COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work requires students to complete a combination of lower division preparation courses, upper division professional coursework, and field education. As part of the preparation for the major, students complete general education courses that help them understand human behavior, social systems, and biological foundations of life. In the life sciences area, students choose a course such as Basic Biological Concepts, Biology: A Human Perspective, or Introduction to Biological Anthropology. Students also complete courses in the social sciences, selecting subjects such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, introductory psychology, or sociology. Additional coursework focuses on understanding social issues and institutions, including topics such as criminal justice, aging in contemporary society, social problems, or crime and social control. Students must also complete Introduction to Social Work, which provides an overview of the profession and prepares them for advanced study in the major. Completion of lower division general education courses is strongly recommended before beginning upper division social work coursework.The major itself requires 48 units, including 3 units of required lower division coursework and 45 units of upper division courses. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in all courses within the major. The upper division curriculum focuses on professional foundation courses that introduce students to social work theory, research methods, and professional practice. Core courses include cross-cultural theory and practice addressing issues of race, gender, and class; statistics and research for social workers; research methods and program evaluation; and courses on human behavior and the social environment. Students also complete a sequence of social work practice courses that prepare them to work with individuals, families, groups, and communities.The curriculum also includes coursework focused on social welfare policies and specialized topics within social work practice. Students select elective courses from subjects such as community organizing, poverty and homelessness, family violence, chemical dependency, child welfare services, and health services systems. These courses allow students to explore social issues and develop specialized knowledge relevant to different populations and service settings.An important part of the program is the field instruction component, which includes two semesters of supervised field placement along with an integration seminar. During this experience, students apply the theories and skills learned in the classroom within real social service agencies under professional supervision. Overall, the program prepares students for beginning generalist social work practice by combining academic study, professional training, and practical field experience.