BSW Degree Requirements & Curriculum


Student in Blake Hall

Degree Requirements

The KU BSW curriculum helps students prepare for the professional responsibilities of social work and acquire the skills needed for effective social work practice.

  • 120 total hours of course work including 12 hours of field practicum and field preparation & seminar

    • 51 Social Welfare hours including SW 220 or equivalent
    • 37 hours of general education requirements
    • 32 hours of electives
  • A 2.5 minimum grade-point average for all classroom work
  • A 2.5 minimum grade-point average in required social work courses
  • Successful completion of field practicum

Note: General education requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) may change in Fall 2024.

 

Curriculum

The curriculum prepares graduates for beginning generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

Social Work:

  • SW 220 Intro to Social Work, Social Welfare and U.S. Society (NOTE: Students must complete SW 220 before entering 500 level classes and must earn a grade of B or higher.)
  • SW 303 Human Sexuality (Elective)
  • SW 310 Dealing with Stress & Supporting Well-Being (Elective)

English:

  • ENGL 101 Composition
  • ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing (or ENGL 105 Honors)

Speech Communications (Choose One):

  • COMS 130 Speaker-Audience Communication
  • COMS 322 Audience Centered Public Speaking in the Workplace
  • THR 120 Public Speaking as Performance

Mathematics (Choose One):

  • MATH 101 College Algebra
  • LA&S 108 Personal Numeracy

Western Civilization or Anthropology (May not be used for Intercultural Studies Requirement - Choose One):

  • HUM 204 Western Civilization I (includes LA&S 250 Western Civilization I)
  • HUM 205 Western Civilization II (includes LA&S 252 Western Civilization II)
  • ANTH 160 Varieties of Human Experience

Intercultural Studies (Choose One):

  • Approved course from KU Core Goal 4.2 list 
  • COMS 246 Introduction to Intercultural Communication

Child/Adolescent/Human Development (Choose One):

  • ABSC 160 Intro to Child Behavior & Development
  • ABSC 250 Human Development
  • EPSY 305 Development and Learning of the Child
  • PSYC 250 Human Development
  • PSYC 333 Child Development

Biology:

  • BIOL 100 & 102 Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory

Economics (Choose One):

  • ECON 104 Introduction to Economics
  • ECON 142 Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECON 144 Principles of Macroeconomics

Political Science:

  • POLS 110 Introduction to U.S. Politics

Psychology:

  • PSYC 104 General Psychology

Sociology:

  • SOC 104 Elements of Sociology

NOTEOther courses not contained on the Master List may meet a distribution requirement; careful review of the syllabus for the course must be completed and written permission granted by the BSW Director. It is strongly encouraged that you seek approval prior to taking a course. 

NOTE:  General education requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) may change in Fall 2024.

Fall

  • SW 530 Introduction to Theory for Multi-level Social Work (3 credit hours)
  • SW 540 Introduction to Social Work Research (3 credit hours)
  • SW 555 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 510 Introduction to Social Work Practice: Interviewing Skills (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 512 Skills-Based Policy/Advocacy (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 534 Introduction to Social Policy & Advocacy (3 credit hours)

Topics: Choose any two mini courses*

  • SW 570 Centering on Decolonization in Social Work (1.5 credit hours)  
  • SW 572 Substance Use (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 573 Intergenerational & Historical Trauma (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 574 Social Work Across & Among Borders: International Social Work and Social Work with Immigrant Populations (1.5 credit hours)

*Note: Mini course offerings will vary by semester and campus location. Not all courses will be offered each semester.

Fall

  • SW 600 Field Preparation & Field Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • SW 601 Field Practicum (5 credit hours)
  • SW 610 Multilevel Engagement & Assessment in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 622 Human Rights, Social, Economic & Environmental Justice (3 credit hours)

Topics: Choose any two mini courses*

  • SW 634 Child Welfare: Protecting Children, Strengthening Families (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 635 Gender & Sexual Diversity (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 637 Criminal Legal System: Abolish or Reform? (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 638 Responding to Suicide and Self-Harm (1.5 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 600 Field Preparation & Field Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • SW 601 Field Practicum (5 credit hours)
  • SW 612 Multilevel Intervention & Evaluation in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 623 Capstone: Social Work Professional Issues (3 credit hours)

Topics: Choose any two mini courses*

  • SW 640 Grant Writing and Program Development (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 641 Dismantling White Supremacy (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 642 Financial Capability & Social Work Practice (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 643 Gender-based Violence: What It Is & What Social Workers Can Do To Prevent & Respond To It (1.5 credit hours)

*Note: Mini course offerings will vary by semester and campus location. Not all courses will be offered each semester.

Social Work:

  • SW 220 Intro to Social Work, Social Welfare and U.S. Society (NOTE: Students must complete SW 220 before entering 500 level classes and must earn a grade of B or higher.)
  • SW 303 Human Sexuality (Elective)
  • SW 310 Dealing with Stress & Supporting Well-Being (Elective)

English:

  • ENGL 101 Composition
  • ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing (or ENGL 105 Honors)

Speech Communications (Choose One):

  • COMS 130 Speaker-Audience Communication
  • COMS 322 Audience Centered Public Speaking in the Workplace
  • THR 120 Public Speaking as Performance

Mathematics (Choose One):

  • MATH 101 College Algebra
  • LA&S 108 Personal Numeracy

Western Civilization or Anthropology (May not be used for Intercultural Studies Requirement - Choose One):

  • HUM 204 Western Civilization I (includes LA&S 250 Western Civilization I)
  • HUM 205 Western Civilization II (includes LA&S 252 Western Civilization II)
  • ANTH 160 Varieties of Human Experience

Intercultural Studies (Choose One):

  • Approved course from KU Core Goal 4.2 list 
  • COMS 246 Introduction to Intercultural Communication

Child/Adolescent/Human Development (Choose One):

  • ABSC 160 Intro to Child Behavior & Development
  • ABSC 250 Human Development
  • EPSY 305 Development and Learning of the Child
  • PSYC 250 Human Development
  • PSYC 333 Child Development

Biology:

  • BIOL 100 & 102 Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory

Economics (Choose One):

  • ECON 104 Introduction to Economics
  • ECON 142 Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECON 144 Principles of Macroeconomics

Political Science:

  • POLS 110 Introduction to U.S. Politics

Psychology:

  • PSYC 104 General Psychology

Sociology:

  • SOC 104 Elements of Sociology

NOTEOther courses not contained on the Master List may meet a distribution requirement; careful review of the syllabus for the course must be completed and written permission granted by the BSW Director. It is strongly encouraged that you seek approval prior to taking a course. 

NOTE:  General education requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) may change in Fall 2024.

Fall

  • SW 530 Introduction to Theory for Multi-level Social Work (3 credit hours)
  • SW 540 Introduction to Social Work Research (3 credit hours)
  • SW 555 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 510 Introduction to Social Work Practice: Interviewing Skills (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 512 Skills-Based Policy/Advocacy (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 534 Introduction to Social Policy & Advocacy (3 credit hours)

Topics: Choose any two mini courses*

  • SW 570 Centering on Decolonization in Social Work (1.5 credit hours)  
  • SW 572 Substance Use (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 573 Intergenerational & Historical Trauma (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 574 Social Work Across & Among Borders: International Social Work and Social Work with Immigrant Populations (1.5 credit hours)

*Note: Mini course offerings will vary by semester and campus location. Not all courses will be offered each semester.

Fall

  • SW 600 Field Preparation & Field Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • SW 601 Field Practicum (5 credit hours)
  • SW 610 Multilevel Engagement & Assessment in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 622 Human Rights, Social, Economic & Environmental Justice (3 credit hours)

Topics: Choose any two mini courses*

  • SW 634 Child Welfare: Protecting Children, Strengthening Families (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 635 Gender & Sexual Diversity (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 637 Criminal Legal System: Abolish or Reform? (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 638 Responding to Suicide and Self-Harm (1.5 credit hours)

Spring

  • SW 600 Field Preparation & Field Seminar (1 credit hour)
  • SW 601 Field Practicum (5 credit hours)
  • SW 612 Multilevel Intervention & Evaluation in Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
  • SW 623 Capstone: Social Work Professional Issues (3 credit hours)

Topics: Choose any two mini courses*

  • SW 640 Grant Writing and Program Development (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 641 Dismantling White Supremacy (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 642 Financial Capability & Social Work Practice (1.5 credit hours)
  • SW 643 Gender-based Violence: What It Is & What Social Workers Can Do To Prevent & Respond To It (1.5 credit hours)

*Note: Mini course offerings will vary by semester and campus location. Not all courses will be offered each semester.

Child Welfare Certificate

The KU School of Social Welfare’s Certificate in Child Welfare provides seniors in the B.S.W. Program with specialized knowledge and skills to prepare them for a career in the field of child welfare.

BSW students in lobby of Twente Hall

Experiential Learning Programs

KU offers a wide variety of experiential learning programs and certificates that work well with the undergraduate social work major. Students who complete a program or certificate will receive a notation on their transcripts.

KU BSW students attend Legislative Day at the Kansas capital building



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Study Social Work at KU

KU's School of Social Welfare offers social work degree programs at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels: BSW, MSW, DSW and PhD. Learn more.