the major is required for graduation.
- 2
C or better in all major courses are required for graduation.
- 3
Milestone: Students are required to complete an exit survey prior to graduation. This exit survey is distributed during SOCWORK 493.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Unique Requirements - 10-11 units | ||
| POLISCI 141 | AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | 3 |
| CORE 130 | INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY | 3 |
| or PSYCH 211 | INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY | |
| Select one of the following (transfer students may substitute another department approved Biology course): | 4-5 | |
| BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS | ||
or BIOLOGY 141 | INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY I | |
| Total Units | 10-11 | |
Four-Year Plans: These four-year plans outline a suggested curricular path for new students aiming to earn a degree within in four years. Please note that each plan represents just one of many paths to degree completion.
Social Work (BA)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| ENGLISH 1011 | 3 | ENGLISH 102 | 3 |
| SOCWORK 102 | 3 | MATH 139 | 3 |
| CORE 130 | 3 | CORE 120 or 140 | 3 |
| INTRAUNV 104 | 1 | BIOLOGY 1202 | 4 |
| PEGNRL 192 | 1 | BA World Language Course | 4 |
| BA World Language Course | 4 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| SOCWORK 1013 | 1 | SOCWORK 311 | 4 |
| POLISCI 141 | 3 | COMM 110 | 3 |
| CORE 110 | 3 | U.S. Racial/Ethnic Diversity (DV) Course | 3 |
| Minor Course4 | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Elective (HA-A, HA-G, or HA-H) | 3 | University Requirement (NSW) | 3 |
| 13 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| SOCWORK 371 | 3 | SOCWORK 372 | 3 |
| CORE 390 | 3 | SOCWORK 402 | 4 |
| BA 300/400 Breadth Requirement Course | 3 | BA 300/400 Breadth Requirement Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| SOCWORK 473 | 3 | SOCWORK 493 | 12 |
| SOCWORK 462 | 3 | Elective Course (If Needed to Reach 120 Credits) | 0-3 |
| SOCWORK 489 | 1 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Elective (SBS-E or SBS-S); (Could also be taken with internship) | 3 | ||
| 16 | 12-15 | ||
| Total Units: 120-123 | |||
- 1
The math and English courses you will take during your first year will depend on UW System placement exam scores or ACT/SAT subscores. This four-year plan reflects the math and English courses most common for students in this major. All students are encouraged to complete placement testing prior to attending Warhawks SOAR.
- 2
BIOLOGY 120 is required for the social work major and also satisfies the university lab science (NSWL) requirement.
- 3
While any student can declare a major in Social Work, students must apply to the Social Work Professional Training program during the semester prior to taking SOCWORK 371. Admission to the professional training program requires completion of 40 or more college credits, a combined cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.30, completion of Gened CORE 130 or Psychology 211, completion of Social Work 102 with a grade of C or better, and completion of or enrollment in Social work 101 and 311 which must be completed with a C or better
- 4
This program requires a minor. Students are encouraged to start thinking about selecting a minor early. Students can choose from over 100 options that include Human and Social Services, Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Spanish, and more.
First Year: Joining a university-sponsored club and actively participating is strongly encouraged. Some clubs that may be of particular interest to students with a Social Work Major include: Social Work Student Organization, Active Minds, Empower, Optimist Club, and Best Buddies.
Social work majors can take summer courses at any time to give them more flexibility in their schedule.
Second Year: The Undergraduate Research Program (URP) is a high-impact practice that gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge outside of the classroom and dive deeper into their field of interest. Career Information in Letters and Sciences (LSINDP 399) is a 1-credit course that focuses on transition to career and graduate school opportunities; identifying skills, strengths, and work values; creating effective job search materials; and, developing a networking strategy.
Fourth Year: A required field internship provides students with hands-on experience in a potential career field, supervision and coaching from prospective employers, and the ability to learn professional norms and behaviors.
All students must earn at least 120 credits and complete undergraduate degree requirements to graduate.
Graduation: Students should apply for graduation one full semester prior to their intended graduation date.
Social Work (BS)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| ENGLISH 1011 | 3 | ENGLISH 102 | 3 |
| SOCWORK 102 | 3 | SOCWORK 101 | 1 |
| CORE 130 | 3 | CORE 120 or 140 | 3 |
| Elective (HA-A, HA-G, or HA-H) | 3 | MATH 139 | 3 |
| INTRAUNV 104 | 1 | BIOLOGY 1202 | 4 |
| PEGNRL 192 | 1 | ||
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| POLISCI 141 | 3 | SOCWORK 311 | 4 |
| CORE 110 | 3 | COMM 110 | 3 |
| BS Requirement Math/Stats/Compsci Course | 3 | BS Requirement Math/Stats/Compsci Course | 3 |
| Minor Course3 | 3 | U.S Racial/Ethnic Diversity (DV) Course | 3 |
| Elective (SBS-E or SBS-S) | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| SOCWORK 3714 | 3 | SOCWORK 372 | 3 |
| CORE 390 | 3 | SOCWORK 402 | 4 |
| BS Requirement Lab Science Course (NSWL, non-BIOLOGY) | 4-5 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Minor Course | 3 |
| Minor Course | 3 | Elective Course | 3 |
| 16-17 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| SOCWORK 473 | 3 | SOCWORK 493 | 12 |
| SOCWORK 462 | 3 | Elective Course (If Needed to Reach 120 Credits) | 1-3 |
| SOCWORK 489 | 1 | ||
| Minor Course | 3 | ||
| Elective Course | 3 | ||
| Elective Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 13-15 | ||
| Total Units: 120-123 | |||
- 1
The math and English courses you will take during your first year will depend on UW System placement exam scores or ACT/SAT subscores. This four-year plan reflects the math and English courses most common for students in this major. All students are encouraged to complete placement testing prior to attending Warhawks SOAR.
- 2
Biology 120 is required for the social work major and also satisfies the university lab science (NSWL) requirement.
- 3
This program requires a minor. Students are encouraged to start thinking about selecting a minor early. Students can choose from over 100 options that include Human and Social Services, Psychology, Sociology, Criminology, Spanish, and more.
- 4
While any student can declare a major in Social Work, students must apply to the Social Work Professional Training program during the semester prior to taking SOCWORK 371. Admission to the professional training program requires completion of 40 or more college credits, a combined cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.30, completion of Gened CORE 130 or Psychology 211, completion of Social Work 102 with a grade of C or better, and completion of or enrollment in Social work 101 and 311 which must be completed with a C or better
First Year: Joining a university-sponsored club and actively participating is strongly encouraged. Some clubs that may be of particular interest to students with a Social Work Major include: Social Work Student Organization, Active Minds, Empower, Optimist Club, and Best Buddies. Social work majors can take summer courses at any time to give them more flexibility in their schedule.
Second Year: The Undergraduate Research Program (URP) is a high-impact practice that gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge outside of the classroom and dive deeper into their field of interest.
Career Information in Letters and Sciences (LSINDP 399) is a 1-credit course that focuses on transition to career and graduate school opportunities; identifying skills, strengths, and work values; creating effective job search materials; and, developing a networking strategy.
Fourth Year: A required field internship provides students with hands-on experience in a potential career field, supervision and coaching from prospective employers, and the ability to learn professional norms and behaviors.
All students must earn at least 120 credits and complete undergraduate degree requirements to graduate.
Graduation: Students should apply for graduation one full semester prior to their intended graduation date.
Update: Spring 2025