2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog
Social Work, BASW
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Return to: Academic Programs
 Return to: School of Social Work
BASW Mission and Goals
Mission
The BASW Program, built on a strong liberal arts base, prepares its students to be competent entry-level generalist social work practitioners and for graduate education. Recognizing the profession’s values of service, social justice, the dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, integrity, competence, human rights, and scientific inquiry, the program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to advance human and community well-being. Utilizing a person-in-environment framework, the program prepares students to enhance the quality of life for all people, locally and globally; to practice with diverse populations; to analyze critically the social, economic, and environmental factors affecting individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; and to advocate for those who confront structural barriers; thus, program graduates are prepared for service and leadership.
Goals
The goals of BASW Program are to prepare students to competently engage in generalist social work practice. By completion of the program, students will be prepared to:
- Practice with cultural humility in accordance with the principles, values, and ethics that guide the social work profession.
- Use their liberal arts foundation and their understanding of bio-psycho-social-spiritual-cultural development to engage in evidence-informed generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities within a multicultural society.
- Advocate for human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
- Continue formal education either in graduate social work education or in some other graduate discipline.
Generalist Practice
The BASW Program Faculty have defined social work “generalist practice” as:
The application of knowledge, values, and skills of the general method of problem-solving, which spans the processes of engagement, data collection, assessment, intervention, evaluation, and termination. Preparation in the general method focuses on the application of the method to client/consumer systems of various sizes (individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations). Key to this problem-solving approach is its applicability to multi-cultural contexts, focusing on the strengths inherent in clients/consumers’ and systems. The ethics and values of the social work profession anchor this practice.
BASW Degree Requirements
The BASW Program is offered as an upper-division (i.e., junior and senior years only) academic major, underscoring the program’s commitment to a strong liberal arts base. The School of Social Work requires a minimum of 120 credits for graduation, including 48 credits within the BASW program. These 48 credits include coursework, practicum, and a social work elective.
General Education Requirements
Students must also complete the following General Education course requirements prior to graduation. These requirements may be completed prior to admission or while enrolled in the School of Social Work. Equivalent courses from another institution may be considered for transfer credit, and some courses may meet multiple requirements:
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General Education Requirements Categories:
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Africana Studies
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3
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Anthropology
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3
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English Composition
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3
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Economics
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3
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Global Studies
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3
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Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies
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3
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Human Biology
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3
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Political Science
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3
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Religion/Spirituality
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3
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Psychology
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3
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Statistics
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3
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Sociology
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3
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Statute of Limitations
There is a seven-year limitation on the earning of the BASW degree with the seven-year period beginning from the date of entry into the program. Under the following extenuating circumstances, the advisor may recommend an extension of time to the program director and the associate dean:
- Extended illness of the student,
- Involuntary mobilization into a U.S. military unit,
- Death of a close family member,
- Extended personal emergency, or
Under special conditions, BASW students may apply for and be granted one leave of absence. A maximum leave of one full academic year may be granted to students. If approved, the time of the leave will not count against the total time allowed for the degree being sought by the student.
BASW Curriculum
Required Social Work Courses:
- SOCWRK 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK
This is a service-learning course and requires 45 hours of volunteer service as part of the course.
- SOCWRK 1005 - FOUNDATIONS OF THE WELFARE STATE
- SOCWRK 1006 - POLICY ANALYSIS
This is a service-learning course and requires 45 hours of volunteer service as part of the course.
- SOCWRK 1008 - GENERALIST SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH DIVERSE POPULATIONS
- SOCWRK 1011 - INTRODUCTION TO GENERALIST METHODS: SOCIAL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
- SOCWRK 1012 - SOCIAL WORK WITH COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
- SOCWRK 1013 - SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS
- SOCWRK 1015 - HUMAN BEHAVIOR & SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
- SOCWRK 1020 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH
- SOCWRK 1024 - PRACTICUM SEMINAR AND LAB 1
- SOCWRK 1025 - PRACTICUM 1
- SOCWRK 1026 - PRACTICUM SEMINAR AND LAB 2
- SOCWRK 1027 - PRACTICUM 2
Social Work Elective Courses:
Students are also required to complete at least one social work elective as part of their BASW degree. Elective options include the following:
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