Requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work Degree

In addition to 45 semester hours of basic studies and 16 semester hours of general electives, the following details the 63 hours required for the social work major, for a total of 124 hours required for graduation.

Social Work Core Courses and Sequence of Class Offering by Semester

1st Fall Semester (first semester)
SWK 235 Introduction to Social Work and the Social Welfare System (3) (or prior to this semester)
SWK 240 Basic Working Relationship Skills (3)
SWKL 240 Working Relationship Lab (1)
SWK 320 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (HBSE I) (3)
SWK 355 Issues in Diversity for Generalist Practice (3) (can be taken in 1st spring semester)

*Note:  students admitted to the NC Child Welfare Education Collaborative need to take SWK 311 this semester.

 *Note:  students planning a field placement in an educational setting should take SWK 418 this semester.  It is required for the NC School Social Work Certification.

1st Spring Semester (second semester)
SWK 321 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (HBSE II) (3)           SWK 341 Generalist Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families (3)       SWK 396 Pre-Field Seminar(1)
SWK 435 Social Welfare Policies (3)
SWK Elective (recommended to take this semester) (3)

*Note: students admitted to the NC Child Welfare Education Collaborative need to take SWK 411 this semester.

2nd Fall Semester (third semester)
SWK 406 Research Methods for Social Work Practice I (3)
SWK 442 Generalist Social Work Practice with Groups (3)
SWK 496 Field Practicum I (6)

*Note:  students undertaking a field placement in a school setting and planning to obtain the NC School Social Work Certification must take SWK 418 this semester if not previously completed.

2nd Spring Semester (fourth semester)
SWK 407 Research Methods for Social Work Practice II (3)
SWK 443 Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations (3)  
SWK 497 Field Practicum II (6)

The following two courses are REQUIRED, and it is strongly recommended that they be taken before the senior year field practicum courses, SWK 496 and SWK 497:

SWK 355: Issues in Diversity for Generalist Practice
SWK 435 Social Welfare Policy

The following are required Collateral Courses (13 semester hours):         SOC 105 Introduction to Sociology (3) prerequisite for SWK 320
PSY 105 Introduction to Psychology (3) prerequisite for SWK 320
BIO 105 General Biology for Non-majors (4); or BIO 160 Genetics for Non-biology majors (4); or BIO 201 Biology for majors (4); or BIO 240 Biology for Nursing majors (4) prerequisite for SWK 320
PLS 101 American National Government (3) or PLS 206 State Government and Politics (3) or PLS 207 American Urban Govt.and Politics (3): prerequisite for SWK 435

Social Work Electives

Students are required to take one (1) social work elective. Students may take more than one social work elective, but only one is necessary to meet the requirements for the BSW degree.  Each is a 3 credit hour course.  For BSW candidates, SWK 235 is a perquisite for all electives; additional prerequisites may apply for a particular course.

SWK 310 Social Service Practice with the Elderly
SWK 311 Child Abuse and Neglect
SWK 315 Issues for Social Workers in Mental Health
SWK 316 Generalist Practice in Rural Communities (Prerequisite: SOC 105)
SWK 318 Social Work and Health Care Delivery
SWK 411 Seminar on Practice in Children, Youth, and Family Services (Prerequisite: SWK 311)
SWK 417 Constructing Masculinities: from Boyhood to Manhood
SWK 418 Social Work Practice in the School Environment (Co-requisite SWK 341 or SWK 496)

Directed Individual Study:  SWK 491 These are individual courses constructed with a faculty member. They are 1, 2, or 3 credit hours for the semester.

Special Topics Seminar:  These are designated as SWK 495 and are usually announced by the faculty the semester before the course will be offered. They can be substituted for the social work elective requirement.

Departmental Honors:  SWK 499.  Students wishing to undertake a Departmental Honors project must have completed at least 74 credit hours with a grade point average of 3.20 or better. A Departmental Honors Program is a 6 credit hour undertaking completed over 2 semesters.

The total hours for the BSW degree is broken down as follows

* Includes 3 hours of Social Work elective