Social Work (Bachelor of Social Work)

Students completing the BSW degree will be prepared for entry-level generalist social work practice. The BSW degree requires 120 hours including meeting all university and program general education requirements. The general studies requirements for the BSW degree total 60 hours:

Course Title Credits
Area I: Written Composition
EH Composition sequence3
EH Composition sequence3
Area II: Humanities and Fine Arts
Literature3
EH 141Speech3
Select one fine art course from the following:3
Survey of Art I
Survey of Art II (WI)
Art Appreciation
Introduction to Music
Introduction to the Theatre
Select one additional course in Humanities and Fine Arts3
Area III: Natural Sciences and Mathematics
BY 101
BY 103
Introductory Biology I
and Introductory Biology Lab I
4
or BY 102/104 Introductory Biology II
Natural Science4
MS 110Finite Mathematics (or higher excluding MS 204)3
Area IV: History, Social, and Behavioral Sciences
History sequence6
PSY 201Principles of Psychology3
SY 221Introduction to Sociology3
Area V: Pre-Professional, Major, and Elective Courses
EC 221Principles of Microeconomics3
or EC 222 Principles of Macroeconomics
PSC 100Introduction to American Government3
MS 204Basic Statistics3
CS 201Introduction to Information Technology3
Select one course from the following:3
Introductory Nutrition
Personal and Community Health
First Aid
Concepts of Wellness
Select four hours of general electives 4

The requirements for a Bachelor of Social Work degree include 54 semester hours of social work courses. The following 39 hours of social work courses are required:

Course Title Credits
SW 330Introduction to Social Work 13
SW 332Social Policy and Services (WI)3
SW 350Social Work Research (WI)3
SW 360Cultural Diversity and Social Justice3
SW 380Human Behavior and Social Environment I3
SW 381Human Behavior and Social Environment II3
SW 390Social Work Practice I3
SW 391Social Work Practice II3
SW 448Social Work Practice III3
SW 449Field Instruction Placement9
SW 450Field Instruction Seminar3
Select five social work elective courses from the following:15
Interpersonal Skills and Human Relations
Family and Child Welfare Services I
Social Work in Health Care
Crisis Intervention
Social Work and Mental Health
Communication In Social Work Practice
Substance-Use and Addictive Disorders in Social Work Practice
Family and Child Welfare Services II
Community Engagement and Leadership
Forensic Social Work
Perspectives on Poverty
Aging and Human Development
Perspectives on Death and Dying
Cognitive Theories in Social Work Practice
Case Management
Study Tour
Independent Study
Independent Study
Independent Study
Special Topics in Social Work
Special Topics in Social Work
Special Topics in Social Work

 Social Work majors are not required to have a minor. Social work majors must earn a minimum of “C” or better in each of the social work courses.

Eligibility for the BSW Program requires passage of at least 48 semester hours [including MS 110 Finite Mathematics (3) or higher and MS 204 Basic Statistics (3)], a 2.25 overall GPA, a grade of “C” or better in SW 330 Introduction to Social Work (3), and successful completion of SW 390 Social Work Practice I (3).  Applications for eligibility for the Bachelor of Social Work degree program are distributed to students enrolled in SW 390 Social Work Practice I (3). This application should be submitted to the program secretary upon completion of SW 390 Social Work Practice I (3). Students must have been formally determined as eligible for the social work program before taking SW 391 Social Work Practice II (3), SW 448 Social Work Practice III (3), SW 449 Field Instruction Placement (9), and SW 450 Field Instruction Seminar (3).  Students denied eligibility are encouraged to complete the application as soon as they meet the requirements and return it to the secretary for the BSW.  Students must maintain a 2.50 GPA in social work and a 2.25 GPA overall in order to graduate. See the BSW program webpage at http://www.jsu.edu/socialwork/index.html for complete information about the BSW program.

In addition to courses noted below, candidates for graduation must successfully complete all JSU Academic Regulations. More information about general education requirements can be found in the Summary of Degrees/Requirements section of the catalog.

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
FallHours
EH Composition sequence 3
Fine Arts 3
Biology with lab 4
History Sequence 3
SSC 101 First Year Experience 0
 Hours13
Spring
EH Composition sequence 3
EH 141 Speech 3
Natural Science 4
History Sequence 3
PSY 201 Principles of Psychology 3
 Hours16
Sophomore
Fall
Literature 3
MS 110 Finite Mathematics (or higher excluding MS 204) 3
CS 201 Introduction to Information Technology 3
PSC 100 Introduction to American Government 3
Select one of the following: 3
Introductory Nutrition  
Personal and Community Health  
First Aid  
Concepts of Wellness  
 Hours15
Spring
Humanities/Fine Art Elective 3
SY 221 Introduction to Sociology 3
EC 221
Principles of Microeconomics
or Principles of Macroeconomics
3
MS 204 Basic Statistics 3
General Electives 4
 Hours16
Junior
Fall
SW 330 Introduction to Social Work 3
SW 380 Human Behavior and Social Environment I 3
Social Work Electives 3
General Electives 6
 Hours15
Spring
SW 390 Social Work Practice I 3
SW 350 Social Work Research (WI) 3
SW 360 Cultural Diversity and Social Justice 3
Social Work Electives 6
 Hours15
Senior
Fall
SW 332 Social Policy and Services (WI) 3
SW 381 Human Behavior and Social Environment II 3
SW 391 Social Work Practice II 3
Social Work Electives 6
 Hours15
Spring
SW 448 Social Work Practice III 3
SW 449 Field Instruction Placement 9
SW 450 Field Instruction Seminar 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours120