Bachelor of Social Work program details
Comprehensive KU course catalog
Bachelor of Social Work
Advancement Requirements
After admitted and before enrolling in SW professional courses (500+ level), students must complete the BSW Advancement Review. Students can begin this online process after being admitted to KU.
For BSW students to advance in the Program and into 500 level coursework they must complete the following:
- 54 hours of General Education requirements including:
- Math 101 (College Algebra) or LA&S 108 (Personal Numeracy)
- English 101 (Composition)
- English 102 (Critical Reading and Writing
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Earned grade of B or higher or CR in SW 220 (Intro to Social Work)
- One letter of reference from a faculty member or instructor or work or volunteer supervisor. Personal or character reference are not accepted.
- Submitted electronic copy of the BSW Student Standards and Advancement Policies & Procedures, NASW Code of Ethics, and the KU Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities.
If all of the above criteria are met, students are successfully advanced into 500 level coursework.
Students wanting to begin in the fall have until July 31 - prior to the start of fall courses - to complete required courses and/or provide one (1) letter of recommendation. Should advancement criteria not be met by the deadline, students will be administratively dropped from 500 level Social Work classes.
Should a student’s cumulative GPA be below a 2.5 and between 2.25 and 2.49, the student may advance and will be on probation for the fall semester. If at the end of the fall semester the cumulative GPA is not at or above a 2.5, the student will be dismissed from the BSW Program.
Reference letters noting Recommended with Reservation or Do Not Recommend, students may not advance to 500 level coursework until a review is conducted and approved by the BSW Program Director, Director of Field Education, and Associate Dean for Academic Programs.
Degree requirements
- 20 total hours of course work including 12 hours of field practicum
- 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
Required Courses
37 credit hours
Course | Credit Hr. | KU Code |
ENGL 101: Composition | 3 | ENGL 101 |
ENGL 102: Critical Reading and Writing | 3 | ENGL 102 |
COMS 130: Speaker-Audience Communication | 3 | COMS 130 |
MATH 101: College Algebra | 3 | MATH 101 |
HUM 204: Western Civilization I | 3 | HUM 204 |
Intercultural requirement (KU Core Goal 4.2) |
| See socwel.ku.edu for details |
ABSC 160: Child Behavior & Development | 3 | ABSC 160 |
BIOL 100/102: Biology and Lab | 4 | BIOL 100/102 |
ECON 104: Economics | 3 | ECON 104 |
POLS 110: U.S. Politics | 3 | POLS 110 |
PSYC 104: Psychology | 3 | PSYC 104 |
SOC 104: Sociology | 3 | SOC 104 |
SW 220: Social Work, Social Welfare and U.S. Society | 3 | SW 220 |
B.S.W. MAJOR COURSES
51 credit hours
Elective Courses
32 credit hours
You may use your electives to pursue a minor in another field.
Year 1
Fall
SW 530 Introduction to Theory for Multi-level Social Work (3)
SW 540 Introduction to Social Work Research (3)
SW 555 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Social Work Practice (3)
Spring
SW 510 Introduction to Social Work Practice: Interviewing Skills (1.5)
SW 512 Skills-based Policy/Advocacy (1.5)
SW 534 Introduction to Social Policy & Advocacy (3)
Topics: Choose any (2) Mini Courses:
SW 570 Centering on Decolonization in Social Work (1.5)
SW 571 Responding to Suicide & Self Harm (1.5)
SW 572 Substance Use (1.5)
SW 573 Intergenerational & Historical Trauma (1.5)
Year 2
Fall
SW 600 Field Preparation & Seminar (1)
SW 601 Field Practicum (5)
SW 610 Social Work Practice: Engaging and Assessing Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations & Communities (3)
SW 622 Human Rights and Social, Economic & Environmental Justice (3)
Topics: Choose any two Mini Courses
SW 634 Child Welfare: Protecting Children, Strengthening Families (1.5)
SW 635 Gender & Sexual Diversity (1.5)
SW 636 International Social Work/Social Work with Immigrant Populations (1.5)
SW 637 Criminal Legal System (1.5)
Spring
SW 600 Field Preparation & Seminar (1)
SW 601 Field Practicum (5)
SW 612 Social Work Practice: Intervening and Evaluating Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations & Communities (3)
SW 623 Professional Issues: Capstone Course (3)
Topics: Choose any (2) Mini Courses
SW 641 Dismantling White Supremacy/White Fragility in Social Work (1.5)
SW 642 Financial Capability & Social Work (1.5)
SW 643 Gender-based Violence (1.5)
SW 640 Grant Writing & Program Development (1.5)