BASW About the Curriculum

Course of Study

Students must complete the required BASW core curriculum in sequence over a two-year period. The BASW curriculum will consist of a 57-credit program comprised of three major areas: foundation courses, social work practice courses and practicum combined with practicum seminars. In addition to these three areas, students will be required to complete 10 credits of Social Welfare electives. General electives may also be required depending upon the number of college level credits applied toward the degree.

Model Program of Study

To help prospective students understand the sequencing of the Social Welfare curriculum, the Model Program of Study shows a typical progression for the degree. Please note, students with admission requirement or Social Welfare prerequisite deficiencies must meet with the program adviser regarding completion of deficiencies. Also, students who have not completed at least 20 credits of Visual, Literary or Performing Arts (VLPA) or 20 credits of Natural World (NW) distribution within their lower-division coursework must meet with the program adviser regarding selection of appropriate courses within an elective category to complete requirements.

Social Welfare core courses (TSOCWF) must be taken in sequence as noted. Social Welfare electives and general electives may be taken any time during the program or during any quarter enrolled as a matriculated student. Some students choose to take social welfare and/or general electives during the summer between the first and second year of the program.

General electives (varies)

The courses you take to meet the requirements for your degree will not always total the 180 credits you need to graduate. The additional credits you need to bring your total to 180 are called "general electives." Students may choose from a variety of disciplines outside their major to fulfill general electives.

Please note: Students with admission deficiencies or Social Welfare prerequisite deficiencies must meet with an academic adviser regarding completion of deficiencies. Also, students who have not met the minimum of at least 15 credits of Visual, Literary and Performing Arts (VLPA), 15 credits of Natural World (NW) and 15 credits of Individuals and Society (I&S) within their lower-division course work must meet with the program adviser regarding selection of appropriate courses within an elective category to complete these Areas of Knowledge (AofK) requirements.

Tentative TSOCWF Schedule

A tentative general schedule listing when the courses in Social Welfare (TSOCWF) are expected to be offered during the academic year:

• 2011-2012 Course Offerings for Major in Social Welfare
• 2012-2013 Course Offerings for Major in Social Welfare

Social Welfare Practicum

In addition to classroom instruction, students are required to complete 480 hours of practicum experience in an outside agency or organization under the supervision of a qualified social worker. In the practicum settings, BASW students gain experience in such roles as advocate, case manager, change agent, group leader and organizer. They may assist a chemically-dependent person in changing destructive behavior patterns; help a battered woman find a safe, stable environment; support a person with mental illness in living independently in his or her community; marshal resources to enable a person with a physical disability to enter mainstream society; foster or find a safe environment for an abused child; advocate for housing for homeless people; or help a community organize itself to prevent a number of neighborhood problems.