Bachelor of Social Work Program

The School of Social Welfare provides the education and experience necessary for a career in social work. By helping shape students’ capacity for anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and socially-just practice, the School prepares social workers to carry out the unique purposes of the profession — to develop human potential, to promote individual well-being, and to bring about a more just society.

Social work is a major professional discipline in the Social Sciences. The term social welfare denotes organized public or private social services pertaining to human needs:  adequate nutrition and safe housing, health and mental health, education, economic security, social participation, dignity, and civil and political rights for disadvantaged people.

The undergraduate program prepares graduates for generalist social work practice. The program defines generalist practice as maintaining focus on practice and advocacy, based on ethical principles, scientific inquiry, and best practices at the interface between systems (i.e., individual, family, groups, organizations, and communities), with particular emphasis on:

• The strengths inherent in these systems.
• The need to understand the role of gender, age, race/ethnicity, class, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, disability, and culture in all phases of the social work process.
• The promotion of human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice for those disenfranchised based on some of the attributes listed above.
• The assumption of an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, socially just, and critical perspective regarding social work practice, policy, and research.

Beginning generalist practice uses multilevel prevention and intervention methods, depending on the needs of the client system, and incorporates knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes that are transferable between and among diverse contexts and locations.

The BSW program is offered on the Lawrence and Edwards campuses.

Advising

Once a student is admitted to the School of Social Welfare, an academic advisor will be assigned to assist students in the enrollment process and with other academic program requirements. Students consult with their assigned advisor before enrollment each semester and have their advising hold removed.  In addition, a member of the School’s faculty is assigned as a professional/career advisor.  Current students can view their advisers on Jayhawk GPS.

For more information on BSW advising, review the student handbook .

Transfer Students 

For undergraduates who plan to transfer to KU but currently attend another college, advising is available by appointment. The school works closely with counselors from all Kansas colleges.

Undergraduate Experiential Learning Certificate Programs

The university offers several experiential learning certificate programs that work well with the undergraduate social work major. Students who complete an engaged learning certificate program receive a notation of it on their transcripts. Learn more about KU certificate programs.

Undergraduate Admission to KU

Students are directly admitted to the School of Social Welfare as new freshmen and transfer students. Visit the Office of Admissions for information about admission to KU. Visit the Office of International Support Services for information about international admissions.

Current KU students changing from another major to Social Welfare should complete a Change of School form and must meet the advancement requirements

Undergraduate Advancement Review for the School of Social Welfare

Advancement Requirements

For students to advance into 500 and 600 level Social Welfare coursework, they must complete the following:

• 54 hours of General Education requirements or elective hours
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
• Earned grade of B or higher in SW 220.
• Submitted signed electronic copy of School of Social Welfare Standards and Advancement Policies and Procedures, NASW Code of Ethics, and the KU Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.  

If all the above criteria are met, students are successfully advanced into 500 level coursework.

Note:

• Students have 5 years to complete the B.S.W degree after beginning 500 level coursework. 

• Students must complete 90 credit hours prior to the start of 600 level coursework and practicum.  Any exceptions must be approved by the B.S.W. Program Director.

Grade-Point Average

A student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0. Evaluation of transcripts submitted as part of the application for admission includes computation of grade-point average for all work completed. This admission grade-point average is adjusted to include only courses that transfer to KU. Both transferable credits and all work taken at KU count in the grade-point average when advancement requirements are reviewed.

Requirements for Good Standing

• B.S.W. students are expected to maintain a KU cumulative GPA of 2.0 in order to be awarded the B.S.W. degree (per KU undergrad graduation requirements, only courses taken at KU, not transfer courses).
• B.S.W. students must earn a grade of S in practicum courses; a Grade of U assigned in practicum indicates unsatisfactory progress.
• Student’s attendance, participation, and assignment submissions in their course work are markers to maintaining the required GPA. Therefore, when a student is at risk of failing or does fail a course, they are at risk for not meeting the scholastic performance standards.
• No credit is awarded in any social work course in which a student earns below a C-.
• When a student’s KU cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 at the end of semester, a period of academic probation will be instated for the following semester.  At the end of the probation semester, the School will re-evaluate the student's GPA. If the student has not raised their GPA to 2.0 or higher, the student will be dismissed from the School. 

Readmission

Students must submit an application for readmission to KU if their lapse in attendance is one semester or more. See the Office of Admissions for more information. Students may be readmitted to the School of Social Welfare if they left the school in good standing.  Students who are dismissed from the B.S.W. Program for violation of Professional, Ethical, and/or Technical Standards may not be readmitted to the B.S.W. Program.

Bachelor of Social Work Degree Requirements

Primary responsibility for meeting graduation requirements rests with the student.  Note: Students have 5 years to complete the B.S.W degree after beginning 500 level coursework.

• A minimum of 120 credit hours of course work including 12 credit hours of practicum.  
  • 48 Social Welfare hours.
  • 34 hours of Core 34 requirements including SW 220 (degree requirement).
  • 6 hours of degree required social and behavioral sciences beyond the Core 34 requirements.
  • 32 hours of electives.
• A 2.0 minimum grade-point average in call coursework (cumulative KU GPA).
• Successful completion of practicum.
• Recommendation by the faculty of the school to the chancellor and the Kansas Board of Regents that the degree be granted.

Requirements for the Major in Social Work

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core 34 General Education (including SW 220)		34
SW 220	Intro to Social Work, Social Welfare and U.S. Society (meets Core 34 requirement)
Students must complete SW 220 before entering 500 level classes and must earn a grade of B or higher.
SW 510	Introduction to Social Work Practice: Interviewing Skills	1.5
SW 512	Skills-Based Policy Advocacy	1.5
SW 530	Introduction to Theory for Multi-level Social Work	3
SW 534	Introduction to Social Policy and Advocacy	3
SW 540	Introduction to Social Work Research	3
SW 555	Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Social Work Practice	3
Topics - 500 Level Mini Courses (Choose 2):		3
SW 570	Centering on Decolonization in Social Work
SW 572	Substance Use
SW 573	Intergenerational and Historical Trauma
SW 574	Social Work Across and Among Borders: International SW and SW with Immigrant Populations
SW 610	Multilevel Engagement and Assessment in Social Work Practice	3
SW 612	Multilevel Intervention and Evaluation in Social Work Practice	3
SW 622	Human Rights, Racial, Social, Economic and Environmental Justice	3
SW 623	Seminar in Social Work Professional Issues	3
Topics - 600 Level Mini Courses (Choose 4):		6
SW 634	Child Welfare - Protecting Children, Strengthening Families
SW 635	Sexuality and Gender Diversity
SW 637	Criminal Justice System: Abolish or Reform
SW 638	Responding to Suicide and Self-Harm
SW 640	Grant Writing and Program Development
SW 641	Dismantling White Supremacy
SW 642	Financial Capability and Social Work Practice
SW 643	Gender-based Violence: What It Is and What Social Workers Can Do To Prevent and Respond To It
Capstone Course
SW 601	Practicum (taken in fall and spring semester)	12
Social & Behavioral Sciences		6
Students must complete (6) additional hours of social and behavioral sciences beyond the Core 34 requirement. Students should work with their advisor regarding suggested courses.
Elective Hours		32
Total Hours		120

Practicum (SW 601)

The Practicum Education Office works with community agencies to provide practicum opportunities for students. Students are placed in agencies through a collaborative process among the Practicum Education Office, the student, and the agency. The Practicum Office is responsible for ensuring all practicums provide BSW-level learning opportunities and a qualified practicum instructor who oversees student learning. 

Learn more about practicum education.

Required Hours for Practicum

Students with 9 or more remaining elective or general education requirement credit hours in the fall of their final year may be required to complete these hours before beginning practicum. Students who are completing these hours may take SW 622 and the mini-courses, but cannot enroll in SW 610, SW 612, or SW 623.