Note(s):
*6 hours 3000+ chosen from Sociology (SOCI); Psychology (PSYC); Women’s Studies(WMST); Criminal Justice (CRIJ); Comparative Mexican American Studies (CMAS); or Social Work (SOWK) courses not already used elsewhere in major.
The following components are required in all degrees:
General education, major, and validation of completion of:
- overall semester hours - 120
- institutional semester hours - 45
- overall advanced hours - 36
- institutional advanced hours - 24
Acceptable minor fields:
None required
The following courses are required of the BSW Degree Plan: POLS 1301 (or POLS 1302 ), SOCI 1301 , PSYC 1305 , ECON 2301 (or ECON 2302 ), PSYC 3381 (or SOCI 3311 ), and 2 upper division (3000+) from Sociology, Psychology, Women Studies, Criminal Justice, Comparative Mexican American studies or Social Work courses (both courses cannot be from same discipline). Students must earn a “C” or better in these courses. Courses may not be taken pass/fail.
SOWK 1300 is a prerequisite for all other social work courses and SOWK 2300 for most other social work courses. It is recommended that social work majors enroll in SOWK 1300 and SOWK 2300 prior to their junior year (or fifth semester). Following is a prescribed sequence of upper division courses in the major:
JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester SOWK 3331 , SOWK 3311
Spring Semester: SOWK 3312 , SOWK 3333
SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester SOWK 3332 , SOWK 4383
Spring Semester: SOWK 4452 , SOWK 4552 , SOWK 5314
The Bachelor of Social Work Program is designed to prepare students for beginning professional practice with individuals, families, groups and communities, for responsible participation in social change, and for graduate study in social work or other human service professions.
Upon completion of the BSW, the student is eligible for full membership in the National Association of Social Workers and for license by examination by the State of Texas.
Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work Program
Students wishing to declare social work as a major can do so with the Registrar. Self-declared majors may enroll for a maximum of 15 semester hours of social work courses: SOWK 1300 , SOWK 2300 , SOWK 3321 , SOWK 3331 or SOWK 3333 . Formal admission to the program requires a completed BSW application, an adequate personal statement, at least a 2.0 GPA overall, a social work GPA of 2.5 or higher, three letters of recommendation, and a comportment congruent with the values of social work. Applications for formal admission to the BSW Program are processed when grades for six semester hours of social work courses completed at the Worden School of Social Service are received. Applications and Handbooks can be obtained from the Worden School of Social Service Business Office.
For continuation in the program, a student must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5 in social work courses after 12 semester hours in the major and be formally admitted into the program. Records are reviewed at the end of each grading period. Enrollment in field education courses requires successful completion of 27 hours in social work with a GPA of 2.5 in major courses and permission of the BSW Program Director. A GPA of 2.5 in the major is also required for graduation. Courses in the major and minor must be taken for a grade. A Pass/Fail grade for social work courses can only be taken for the field education courses. With the exception of the field education courses, “C” grade or better must be earned on all social work courses. A “P” grade must be earned for the field education courses.
A student who fails to maintain a satisfactory performance level will be notified in writing of termination in the major. Readmission must be approved by a faculty panel.
Transfer Credit in Social Work
Upper-division social work courses will be accepted in transfer only if they are earned in a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and determined by the Director of the BSW Program to be equivalent.
Academic credit for life/work experience is not given in the social work program for professional foundation courses.
Other Requirements
- Completion of a Secondary Assessment. In order to meet accreditations standards, all social work students are required to complete a secondary assessment, in the form of multiple choice questions, during their field courses. Students not completing the secondary assessment will not be able to graduate.
