COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Wichita State University is a professionally accredited undergraduate degree designed to prepare students for entry-level, foundation social work practice in a variety of community, agency, and human service settings. A key strength of the program is its accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which ensures the curriculum meets national standards for social work education and allows graduates to pursue licensure in Kansas and potentially other states, depending on local requirements. The program emphasizes structured academic progression and strict retention standards, meaning students must follow both the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences probation and dismissal policies as well as additional requirements outlined in the School of Social Work’s BSW Student Manual. This ensures consistent professional competency development throughout the degree. Unlike some applied fields, the program does not grant academic credit for prior life or work experience, reinforcing that all students must complete the full academic and practicum-based curriculum. The overall structure is designed to build both theoretical understanding and practical skills, preparing students for supervised professional practice upon graduation. Because it is a generalist BSW program, graduates are trained to work across multiple service areas such as child welfare, healthcare support, community outreach, and public welfare systems, while also being academically prepared to continue into advanced standing Master of Social Work (MSW) programs if they choose to specialize further.