The 65 unit undergraduate Social Work major is designed to apply to a wide variety of social work practice settings. The preparatory course work for this major includes a basis in the liberal arts requiring classes in human biology, economics, public health, psychology, sociology, statistics and Social Work.
The upper division curriculum is intensive and exciting. It encompasses course work in Social Work practice, human behavior, cultural pluralism, social policy, macro level practice, and research. Elective seminars are available in specialized fields such as child welfare, aging, alcohol and other drugs, and family studies. A field work practicum experience is also required. The minor in Social Work consists of 24 units and is strongly recommended to all students with majors in the social and behavioral sciences who wish to broaden their competencies in a related discipline.
Pre-major Criteria
All new students to this program are considered pre-majors and are assigned the pre-major code. The code will stay in effect until students complete the 21 unit preparation for the major coursework described in the Handbook and Catalog. Pre-majors may also enroll in the upper division out of department electives, and SW 350 and SW 360. The approved “out of department electives” are described in the social work undergraduate handbook.
Two of the pre-major courses (SW 110 and SW 120) are available to community college students through “cross enrollment.” SDSU currently has an articulation agreement with San Diego City College for these courses (HUM 110 and HUM 120) and Cuyamaca College for SW 110 and 120. The BASW Program is a block program, meaning almost all of the courses are offered once a year and it is very important to stay in sequence. If all 21 pre-major requirements are not met prior to beginning your studies at SDSU, it is very likely that it will take three years to graduate.
All pre-major courses must be completed before declaring a major. Students must complete a change of major form in order to take SW 370, SW 382, SW 361, SW 381 and SW391. Students must change to the major code prior to registration or the computer will not permit access to any social work course.
Students who have current or past involvement with the criminal justice system, please note: We cannot guarantee you an internship site as we have limited choices for those in this situation. Also, students who legally use marijuana may not pass drug tests that many of our agencies require. We work with students to the best of our ability however some students may end up having to switch majors if they are unable to be approved by an internship agency. If you think you won’t be able to pass a background check, please notify Advisor Jennifer Cosio to discuss options. Please notify the Field Office as well if you think this may be an issue for you, well before applying for an internship.
The Mission of the Baccalaureate Program:
The mission of the Baccalaureate Program is to prepare entry-level generalist practitioners for responsible, competent, evidence-based social work practice and to provide the required base for advanced social work education. It subscribes to the stated philosophy and the overall mission of the School by offering an integrated and coherent curriculum emphasizing professional values, ethics, knowledge, and skills that enable graduates to work in public and nonprofit social services agencies with diverse and vulnerable populations, particularly in the Southern California border region.
Program Goals:
Consistent with the Mission of the School, the Baccalaureate Program of the School of Social Work prepares generalist practitioners for responsible, competent, entry-level social work practice with diverse populations in the Southern California area, in public and nonprofit social service agencies. It also provides the necessary foundation for advanced social work education. The goals of the Baccalaureate Program are to prepare graduates to:
- Function effectively as entry-level professionals in beginning social work practice.
- Demonstrate sensitivity to the diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural background of the Southern California border region and are able to work effectively in a variety of roles to meet the needs of the region’s varied communities.
- Understand and use social work values and ethics throughout their professional practice.
- Identify, evaluate and apply existing research evidence to guide their practice decision-making.
- Understand the contexts and purposes of social work practice, the changing nature of those contexts, and the nature and the dynamics of organizational behavior.
- Demonstrate commitment to lifelong professional growth and learning.
The BSW Program will prepare graduates to:
- Perform effectively in entry-level social work practice using a liberal arts perspective, critical thinking skills, and evidence guided focus.
- Use the generalist practice model in direct services with client systems of all sizes.
- Understand the biopsychosocial factors that affect human growth and development, and use theoretical frameworks to understand the person-in-environment as well as the interactions between individuals and their social systems.
- Demonstrate awareness of and sensitivity to oppression and discrimination, particularly within the context of professional practice with diverse populations in the Southern California border region.
- Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to client’s age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
- Intervene in agencies, neighborhoods, and communities to advance social and economic justice.
- Identify evidence of effective practice, and evaluate the findings and the application of such evidence to their own work.
- Understand history of social work, its uniqueness, and the current state of the Profession.
- Analyze social policies and their impacts, and develop strategies to implement positive change.
- Recognize and address ethical dilemmas in accordance with social work values and the NASW Code of Ethics and utilize these values and ethics in their own practice.
- Communicate effectively, using written, oral, and nonverbal skills.
- Value and use supervision in an appropriate manner.
- Function effectively as professionals within the structure of an organization and service delivery system and are able to seek organizational change when necessary.
Additional Program Graduation Requirements
Please see the SDSU General Catalog for additional information about graduation requirements such as: graduation writing assessment, foreign language, and general education.
