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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Social Work B.S.W.
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 Return to: Programs by Degree
TOTAL DEGREE HOURS: 120
Plans of Study
The University of South Florida offers a program of study leading to a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree in the School of Social Work, College of Behavioral & Community Sciences. The BSW has been developed in accordance with the guidelines of the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting body for social work education programs, and in accordance with the recommendations of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). The BSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The BSW program has as its primary objective to prepare and graduate professionals for entry level positions in areas such as mental health, aging services, child welfare, criminal justice, or substance misuse. The secondary objectives of the BSW program are to:
- Provide for the social work human resources needs of the university service district (the central Florida west coast area), the State of Florida, and the Southeast Region;
- Provide an exposure to social work as a profession and to contemporary issues in the social welfare field;
- Prepare graduates for additional professional training at the graduate level in social work or in related human service professions.
To prepare the BSW graduate for beginning professional practice, the curriculum provides students with an opportunity to develop a knowledge base and skill base as a “generalist” practitioner. Students will develop an understanding of various methods of intervention and skills and how to apply these to a variety of client systems. Intervention methods that students will learn may take the form of case management, individual and group counseling, resource development, consultation, teaching, advocacy, etc. Client systems in this context include individuals, families, groups, organizations, or communities. Students in the BSW program will develop an understanding of the dynamics of human behavior in individual, group and organizational contexts and the influences of those socio-cultural and spiritual contexts on human behavior. Students in the BSW program will also learn about the development of social welfare systems and institutions and about how the social, economic, and political processes, contribute to policy development and to the implementation of programs that impact client systems. Students will also develop an understanding of the use of basic social research skills related to the processes of problem-solving, planning, and evaluation of generalist social work practice. Students in the BSW program will gain awareness of the social work profession’s value base, and will also engage in self-examination and reflection to empower their ethical and effective application of social work values in professional practice. The BSW program places great emphasis on the development of professionally responsible graduates who are committed to the client systems they serve, to the organizations in which they work, to the general public, and to the social work profession .
Certified Global Pathways Program
This Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is certified as a Global Pathway program. Global Pathway programs have significant global content that align with the goals of USF’s Quality Enhancement Plan, the Global Citizens Project. USF fosters three primary qualities that global citizens possess, i.e., global awareness, global responsibility and global participation. These qualities are consistent with social work values. Study abroad opportunities are available through the School of Social Work and have included travel to India, Spain, and Peru. Our study abroad programs contribute to students’ capacity to develop the three primary qualities of global citizens. Students in Global Pathway programs are well positioned to earn the Global Citizen Award. For more information, visit the Office of High-Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research website.
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University Admissions - College of Behavioral and Community Sciences
Admission to the University is based on the University’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements that may be found by clicking on the following urls:
Progression Requirements - Social Work B.S.W.
Students enrolled in the BSW program must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in core courses in the major while enrolled in the program, and, demonstrate behaviors that are congruent with professional standards and values as described by the National Association of Social Work in order to remain in the major.
Completion of the five common course prerequisites with a minimum grade of “C” or better (2.0) in each course. A grade of “C-” is not acceptable.
Students must successfully complete their BSW core courses by earning a “C” or better. A grade of “C-” is not acceptable.
If Introduction to Social Work is completed at another institution, the student must have earned a grade of “B” or better in that course.
A syllabus must be provided by the student and reviewed in the School of Social Work prior to approval of any transfer of social work courses.
If a student withdraws or fails one course in the BSW Program (C- or lower) the student may retake the course one time. If that effort results in a failure, the student will be dismissed from the BSW Program. If a student receives a grade of “C-” or lower in two or more USF Social Work courses, they will be dismissed from the BSW Program.
A student who withdraws from or fails SOW 4510C - Integrative Seminar and Field Placement , or is dismissed from a field placement will not automatically be allowed to retake SOW 4510C. In such cases, special permission to retake SOW 4510C must be obtained from the BSW Chair. If granted permission to retake SOW 4510C, the student is required to register again for the course. When permission is given to retake SOW 4510C, the 460-hour field placement must be completed within the single semester for which the permission is given (A split-field placement is not an option if the student has withdrawn from, failed SOW 4510C, or been dismissed from a field placement).
Course Grade Requirement: SOW 3203 - Introduction to Social Work requires a minimum grade of “B” for eligibility into the major. A grade of “B-” is not acceptable
Required Courses: (65 credit hours)
State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites - Social Work B.S.W. (15 credit hours)
Following Florida BOG Regulation 8.010, state mandated common course prerequisites are lower-division courses that are required for progression into the upper division of a particular baccalaureate degree program.
Transfer students should complete the State Mandated Common Course Prerequisites at the lower level prior to entering the university. If these courses are not taken at a Florida College System institution, they must be completed before the degree is granted. Successful completion of the common prerequisites alone does not guarantee a student admission into the degree program.
Unless stated otherwise, a grade of C is the minimum acceptable grade in prerequisite courses.
- BSC X005 OR BSC X085 OR BSC X010 OR PCB X099 - 3 credit hours
- ECO X000 OR ECO X023 OR ECO X013 - 3 credit hours
- PSY X012 OR DEP X000 OR DEP X004 - 3 credit hours
- SYG X000 OR SYG X010 - 3 credit hours
- POS X041 - 3 credit hours
State Mathematics Pathway – Social Work B.S.W. (6 Credit Hours)
The Social Work B.S.W. uses the Mathematical Thinking in Context Mathematics Pathway with the following requirements:
Required Foundation Course for the Major (3 credit hours)
This course is open to all majors, but it is a prerequisite and foundation course for the Social Work major. Although it is required for the major, it is not counted in the total hours for the major. Students typically take this course at USF.
Major Core Courses: 12 courses; 41 Credit Hours
A major in Social Work requires 41 credits in a lock-step (pre-set) schedule.
Students must take the following courses during their first semester admitted in the program (15 credit hours):
Students must take the following courses during their first semester admitted in the program (15 credit hours):
Once the above courses have been successfully completed, students must take the following courses during their 2nd semester in the program (14 credit hours):
Once the above courses have been successfully completed, students must take the following courses during their 2nd semester in the program (14 credit hours):
Once all above courses have successfully been completed, students must take the following courses (12 credit hours):
Below are the course options available to BSW students in their third semester.
Additional Information - Social Work B.S.W.
Foreign Language Requirements
Students must meet the University’s FLENT (Foreign Language Entrance Requirement), which requires successful completion of two high school credits in one foreign language or successful completion of 2 semesters (8 credits) in one foreign language in college, or demonstrating equivalent foreign language competence on the basis of scores determined by the ACC CLEP or demonstrating equivalent foreign language competence through other means approved by USF (such as a Placement Exam). American Sign Language may also be completed for FLENT.
Internship Opportunities
Hands-on, practical experience is integrated in the core curriculum through the 460 hours of field placement that students complete during their final semester in the program. The School of Social Work has partnerships for the field experiences with an abundance of agencies in the surrounding communities. Students have many choices for the populations and environments in which they would like to develop their skills and prepare for professional employment. Internship (field placement) areas include child welfare, substance abuse, medical social work, mental health, children and adolescent services, forensic mental health, domestic violence, veteran’s services, court/justice system, crisis management, elder care, hospice and homelessness.
Other Information
- Students must have junior status and fulfill the following requirements in order to enroll in the social work major courses:
- 2.0 overall GPA, 2.0 USF GPA.
- Completion of the five State Mandated Prerequisites (no grade of “C-” or below).
- Completion of the SOW 3203 foundation course (no grade of “B-” or below).
- USF Bachelor of Science Social Work graduates may be eligible for admission into USF’s Master of Social Work Advanced Standing programs.
- Membership in the National Social Work Honor Society, Phi-Alpha/Delta Sigma chapter at the University of South Florida is available to students who meet eligibility critera. Phi Alpha is a national honor society for social work students who have attained excellence in scholarship. Its mission is to provide a network among students of social work and to promote humanitarian goals and ideals.
Research Opportunities - Social Work B.S.W.
The diverse research interests of the faculty in the School of Social Work provide a wide array of opportunities for students to interface with evidence based research studies. Current research interests include treatment of childhood trauma; quality of care outcomes for vulnerable populations with particular emphasis on older adults with co-occurring mental and physical health disorders; health effects of intimate partner violence; implications of health care practices and interventions involving Latinos; reduction of health and mental health disparities for Haitians, and the development of psycho-social resources in community and long-term care settings.
Advising Information - Social Work B.S.W.
Advising is available in office, by phone and email. We welcome students to contact our advisor to learn more about the social work profession and the BSW degree.
Justine Leigh; MSW; 813-974-7292; justinen@usf.edu; MHC 1405.
Plans of Study - Social Work B.S.W.
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