The Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work enables students to explore and develop values, knowledge and generalist skills essential to the practice of social work in a multiethnic environment. The goals of the program include: providing continuing education for persons already employed in the field of social work or related human services; preparing students for professional entry-level positions in social work; and preparing students for further study in graduate schools of social work or related human services.

Admission to the Program

The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work is 180 units, of which 86-87 units are in the major. Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.
Due to program impaction, the number of applicants who can be admitted to the major is limited by space availability.Incoming freshmen students wishing to major in social work should select social work (freshmen) on their CSU Mentor application and will be admitted as undeclared majors with an interest in social work.

Freshmen students admitted to the university as undeclared majors, continuing lower division students, and students changing majors are eligible to apply to the social work major once they meet all of the following supplementary admission criteria:

• A minimum college GPA of 2.75 or better.
• Completion of at least 45 quarter (30 semester) units of college coursework.
• Completion of one social science prerequisite course (
  PSY150
    ,
  SOC201
    , or
  SOC202
    ) (or an equivalent course at another institution) with a grade of “C” or better.

Continuing students should complete a BASW application form and return it to the school. Priority will be given to those applicants who submit their complete applications by March 1st of the calendar year the applicant seeks to be admitted.
Upper division transfer and continuing upper division students should select social work (transfer) on their CSU mentor applications, and are eligible to apply to the social work major once they meet all of the following criteria:

• A minimum 2.75 college (transferable) GPA.
• Completion of at least 90 quarter (60 semester) units of college (transferable) coursework.
• Completion of one social science prerequisite course (
  PSY150
    ,
  SOC201
    , or
  SOC202
    ) (or an equivalent course at another institution) with a grade of “C” or better.

Admission of transfer students will be based on a rank ordering of cumulative GPA. By the end of January of the calendar year the applicant seeks to be admitted, social work will send an e-mail to chosen applicants informing them of the need to show proof of completion of the social science prerequisite course.

Required Advisement

All students in the Social Work major must see an academic adviser during their first quarter in the program. During this initial advisement, a summary of the program curriculum and School of Social work regulations will be reviewed.

All social work students are also required to meet with an adviser one quarter prior to beginning their fieldwork, to determine eligibility for field education. Finally, students must meet with an adviser two quarters before graduation to complete a graduation check.

Students who earn less than the minimum required grade for social work courses must meet with an academic adviser from the School of Social Work to prepare a revised academic plan to assure satisfactory progress.

School of Social Work Regulations

Students in the Social Work major must earn grades of C or higher in the following social work courses: SW 372 , SW 301 , SW 474 , SW 475 , SW 478 , SW 482 . To meet the requirements of continuing satisfactory performance, students must also receive a passing grade (credit) for the Field Internship (SW 495 ) and a grade of C or better in their Integrative Seminar (SW 496). Students who are placed on academic probation are not permitted to enroll in a social work course until an academic adviser from the School of Social Work approves a revised academic plan. The plan will provide students with guidelines to support their academic success.

Students are required to complete a criminal clearance check, prior to entering a field placement. Some field agencies will not accept students who cannot pass the criminal background clearance. Please note that difficulty or the inability to place a student in a required field practicum may delay or prevent the completion of the BASW degree.

Sequence Requirements

• SW 370  is a prerequisite to all required social work courses except SW 476 
• Prerequisites to Field Education (SW 495) include: completion of SW 301 , SW 371A , SW 371 B , and SW 372 
• SW 372  is a prerequisite to the advanced social work practice courses (SW 474 , SW 475 , and SW 482 )
• Students must take SW 495  and SW 496  concurrently.
• Field Education (SW 495 , SW 496 ) must be taken in the last three quarters of the BASW Program