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The Bachelor of Social Work requires completion of 120 credits, including 46 credits in the major. The curriculum of the baccalaureate program is specifically designed to prepare students for beginning-level generalist social work practice. This practice model requires a broad base of knowledge about individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations and an appreciation of cultural diversity. General education courses provide an essential foundation for the upper-level professional curriculum and are required for admission to junior and senior social work courses.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
- Engage diversity and difference in practice
- Advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice
- Engage in policy practice
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities
Academic policies
Application process
Students eligible to register for the professional practice curriculum (300 and 400 level) social work courses need to make an appointment with their adviser to review and complete the “Application for Admission to the B.S.W. Professional Practice Program” form. This form is available from your student success adviser. Although the B.S.W. program can be completed on a part-time basis, it cannot be completed exclusively in the evening because of field practicum requirements and the scheduling of some classes.
Transfer of credits from other colleges or universities or from other programs at VCU is determined on an individual basis.
Course restrictions
Practice (SLWK 332, SLWK 441 and SLWK 442) and field education (SLWK 395, SLWK 494-SLWK 495) courses and the senior seminar (SLWK 499) are restricted to social work majors only. Students minoring in social welfare, or other students with permission of program director or course instructor, may take the following:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SLWK 311 | Social Work and Anti-oppressive Practice | 3 |
| SLWK 313 | Social Work Theory and Assessment With Individuals and Micro Systems | 3 |
| SLWK 330 | Social Work Theory and Assessment with Families, Small Groups and Mezzo Systems | 3 |
| SLWK 380 | Ethical Research for Social Work Practice I: Methods | 3 |
| SLWK 381 | Ethical Research for Social Work Practice II: Application | 3 |
| SLWK 422 | Social Welfare, Policy and Practice | 3 |
| SLWK 431 | Social Work Theory and Assessment with Communities, Organizations and Macro Systems | 3 |
In all cases, however, prerequisites must be satisfied.
Field placements require students to spend 14 hours a week in an agency and cannot be completed on nights and weekends.
Honors in social work
Undergraduate social work majors may earn honors in social work by excelling academically and completing a research-based honors thesis under the supervision of faculty mentors. Students apply for honors in social work in the second semester of their junior year (spring or summer). To graduate with honors in social work, students must satisfy all of the following conditions:
- Earn a 3.5 cumulative grade point average.
- Earn a grade of A in SLWK 380 and SLWK 381 and a minimum grad of B in all other social work courses.
- Complete six to nine credits of independent study (SLWK 492) with a minimum grade of B to propose and implement a research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor.
- Present and successfully defend in writing and orally the findings from the research project in the form of an honors thesis to a committee of three faculty members (one of whom is the student’s mentor).
Students who meet these requirements and all other graduation requirements of the university will have honors in social work noted on their transcripts. For further information about the application process and detailed instructions for completing the honors thesis, students should contact the B.S.W. program director.
Special requirements
To complete the professional practice curriculum of the B.S.W. program, students must:
- Complete the following specific courses (34 credits):
Course Title Hours ANTH 103 Introduction to Anthropology 3 BIOL 101 Biological Concepts 3 MATH 131 Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics 3 PHIL from approved list 3 PSYC 101 
Play course video for Introduction to PsychologyIntroduction to Psychology 4 PSYC 304 Life Span Developmental Psychology 3 SLWK 201 Introduction to Social Work 3 SLWK 230 Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Social Work 3 SOCY 101 Play course video for Introduction to SociologyIntroduction to Sociology 3 UNIV 111 Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and CommunicationIntroduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication 3 UNIV 200 Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication 3 Total Hours 34 - Complete 20 additional credits from the general education requirements for a total of 54 credits to achieve junior status
- Achieve a minimum grade of C in UNIV 200
- Achieve a minimum grade of B in SLWK 201 and SLWK 230
- Achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Agree to abide by the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics as students and emerging professionals
Eligibility to move forward into the professional practice curriculum of the B. S. W. program will be assessed by the academic advisor and program director once the requirements listed above have been completed (1-6).
Other program requirements and guidelines:
- All 300-level SLWK prerequisite courses require a minimum grade of C before entering 400-level SLWK courses.
- Students must have a minimum grade of C in all required social work courses to graduate.
- A student who earns a grade of D or F in any required social work course may repeat the course once. If a grade of D or F is earned in the repeated course, the student will be terminated from the B.S.W. program.
- Credit is not given for life experiences.
- As a condition for graduation, students must complete a senior capstone course (SLWK 499).
- There are additional policies that affect students’ progression in the professional degree program. Students are responsible for compliance with these policies. They are listed in the Student Policy Handbook, which is available on the School of Social Work website at socialwork.vcu.edu.
The foreign language requirement for B.S.W. majors can be fulfilled by completing one of the followings options:
1. Receiving a University Foreign Language Waiver, which is granted when a student takes 3 or more years of the same foreign language in high school.
2. Completing a full sequence (6 credits) of one beginner level foreign language (101 and 102 or RHAB 502 and RHAB 503).
3. Earning foreign language credit through CLEP based on required scores specified by the university here
4. Placing in and completing a three-credit, 200-level (intermediate) foreign language course
Degree requirements for Social Work, Bachelor of (B.S.W.)
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General education | ||
| Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
| Major requirements | ||
| • Major core requirements | ||
| SLWK 201 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| SLWK 230 | Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Social Work | 3 |
| SLWK 311 | Social Work and Anti-oppressive Practice | 3 |
| SLWK 313 | Social Work Theory and Assessment With Individuals and Micro Systems | 3 |
| SLWK 330 | Social Work Theory and Assessment with Families, Small Groups and Mezzo Systems | 3 |
| SLWK 332 | Generalist Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 380 | Ethical Research for Social Work Practice I: Methods | 3 |
| SLWK 381 | Ethical Research for Social Work Practice II: Application | 3 |
| SLWK 395 | Social Work Field Preparation | 3 |
| SLWK 422 | Social Welfare, Policy and Practice | 3 |
| SLWK 431 | Social Work Theory and Assessment with Communities, Organizations and Macro Systems | 3 |
| SLWK 441 | Generalist Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SLWK 442 | Generalist Social Work Practice III | 3 |
| SLWK 494 | Senior Field Practicum I | 3 |
| SLWK 495 | Senior Field Practicum II | 3 |
| SLWK 499 | Senior Capstone Seminar | 2 |
| Ancillary requirements | ||
| ANTH 103 | Introduction to Anthropology (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| BIOL 101 | Biological Concepts (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| BIOL 103 | Global Environmental Biology | 3 |
| or BIOL 201 | Human Biology | |
| or BIOL 217 | Principles of Nutrition | |
| or SOCS 340 | Human Sexuality | |
| or PSYC 401 | Physiological Psychology | |
| or PSYC 406 | Perception | |
| or PSYC 412 | Health Psychology | |
| MATH 131 | Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 3-4 |
| or MATH 141 | Algebra with Applications | |
| or MATH 151 | Precalculus Mathematics | |
| or MATH 200 | Calculus with Analytic Geometry I | |
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Ethics 1 | 3 |
| or PHIL 213 | Ethics and Health Care | |
| or PHIL 221 | Critical Thinking | |
| or PHIL 222 | Logic | |
| PSYC 101 Play course video for Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Psychology (satisfies general education AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 4 |
| PSYC 304 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 407 | Psychology of the Abnormal | 3 |
| SLWK 200 | Building a Just Society | 3 |
| SOCY 101 Play course video for Introduction to Sociology | Introduction to Sociology (satisfies general education AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| Electives from HIST, POLI or ECON | 3 | |
| Foreign language through the 102 level (including ASL) | 6 | |
| Open electives | ||
| Select any course. | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Students who complete the requirements for this degree will receive a Bachelor of Social Work.
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
Recommended course sequence/plan of study
| Freshman year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| ANTH 103 | Introduction to Anthropology (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for global perspectives) | 3 |
| MATH 131 | Introduction to Contemporary Mathematics (satisfies general education quantitative foundations) | 3 |
| SLWK 200 | Building a Just Society | 3 |
| SOCY 101 Play course video for Introduction to Sociology | Introduction to Sociology (satisfies general education AOI for diversities in the human experience) | 3 |
| UNIV 111 Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication | Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| BIOL 101 | Biological Concepts (satisfies general education BOK for natural sciences and AOI for scientific and logical reasoning) | 3 |
| PSYC 101 Play course video for Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| Electives from HIST, POLI or ECON | 3 | |
| General education course | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 16 | |
| Sophomore year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| SLWK 201 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
| Foreign language 101 | 3 | |
| General education course (select a BOK for humanities and fine arts and AOI for creative inquiry) | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| PHIL 201 | Introduction to Ethics 1 or History of Ethics 1 or Ethics and Applications 1 or Ethics and Health Care 1 or Critical Thinking 1 or Logic 1 | 3 |
| PSYC 304 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 3 |
| SLWK 230 | Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Social Work | 3 |
| Foreign language 102 | 3 | |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Junior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| SLWK 311 | Social Work and Anti-oppressive Practice | 3 |
| SLWK 313 | Social Work Theory and Assessment With Individuals and Micro Systems | 3 |
| SLWK 380 | Ethical Research for Social Work Practice I: Methods | 3 |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| SLWK 330 | Social Work Theory and Assessment with Families, Small Groups and Mezzo Systems | 3 |
| SLWK 332 | Generalist Social Work Practice I | 3 |
| SLWK 381 | Ethical Research for Social Work Practice II: Application | 3 |
| SLWK 395 | Social Work Field Preparation | 3 |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Senior year | ||
| Fall semester | ||
| BIOL 103 | Global Environmental Biology or Human Biology or Principles of Nutrition or Human Sexuality or Physiological Psychology or Perception or Health Psychology | 3 |
| SLWK 422 or SLWK 431 | Social Welfare, Policy and Practice or Social Work Theory and Assessment with Communities, Organizations and Macro Systems | 3 |
| SLWK 441 | Generalist Social Work Practice II | 3 |
| SLWK 494 | Senior Field Practicum I | 3 |
| Open elective | 3 | |
| Term Hours: | 15 | |
| Spring semester | ||
| PSYC 407 | Psychology of the Abnormal | 3 |
| SLWK 422 or SLWK 431 | Social Welfare, Policy and Practice or Social Work Theory and Assessment with Communities, Organizations and Macro Systems | 3 |
| SLWK 442 | Generalist Social Work Practice III | 3 |
| SLWK 495 | Senior Field Practicum II | 3 |
| SLWK 499 | Senior Capstone Seminar | 2 |
| Term Hours: | 14 | |
| Total Hours: | 120 | |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.