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Department of Social Work Education

The Bachelor of Arts Program

The bachelor's degree program prepares students to enter supervised professional social work practice and/or pursue admission to a range of graduate study programs and professional schools. This includes graduate study in social work leading to a master's in social work. Both the bachelor's and master's degree programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

The bachelor's degree program in social work is a sequenced program that requires four consecutive semesters to complete. Students majoring in social work must do the following before being permitted to enroll in restricted and sequenced 100-level social work courses (courses with prerequisites):

a. Complete all lower-division General Education courses
b. Complete SWRK 20 (or the equivalent)
c. Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5
d. Formally apply for upper-division social work major status

Transfer students and students changing to the social work major who have met the above prerequisites, upon declaring a social work major, will be able to register for upper-division courses in the major without further action. Transfer students and students changing to the social work major, who have not already completed the above prerequisites prior to registration, must request the Social Work Education Department to screen their transcripts (to be provided by the student) for successful completion of the prerequisite requirements before enrollment in restricted, 100-level social work courses will be permitted.

Students may apply for upper-division social work major status in the Social Work Education Department office during the semester in which they expect to successfully complete the above prerequisite requirements. Approval will be contingent upon satisfactory fulfillment of these requirements.

Currently enrolled students who wish to change to the social work major must first obtain the change-of-major form in the Social Work Education Department office or in the north lobby, Joyal Administration Building.

 

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Social Work Major

Major requirements (42 units)
SWRK 20, 123, 135, 136, 160, 161 (or 161S), 170, 171, 180, 181, 182, 183
Note: Students must attain a minimum grade of C in each required course in social work major Students who receive a grade of less than C in any of the above courses must meet with their Social Work Education academic adviser and develop a plan for repeating the course and continuing the major. Refer to the Undergraduate Advising Booklet for complete information on policies.
See Advising Notes.

Additional requirements (18 units)
May also count toward General Education

• ECON 25, 40, or 50 (3 units)
• PH 90 or 135 (3 units)
• Approved upper-division electives (see list in department office) (9 units)
  Cultural Diversity Ethnic Studies including Africana Studies and American Indian Studies; Chicano and Latin American Studies, Asian American Studies, or Women's Studies (3 units)
  Six units from two of the following areas: Anthropology, Criminology, Psychology, or Sociology (6 units)
• Select three units from the following: SWRK 124, 125, 128, 129, 137, or 152 (3 units)

General Education requirements (51 units)

Electives and remaining degree requirements* (13-24 units)
(see Degree Requirements); may include a double major or minor

Total (120 units)

__________

* This figure takes into consideration that, with proper selection, 15 units of additional requirements for the social work major also may be applied toward fulfilling General Education requirements (see General Education). Consult the social work department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for details.

 

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Advising Notes

1. Foundational social work major courses must be taken in the sequence specified below:
   Junior year (semester 1): SWRK 123, 135, and 160
   Junior year (semester 2): SWRK 136, 161/161S, and 170
   Senior year (semester 1): SWRK 171, 180, 181
   Senior year (semester 2): SWRK 182, 183, and SWRK elective
2. Approved course listings are available in the department office and on the Web. Consult your faculty adviser for assistance in selecting a pattern of courses to fit your particular interests and goals.
3. CR/NC grading is not permitted in the social work major with the exception of SWRK 181 and 182.
4. General Education, additional requirements, and elective units may be used toward a double major or minor (see Double Major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty adviser for further information.
5. No General Education Multicultural/International course offered by the Social Work Education Department may be used to satisfy the General Education requirements for majors in the department.
6. Senior year internships are arranged by the field coordinator. Applications must be filed and interviews with the field coordinator and interviews for agency selection must be completed in the semester prior to entering the field.
7. Students who have prior knowledge of Spanish or Southeast Asian languages but lack fluency are encouraged to take additional coursework in the languages.
8. A booklet describing the program more fully is available in the department office and on the Web.

 

Certificate in Alcohol/Drug Studies

The Department of Social Work Education is participating in a certificate of special study awarded to those students who successfully complete a minimum of 12 units of interdisciplinary academic coursework in the area of alcohol and drug abuse. (For complete details, see Health and Human Services-Interdisciplinary Courses in this catalog.)

Certificate in Cross-Cultural Competency

The College of Health and Human Services and the Department of Social Work Education jointly offer a certificate of special study in cultural competency. Tweve units of selective study are required that include two core courses and two related interdisciplinary electives. The certificate is designed to prepare students for professional practice in culturally diverse settings in the fields of business, education, health care, and human service. All coursework must be taken for a letter grade and completed with a grade of C or better in each of the six required units and six units of electives.

Required courses (6 units)
SWRK 136, 137

Elective courses (6 units)
Take two 3-unit courses, each from different categories.

• Language and Culture: ANTH 118, 123, 124; CLAS 116; CDDS 139; CI 140ECE; SPAN 125; GERON 111, 161; HUM 130; LING 120, 130; PHIL 135, 138; COMM 120, 164
• Health/Mental Health: ANTH 117; PH 90, 100, 104; PSYCH 169; RA 125
• Ethnicity: AFRS 56, 100, 101, 103, 135, 142, 144, 148; ANTH 115, 116W, ASAM 110, 138, 140; CLAS 128, 152; CRIM 174; AFRS 104W; SOC 111
• Women: AFRS 137; CLAS 162; GERON 18; PH 126, 130; HIST 101; SOC 132; WS 120, 125, 135

Total (12 units)

For more information, call the Department of Social Work Education at 559.278.3992.

Credential Programs

As part of the M.S.W. degree, the Department of Social Work Education offers a program which satisfies the requirements for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with Specializations in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance Services. Advising and admissions information are available through the P.P.S. coordinator in the Department of Social Work Education.

Master of Social Work

This program is designed to prepare students for advanced social work practice -- as social work practitioners who are capable of intervening at individual, family, small group, organization, and community levels. Students achieve competence in problem identification, assessment, development of intervention plans, and evaluation of practice. Students build cross-cultural awareness and learn to use empowerment and social justice perspectives when making interventions with client systems of various sizes.

Students complete a total of 60 units of graduate work, including 10 units of supervised internship with participating agencies in the community. They will prepare an acceptable master's project or thesis which investigates social problems and appropriate intervention strategies for the purpose of building upon the profession's knowledge base.

The program prepares students for practice and advancement in the social work profession. Students develop the knowledge and skills necessary to provide direct services, consultation, training, program development, practice evaluation, and social service research on behalf of clients and community and contribute to the advancement of the profession.

Students accepted to the program must maintain an average GPA of 3.0 in all coursework. They must also complete a project or thesis under faculty supervision. In addition, all students complete two (year-long) internship experiences in participating community agencies. A limited extended degree program option is available. Consult the Master of Social Work coordinator in department office.

The M.S.W. program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Master of Social Work Degree Requirements

In the 60-unit program, all students are required to take the following courses: SWRK 200, 203, 212, 213, 220, 221, 224, 225, 227, 246, 247, 260, 261, 280, 281, 282, 283, and 292, in addition to completing a project (298) or a thesis (299), for a total of 54 units. The remaining 6 units may be selected from social work electives. Electives from other departments must be approved by the graduate coordinator.

Master of Social Work Writing Requirement
The graduate writing requirement for the Master of Social Work is satisfied by passing a writing exam administered in SWRK 200 during the first semester of graduate coursework. The student must pass the writing exam as a prerequisite to advancement to candidacy. For more information about the writing requirement and the appeals process, refer to the Graduate Handbook. Students may obtain a copy of the Graduate Handbook from the Department of Social Work Education.

Credential Programs. As part of the M.S.W., the Department of Social Work Education offers a program which satisfies the requirements for the California Pupil Personnel Services Credential with Specializations in School Social Work and Child Welfare and Attendance Services. Advising and admissions information are available through the P.P.S. coordinator in the Department of Social Work Education.

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