Degree Requirements & Curriculum
Degree Requirements
The 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
- 51 Social Welfare hours including SW 220 or equivalent
- 41 hours of general education requirements
- 28 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
Curriculum
The curriculum prepares graduates for beginning generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- SW 220 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.
English:
- ENGL 101 Composition
- ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing (or ENGL 105 Honors)
- 3rd English (Any 200-level course or above meeting ENGL H, HE, U)
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 (Choose One):
- HWC 204 Western Civilization I (includes LA&S 250 Western Civilization I)
- HWC 205 Western Civilization II (includes LA&S 252 Western Civilization II)
Intercultural Studies (Choose One):
- Approved course from KU Core Goal 4.2 list (Western Civilization is excluded from fulfilling the Intercultural requirement)
- COMS 246 Introduction to Intercultural Communication
Child and Adolescent Development (Choose One):
- ABSC 160 Intro to Child Behavior & Development
- EPSY 305 Development and Learning of the Child
- 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
Political Science:
POLS 110 Introduction to U.S. Politics
Psychology:
PSYC 104 General Psychology
Sociology:
SOC 104 Elements of Sociology
NOTE: Other 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.
Fall
- SW 540 Fundamentals of Social Work Research (3 credit hours)
- SW 530 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credit hours)
- SW 555 Diversity, Oppression, and Social Justice: Culturally Competent Social Work (3 credit hours)
Spring
- SW 510 Fundamentals of Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
- SW 532 Community and Organizational Dynamics and Human Behavior (3 credit hours)
- SW 541 Social Work Research Seminar (3 credit hours)
Fall
- SW 601 Field Practicum (6 credit hours)
- SW 610 Social Work Practice Seminar I (3 credit hours)
- SW 620 Social Policies and Program Analysis (3 credit hours)
Two of the following courses:
- SW 630 Topics in Social Work Practice: Antisocial, Aggressive Behavior in Childhood and Early Adolescence (1.5 credit hours)
- SW 631 Topics in Social Work Practice: Intimate Partner Violence (1.5 credit hours)
- SW 632 Topics in Social Work Practice: Substance Abuse and Social Work Practice (1.5 credit hours)
- SW 633 Topics in Social Work Practice: Crisis Intervention (1.5 credit hours)
- SW 634 Topics in Social Work Practice: Child Welfare - Protecting Children, Strengthening Families (1.5 credit hours)
Spring
- SW 601 Field Practicum (6 credit hours)
- SW 612 Social Work Practice Seminar II (3 credit hours)
- SW 621 Social Policy Analysis and Advocacy (3 credit hours)
- SW 623 Seminar in Professional Issues (3 credit hours)
- SW 220 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.
English:
- ENGL 101 Composition
- ENGL 102 Critical Reading & Writing (or ENGL 105 Honors)
- 3rd English (Any 200-level course or above meeting ENGL H, HE, U)
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 (Choose One):
- HWC 204 Western Civilization I (includes LA&S 250 Western Civilization I)
- HWC 205 Western Civilization II (includes LA&S 252 Western Civilization II)
Intercultural Studies (Choose One):
- Approved course from KU Core Goal 4.2 list (Western Civilization is excluded from fulfilling the Intercultural requirement)
- COMS 246 Introduction to Intercultural Communication
Child and Adolescent Development (Choose One):
- ABSC 160 Intro to Child Behavior & Development
- EPSY 305 Development and Learning of the Child
- 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
Political Science:
POLS 110 Introduction to U.S. Politics
Psychology:
PSYC 104 General Psychology
Sociology:
SOC 104 Elements of Sociology
NOTE: Other 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.
Fall
- SW 540 Fundamentals of Social Work Research (3 credit hours)
- SW 530 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credit hours)
- SW 555 Diversity, Oppression, and Social Justice: Culturally Competent Social Work (3 credit hours)
Spring
- SW 510 Fundamentals of Social Work Practice (3 credit hours)
- SW 532 Community and Organizational Dynamics and Human Behavior (3 credit hours)
- SW 541 Social Work Research Seminar (3 credit hours)
Fall
- SW 601 Field Practicum (6 credit hours)
- SW 610 Social Work Practice Seminar I (3 credit hours)
- SW 620 Social Policies and Program Analysis (3 credit hours)
Two of the following courses:
- SW 630 Topics in Social Work Practice: Antisocial, Aggressive Behavior in Childhood and Early Adolescence (1.5 credit hours)
- SW 631 Topics in Social Work Practice: Intimate Partner Violence (1.5 credit hours)
- SW 632 Topics in Social Work Practice: Substance Abuse and Social Work Practice (1.5 credit hours)
- SW 633 Topics in Social Work Practice: Crisis Intervention (1.5 credit hours)
- SW 634 Topics in Social Work Practice: Child Welfare - Protecting Children, Strengthening Families (1.5 credit hours)
Spring
- SW 601 Field Practicum (6 credit hours)
- SW 612 Social Work Practice Seminar II (3 credit hours)
- SW 621 Social Policy Analysis and Advocacy (3 credit hours)
- SW 623 Seminar in Professional Issues (3 credit hours)