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 are the requirements for the social work major, with a suggested timetable.

Collateral Courses

The Collateral Courses are required for a Major in Social Work. Optimally, all of these courses should be completed before starting the core social work course sequence listed below. Students should make every effort to have these courses completed as soon as possible and this should be discussed with your advisor.

Required Collateral Courses (13 semester hours)
SOC 105 Introduction to Sociology (3)
PSY 105 Introduction to Psychology (3)
PLS 101 American National Government (3) or PLS 206 State Government and Politics (3) or PLS 207 American Urban Govt. and Politics 

Human Biology content may be taken in any one of the following courses: (Total = 4 credit hours)
BIO 105 General Biology for Non- majors
BIO 160 Genetics for Non-Biology majors
BIO 204 Biology for majors
BIO 240 Biology for Nursing majors

Core Courses – Sequence of Class Offering by Semester

1st Fall Semester (first semester)
SWK 235 Introduction to Social Work (or prior)
SWK 240 Basic Working Relationship Skills (with required lab)
SWK 320 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I (HBSE I)

1st Spring Semester (second semester)
SWK 341 Generalist Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
SWK 321 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (HBSE II)
SWK 396 Pre-Field Practicum

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

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

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

SWK 355: Issues in Diversity
SWK 435 Social Welfare Policy

Other Required Courses

COM 110   All students are required to complete a course that requires oral presentations or giving talks/speeches. If you have had such a course but have not been given credit for UNCW’s COM 110, then speak with your advisor to see if a waiver can be made. If you have never had such a course you will be required to take COM 110 as a requirement for graduation.

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 social work major.

SWK 105 Facing Life's Challengess: Resliliency and Hopefulness
SWK 106 Social Work Global Visions: Citizens, Issues and Approach
SWK 310 Programs and Policies for Older Americans
SWK 311 Child Abuse and Neglect
SWK 315 Issues for Social Workers in Mental Health
SWK 316 Generalist Practice in Rural Communities (Service Learning)
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 School Social Work

Special Topics Seminar, Directed Individual Study, Departmental Honors

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

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

Departmental Honors:  SWK499 Students must have at least 74 semester hours with a grade point average of 3.20 or better. This is a 6 credit hour undertaking over 2 semesters.

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

* Includes 3 hours of Social Work elective