BASW Curriculum

In addition to the coursework specific to the BASW program listed below, students must meet the full SDSU graduation requirements in order to earn the degree.  See the SDSU General Catalog for the full SDSU undergraduate graduation requirements, which include: time limitations, transfer credit, etc.

Preparation for the Major

• SWORK 110 – Social Work Fields of Service (3)
• SWORK 120 – Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare (3)
• Biology (ONE of the following):
  • BIOL 100 – General Biology (3)
  • BIOL 101 – World of Animals (3)
  • BIOL 204 – Principles of Organismal Biology (3)
  • BIOL 261 – Human Physiology (4) 
• ECON 101 – Principles of Economics (3) or ECON 102 – Principles of Economics (3)
• PSY 101 – Introductory Psychology (3)
• SOC 101 – Introductory Psychology (3)
• Statistics (ONE of the following):
  • PSY 280 – Statistical Methods in Psychology (4)
  • SOC 201 – Elementary Social Statistics (3)
  • STAT 250 – Statistical Principles and Practices (3)

These prerequisite courses may not be taken Cr/NC. The minimum grade in each class is C or higher. Complete all courses in preparation for the major with a minimum GPA of 2.70.

Many of these courses have equivalent courses at the community college. Check with a community college advisor for more information and for a list of equivalent courses. Equivalent courses for SWORK 110 and SWORK 120 are offered at San Diego Community College and Cuyamaca College. You can also check for comparable courses by using the Transfer Admission Planner (TAP). 

Language Requirement

Competency (successfully completing the third college semester or fifth college quarter) is required in one foreign language to fulfill the graduation requirement. Refer to the section of SDSU general catalog on “Graduation Requirements.”

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

Passing the Writing Placement Assessment with a score of 10 or completing one of the approved upper division writing courses (W) with a grade of C (2.0) or better. See “Graduation Requirements” section for a complete listing of requirements.

International Experience

All social work undergraduate majors are required to participate in a pre-approved international experience to increase awareness of cross-cultural issues, global health, economic, political, cultural, social services, and health challenges experienced by local populations in international environments. Students participate in residence for two or more weeks (exemption  from the study abroad portion of the requirement must be approved by the dean of the college based on serious and compelling life events or physical limitations; a relevant course will be substituted). Specific details can be found on the CHHS Undergraduate International Experience web site.

To meet the international experience requirement, majors must complete one of the following:

1. A CSU Study Abroad Program;
2. An SDSU Exchange Program;
3. An SDSU Study Abroad Program;
4. An SDSU Study Travel Program; 
5. OR one course selected from:
   • Health and Human Services 290 or 350;
   • Asian Studies 490;
   • Education 450;
   • General Studies 450;
   • Honor 450;
   • International Security and Conflict Resolution 450;
   • Latin American Studies 320, 450, or 550;
   • Political Science 450;
   • Science 350

Major

 A minimum of 44 upper division units, in a prescribed course sequence, to include:

• SWORK 350 –  Cultural Pluralism (3)
• SWORK 360 – Perspectives on Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3)
• SWORK 361 – Human Behavior Across the Life Span (3)
• SWORK 370 – Social Policies and Social Issues (3)
• SWORK 381 – Practice Skills Micro (3)
• SWORK 382 – Practice Skills Macro (3)
• SWORK 391 – Methods of Social Work Research (3)
• SWORK 483A – Generalist Social Work Practice I (3)
• SWORK 483B – Generalist Social Work Practice II (3)
• SWORK 489A* – Field Experience in Social Work (4)
• SWORK 489B* – Field Experience in Social Work (4)
• Nine units of approved upper division electives in social work (three units may be taken from the list of approved electives outside the School of Social Work, or six units may be taken from the list of approved electives outside the School of Social Work to include Gerontology 520)

*Field Practicum

All students must enroll in field practicum. This is a 16-hour per week internship at a School of Social Work arranged and supervised social work community agency (students are not permitted to locate their own agencies). Students begin field practicum during the fall semester only and must concurrently enroll in Social Work 483A and 489A. The continuation of field practicum is offered in spring semester only when students must concurrently enroll in Social Work 483B and 489B. These courses are sequential and students must complete both “A” courses before going on to the two “B” courses. During the spring semester, preceding enrollment in field practicum, students attend a field orientation meeting. Specific date and time  of the orientation is posted on the field bulletin board outside Hepner Hall 119 and announced in class. In addition, students should read the appropriate section in the current student handbook. The section outlines all requirements and processes the student is expected to follow. The coordinator of field instruction evaluates each application to determine whether  the  student has met all requirements for admission to field practicum (Social Work GPA of 2.4 and senior status, which consists of at least 90 units) and assigns the student to  an agency for internship. Students who do not file a field application by the deadline date will not be able to enter field practicum. Specific times and days of field practicum are arranged between the student and the assigned agency, but most agencies require daytime availability. Evening and weekend placements are not available. Students should arrange their schedules appropriately to meet these criteria.

See the SSW Field site for additional details.

Course Guide

300-level courses (Junior Year)

A student may be admitted to the Major once all premajor requirements have been met.

Seven 300 level social work courses (21 units) are required for the major. Students are advised to be aware that all of these courses are not offered every semester.

Students must complete all 300-level social work courses (21 units) before they will be allowed to enroll in Social Work 483A and 489A. There is no required order of the 300-level courses with the exception that Social Work 382 must be taken prior to Social Work 361 and 381.

Note:

• SWORK 381 and SWORK 382 must have grades of C or better in order to continue on to the Field Experience in Social Work (SWORK 489A).
• The cumulative GPA for SWORK 350, SWORK 360, SWORK 361, SWORK 370, SWORK 381, and SWORK 382 must be 2.5 or better to continue on to the Field Experience in Social Work (SWORK 489A).

400, 500-level Courses

Several 400, 500-level social work courses (23 units) are required for the major. Students are advised to be aware that all of the courses are not offered every semester. In addition, SW 489A and SW 489B is considered a year-long field experience. Students that do not complete the year-long field experience in the same academic year will need to repeat the full year-long field experience.

Select three electives from the list below.  At least two electives must be in the Social Work department. The other elective may be selected from the list of courses from other departments presented below.

• SWORK 400 – Social Work Practice: Child Welfare
• SWORK 410 – Social Work Practice: Family Issues
• SWORK 430 – Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention and Intervention
• SWORK 496 – Experimental Topics
• SWORK 497 – Investigation and Report (Approval of instructor required)
• SWORK 596 – Loss and Grief: Theory and Practice
• GERO 520 – Programs for the Aging