Undergraduate Degree

Social Work

Program:
Social Work
Plan Code:
SOCWOR_BA1
Program Level:
Undergraduate
Award Type:
Bachelor of Arts
College:
College of Social Science
Department:
Social Work


Excerpt from the official Academic Programs Catalog:

Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.


College of Social Science

School of Social Work

Undergraduate Program
Social Work

Admission as a Junior

The number of students who can be admitted as juniors to the bachelor's degree program in social work is limited. Applications are accepted and reviewed only during the spring semester of each year.

All persons who are interested in applying for admission as juniors to the bachelor's degree program in social work must request a special application form and detailed information regarding admission requirements and procedures from the School of Social Work Web site at http://www.socialwork.msu.edu/Programs/BASW.

Students who are enrolled in colleges and universities other than Michigan State University should contact Michigan State University's Office of Admissions and the School of Social Work regarding admission to the bachelor's degree program in social work as transfer students.

To be considered for admission as a junior to the bachelor's degree program in social work, a student must have:

  1. Submitted a completed application form by the deadline specified by the school.
  2. Completed Social Work 200, which is a prerequisite for the 300–400 level courses required for the bachelor's degree.
  3. Completed the courses in related areas referenced in items 3. a. (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) under the heading Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work.

Admission to the bachelor's degree program in social work is competitive, and there is no guarantee that students with a major preference in social work will be admitted to the bachelor's degree program as juniors.  In making admissions decisions, the faculty considers the relative qualifications of applicants, their suitability for the program, and the enrollment capacity of the program.

A student who has been admitted to the bachelor’s degree program in social work for a given semester, but then decides not to enroll for that semester, would need to reapply for admission to the program. There is no guarantee that the student would be admitted to the program again.

Honors Study

Students interested in honors study in social work should consult with academic advisors in the school.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Social Work major is met by completing Social Work 440. That course is referenced in item 3. below.
  2. The requirements of the College of Social Science for the Bachelor of Arts degree.
  3. The following required major courses:
                   
    a. The following courses in related areas (20 or 21 credits):
    (1) All of the following courses (8 credits):
    PSY 101 Introductory Psychology 4
    SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 4
    (2) One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    HNF 150 Introduction to Human Nutrition 3
    MMG 141 Introductory Human Genetics 3
    PSL 250 Introductory Physiology 4
    PSY 209 Brain and Behavior 3
    (3) One of the following courses (3 credits):
    EC 201 Introduction to Microeconomics 3
    EC 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics 3
    (4) One of the following courses (3 credits):
    PSY 200 Cognitive Psychology 3
    PSY 235 Social Psychology 3
    PSY 236 Personality 3
    PSY 244 Developmental Psychology: Infancy Through Childhood 3
    PSY 270 Community Psychology 3
    PSY 280 Abnormal Psychology 3
    (5) One of the following courses (3 credits):
    PLS 100 Introduction to American Politics 3
    PLS 140 Introduction to Comparative Politics 3
    b. All of the following Social Work courses (38 credits):
    A grade of 2.0 must be earned in each of the following courses:
      Social Work 310, 320, 420, 430, 431, 440, 441, 493A, 493B, 494A, and 494B.
    A minimum of 2.0 must be earned to progress to a course for which one of these courses is a prerequisite. Students must pass (P) SW 494A to progress to SW 494B.
    SW 200 Introduction to Social Work 3
    SW 310 Human Behavior and Social Environment 3
    SW 320 Social Work and Social Policy I 3
    SW 340 Foundations of Social Work Practice 3
    SW 420 Social Work and Social Policy II 3
    SW 430 Research Methods in Social Work I 4
    SW 431 Research Methods in Social Work II 3
    SW 440 Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups (W) 3
    SW 441 Social Work Practice with Task Groups, Organizations and Communities 3
    SW 493A Social Work Field Education: Integrative Field Seminar I 1
    SW 493B Social Work Field Education: Integrative Field Seminar II 1
    SW 494A Social Work Field Education: Undergraduate Generalist Practice I 4
    SW 494B Social Work Field Education: Undergraduate Generalist Practice II 4
    c. One of the following courses (3 credits):
    ANP 201 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3
    HDFS 442 Ethnic Families in America 3
    SOC 215 Race and Ethnicity 3
    SOC 216 Sex and Gender 3