BSW in Social Work

Degree Program Description

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program is a professional program that prepares students for immediate entry into direct human service professional positions, graduate-level education, and life-long learning. BSW-level social workers assist individuals, families, small groups, organizations, and communities to effectively resolve problems, deal with their relationships, and function optimally within their environment. Graduates are employed in many different settings, including nursing homes, hospices, hospitals, home care agencies, family service agencies, children and youth services, aging services, residential treatment programs, domestic violence shelters, criminal justice agencies, schools, and legal services agencies.

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is offered in two modalities: on campus and online. Students should understand that there are different expectations, processes, and policies for each modality and should confer with an advisor before determining which to apply to. This program also requires an application for admission to the professional phase of the program. At the point of application, students must select a program modality. Upon admittance, students will be required to finish the program in the modality selected at the point of admission. Only extenuating circumstances will be considered for a modality change and any requests will need approval by the undergraduate Program Director and will be communicated to the Office of Student Services.

Major Program Requirements

Required Entry-Level Courses: Specific liberal arts requirements for graduation are listed below. Program Pre-requisites must be completed before beginning Professional BSW Core courses.

Students must complete all university requirements, including general education, in addition to the degree requirements below. 

Students must earn and maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in all college-level coursework. Students must complete all BSW Program Prerequisites and BSW Program Requirements with grades of C- or higher and may have no more than two grades of C+ in the BSW courses.

BSW Program Prerequisites
ENGLSH 1000Writing and Rhetoric3
MATH 1100College Algebra (or equivalent)3
or MATH 1050 Quantitative Reasoning
BIO_SC 1010General Principles and Concepts of Biology3
or BIO_SC 1500 Introduction to Biological Systems with Laboratory
or BIO_SC 1030 General Principles and Concepts of Biology with Laboratory
1000-level or higher Anthropology course (Recommend ANTHRO 1300, ANTHRO 1350, ANTHRO 2030)3
PSYCH 1000General Psychology3
SOCIOL 1000Introduction to Sociology3
HIST 1100Survey of American History to 18653
or HIST 1200 Survey of American History Since 1865
or POL_SC 1100 American Government
ECONOM 1014Principles of Microeconomics3
or ECONOM 1015 Principles of Macroeconomics
or ABM 1041 Applied Microeconomics
COMMUN 1200Public Speaking3
1000-level or higher Philosophy course (Recommend PHIL 1000, PHIL 1100, PHIL 1200)3
BSW Program Requirements
Any 1000-level or higher History or Political Science course (must be selected from the subject area not chosen for American History/American Government)3
PSYCH 2310Social Psychology3
or SOCIOL 3310W Social Psychology - Writing Intensive
SOC_WK 3320Understanding Personality in a Social Context3
or PSYCH 2320 Introduction to Personality
Exploration of Power, Privilege, & Oppression (PPO) coursework: 16
3 additional hours of approved PPO coursework 2
Professional BSW Core Courses
SOC_WK 2220WHuman Behavior in the Social Environment - Writing Intensive (May be taken before or during the professional phase.)3
or SOC_WK 2220 Human Behavior in the Social Environment
SOC_WK 4310Social Statistics3
SOC_WK 4710Social Justice and Social Policy3
SOC_WK 4711Social Justice and Social Policy II3
SOC_WK 4720Variations in Human Behavior3
SOC_WK 4730Introduction to Social Work Practice3
SOC_WK 4740Introduction to Community and Organizational Processes4
SOC_WK 4750Interaction Skills Workshop3
SOC_WK 4760Theory and Practice of Social Group Work3
SOC_WK 4770Strategies of Direct Practice3
SOC_WK 4951Research for Social Work Practice3
SOC_WK 4952Research Methods for Social Work3
SOC_WK 4970Senior Professional Seminar3
SOC_WK 4971Undergraduate Field Practicum6
4000-level or higher Social Work Elective in Field of Practice (choose one)3
Addiction Treatment and Prevention
Deaf Culture: A Social Work Perspective
Working with Minority Youth
Delinquency, Corrections and Social Treatment
Social Work Practice With Minorities: African-American Emphasis
Helping Strategies With Children and Adolescents
Death, Grief and Loss
Domestic Violence
Social Welfare and the Law
Professional Perspectives on Child Welfare Services in the 21st Century
Direct Practice with Older Adults
Social Work Electives (Recommended)
SOC_WK 1110Introduction to the Social Work Major1
SOC_WK 1115Social Welfare and Social Work3
1

Exploration of Power, Privilege & Oppression: Social Work BSW majors are required to take SOC_WK 2000 or SOC_WK 2000W to count for three credit hours of the six credit hours requirement. Students should select one additional course that reflects the cultural diversity of our society; often selected from social work, sociology, anthropology, peace studies, English, religious studies, human development and family science, black studies, and women and gender studies. Students can find a complete list here.

2

Students cannot double-count BSW Program Prerequisite, BSW Program Requirement, or field of practice elective courses with Exploration of Power, Privilege and Oppression (PPO) courses (e.g., ANTHRO 1350 can count toward the Anthropology program requirement OR the PPO requirement, but not both).

Capstone Requirements   

All students accepted into the professional BSW program must take SOC_WK 4971 Undergraduate Field Practicum and SOC_WK 4970 Senior Professional Seminar to complete their capstone requirement. Please note: As a student, if you have acquired any criminal background history which includes misdemeanors or felony charges your choices of placements may be affected. In an effort to assist you we strongly encourage you to make an appointment with the Director of the Undergraduate Program to assist in facilitating options for your completion of educational requirements.                                               

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Semester Plan

Below is a sample plan of study, semester by semester. A student's actual plan may vary based on course choices where options are available and chosen program modality.  

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGLSH 10003MATH 11003
BIO_SC 10103SOCIOL 10003
BIO_SC 10202ANTHRO 13003
PSYCH 10003COMMUN 12003
HIST 1100, 1200, or POL_SC 11003SOC_WK 1115 (Elective)3
SOC_WK 1110 (Elective)1 
 15 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
PHIL 11003ECONOM 10143
PSYCH 23103Humanities 3
SOC_WK 2000W3SOC_WK 2220W3
Political Science3SOC_WK 33203
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC_WK 47103SOC_WK 43103
SOC_WK 47303SOC_WK 47113
SOC_WK 47404SOC_WK 47203
SOC_WK 47503SOC_WK 47603
Field of Practice Elective3SOC_WK 49513
 16 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC_WK 4770W3Power Privilege & Oppression3
SOC_WK 49523Elective3
SOC_WK 49703Elective3
SOC_WK 49716Elective3
 Bio/Phys/Math Science2
 15 14
Total Credits: 120

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Degree Audit

The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree. 

MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.

Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.

Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.

For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.

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Major and Career Exploration

The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.

  • If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.

  • If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major

  • If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.

For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.

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