SOCIAL WORK
College of Health and Human Services

• The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and the Master of Social Work degree programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
• Many required classes will have at least one section scheduled during evening hours.
• Social work students earn academic credit for professionally supervised field experience in a human service agency. The practicum is two to three days per week.
• All BA and MSW students receive academic and career planning advisement. Employment information for students is updated continuously.
• Graduate and undergraduate social work students maintain active student organizations including a chapter of Phi Alpha, a national honor society for social work.
• Undergraduate students who want to know more about major social welfare issues and alternative proposals for solving social problems but who do not plan to prepare for professional social work practice may enroll in the 21-unit minor in Social Welfare.
• The MSW degree fulfills most of the educational requirements for California licensure as Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and the Pupil Personnel Services Credential for School Social Work.

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work is a 48-unit program that prepares students for beginning, generalist social work practice. All lower division general education courses must be completed prior to beginning the social work major. The curriculum consists of 39 units in professional foundation/beginning generalist requirement, 6 units of social work electives, and 3 units of social science options. Grades of "C" or better are required in all 48 units of the major. The student must agree to abide by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers and engage in ethical practice in conformity with the Professional Code of Ethics.

Undergraduate students enroll in one academic year of field instruction (internship) during their senior year after successfully completing all prerequisites in their junior year. Field instruction is 16 hours per week for 32 weeks during two semesters for a total of 512 hours. Field instruction takes place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on either Mondays/Wednesdays or Wednesdays/Fridays. Placements only begin in the fall semester and are arranged by the Director of Field Education during the preceding spring semester through an application and interview process. Students are placed in a social services agency and practice under the supervision of an experienced MSW social worker. Since social work is an applied profession, the student is expected to be able to put into practice the knowledge gained in the classroom in order to receive the BA degree in Social Work.

Students must be capable of meeting field site/organization eligibility requirements which normally include obtaining a Department of Justice clearance (passing a criminal background), being free of communicable diseases, and having a valid driver's license and automobile insurance. In addition to the prerequisites and corequisites noted below, other eligibility requirements are delineated in the Field Curriculum and Policy Guide which is accessible from the Division's field Web page (www.hhs.csus.edu/swrk/field). Declaration of Social Work as the student's major does not guarantee enrollment in field instruction.

Units required for Major: 48
Minimum total units required for the BA: 120
Courses in parentheses are prerequisites.

A. Recommended Lower Division Preparation

Completion of all lower division General Education requirements is a prerequisite for taking courses in the social work major. SWRK 95 is offered as a GE course and is also considered a requisite for students who intend to make social work their major. Lower division courses in the following areas are strongly recommended and most can be taken as part of completing GE requirements. These courses provide the basis for a Liberal Arts Perspective which is required by the Council on Social Work Education, the accrediting organization for the professional social work degree: written communication; critical thinking; physical science; a biology course with human anatomy content; quantitative reasoning; world civilizations; introduction to the arts; humanities; psychology; sociology; cultural diversity; American Institutions; and foundations in social and behavioral sciences. Community college transfer students should consult a counselor to identify courses which qualify for General Education transfer credit.

The Master of Social Work program is a 60-unit program that prepares students for advanced, autonomous social work practice. The curriculum is composed of two semesters of professional foundation and two semesters of a concentration curriculum. In the foundation part of the program, all students take a core of courses designed to provide them with the knowledge and skills expected of all professional social workers. The advanced curriculum prepares for multi-level practice with vulnerable life conditions. It consists of required advanced courses in social work practice and policy, and advanced electives. Through the use of elective units (9), there are opportunities for more specialized focus regarding practice with specific populations (e.g., the aged) or with particular conditions (e.g., substance abuse or mental disabilities).

Graduate students enroll for two years of field instruction. In the first year, they are assigned to a social service agency for two days a week (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday). First year students must be available Thursdays and Fridays (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for field instruction in order to complete the concurrent program. In the second year, they are assigned to an agency for three days a week (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday). These field instruction requirements may only be fulfilled during regular working hours. Students are responsible for their own transportation to field instruction sites and for required professional liability insurance.

Students should develop a realistic plan for financial support for the period of time they are in school. Information about Financial Aid is included in the University's Application for Admission booklet. The Division of Social Work cannot guarantee courses on days and times that will not conflict with employment hours. The program offers some courses on weekends and all required courses have at least one evening section. In addition to the two-year full time program, the division also offers a three-year program option, a weekend cohort program, and advanced placement.

Note: Please contact the Division of Social Work for a copy of the evaluation criteria for admission to the Master of Social Work program.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Master of Social Work program, applicants must have:

• a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university;
• passed an approved course in statistics with a grade of ''C'' or better;
• completed a course with human biology content with a grade of "C" or better;
• a minimum GPA of 2.5 for the last 60 units of course work;
• demonstrated writing proficiency; and
• completed the Liberal Arts foundation (GE requirements).

The Graduate Record Exam is not required.

All applications are reviewed by Faculty Reviewers. Previous academic work, experience in human services, personal development, and potential for successful professional practice are important considerations in the evaluation of applicants.