Social Work, B.A.

The Department of Social Work Education

The Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

The bachelor’s degree program prepares students to enter supervised professional social work practice and/or pursue admission to a range of graduate study programs and professional schools. This includes graduate study in social work leading to a master’s in social work.

The bachelor’s degree program in social work is a sequenced program that requires four consecutive semesters to complete. All prerequisites must be completed prior to entry into the social work program. A cohort of social work students begins the program in the fall semester of an academic year. No social work students are permitted to begin the program in the spring semester. Students majoring in social work must complete the following prerequisites, including successful application/admission, before being permitted to enroll in restricted and sequenced 100-level social work courses. Students who begin at Fresno State as freshman will enter the major after demonstrating competence and fit through success in the pre-health major. The application date for native students and transfer students will be available on the Department of Social Work Education website.

Complete all lower-division General Education courses.
Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7.
Formally apply for upper-division social work major status.
The following eight prerequisite courses must be completed:
1. G.E. Area A1 (COMM 3 , COMM 7 , or COMM 8 ) (3 units)
2. G.E. Area A2 (ENGL 10 /ENGL 5B ) (3 units)
3. G.E. Area A3* Critical Thinking (3 units)
4. G.E. Area B4* Quantitative Reasoning (3 units)
5. G.E. Area D2 Social Science (ECON 25 , ECON 40 or ECON 50 ) (3 units)
6. G.E. Area E Life-long Understanding (PH 90 ) (3 units)
7. American Government & Institutions (PLSI 2 ) (3 units)
8. SWRK 20 (3 units)

Total (24 units)

* See lower-division General Education list for university approved courses. Each prerequisite must be completed with a minimum C grade CR/NC grades are not acceptable. A GPA of 2.7 or above is required in the eight prerequisite courses.

Students may enroll in upper-division social work major status in the Social Work Education Department office upon successful completion of the above prerequisite requirements. Eligibility for enrollment will be contingent upon satisfactory fulfillment of these requirements.

Major Requirements (42 units)

Note: Students must attain a minimum grade of C in each required course in social work major Students who receive a grade of less than C in any of the above courses must meet with their Social Work Education academic advisor and develop a plan for repeating the course and continuing the major. Refer to the Undergraduate Advising Booklet for complete information on policies. See Advising Notes.

SWRK 20 - Introduction to Social Work Units: 3
SWRK 123 - Social Welfare Policies and Programs Units: 3
SWRK 135 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment Units: 3
SWRK 136 - Cultural Diversity and Oppression Units: 3
SWRK 160 - Social Work Practice: Professional Identity Units: 3
SWRK 161 - Social Work Processes Units: 3
SWRK 170 - Quantitative Research in Social Work: Theory and Application Units: 3
SWRK 171 - Qualitative Research in Social Work: Theory and Application Units: 3
SWRK 180 - Seminar in Macro Practice Units: 3
SWRK 181I - Field Instruction A Units: 6
SWRK 182I - Field Instruction B Units: 6
SWRK 183 - Seminar in Micro Practice Units: 3

Additional Requirements (18 units)

May also count toward General Education

Select One:

GERON 100 - Images of Aging in Contemporary Society Units: 3
GERON 103 - Psychology of Aging Units: 3
PHIL 1 - Introduction to Philosophy Units: 3
PHIL 20 - Moral Questions Units: 3
ASAM 138 - Asian American Women Units: 3

Select One:

GERON 134 - Mental Health and Caregiving Units: 3
GERON 139 - Death and Dying Units: 3
PHIL 120 - Contemporary Conflicts of Morals Units: 3
PHIL 131 - Comparative Religion Units: 3
PHIL 150 - Foundations of Knowledge Units: 3
ASAM 140 - Hmong, Laotian, and Cambodian American Experiences Units: 3

Approved Upper-Division Electives (9 units)

(see list in department office)

Cultural Diversity Ethnic Studies including Africana Studies and American Indian Studies; Chicano and Latin American Studies, Asian American Studies, or Women’s Studies Units: 3
Six units from two of the following areas: Anthropology, Criminology, Psychology, or Sociology Units: 6

Select Three Units From the Following:

SWRK 124 - Social Welfare Policy Advocacy Units: 1
SWRK 125 - Social Services for the Aging Units: 3
SWRK 128 - Child Welfare Units: 3
SWRK 129 - Treatment of Chemical Dependency Units: 3
SWRK 137 - Principles in Cross-Cultural Competence Units: 3
SWRK 152 - Introduction to Mediation & Conflict Resolution for Human Service Professionals Units: 3

Other Degree Requirements

In addition to the major program requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate degree requirements such as:

American Government and Institutions (PLSI 2 )
General Education Requirements (48 units)
Multicultural and International (MI)
Upper-division Writing
Sufficient Elective Units to Meet Required Total Units (varies); it is recommended that units in this area be utilized to complete a second major or minor.

A full description of the University’s graduation requirements can be found in the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements .

Total Units: 120*

*General Education, MI, and Upper-division Writing courses can be double counted with major requirements. See advisor for details.

Advising Notes

Foundational social work major courses must be taken in the sequence specified below:
Junior year (semester 1): SWRK 123 , SWRK 135 , and SWRK 160
Junior year (semester 2): SWRK 136 , SWRK 161 , and SWRK 170
Senior year (semester 1): SWRK 171 , SWRK 180 , SWRK 181I
Senior year (semester 2): SWRK 182I , SWRK 183 , and SWRK elective
Approved course listings are available in the department office and on the Web. Consult your faculty advisor for assistance in selecting a pattern of courses to fit your particular interests and goals.
CR/NC grading is not permitted in the social work major with the exception of SWRK 181I and SWRK 182I .
General Education, additional requirements, and elective units may be used toward a double major or minor (see Double Major or departmental minor). Consult the appropriate department chair, program coordinator, or faculty advisor for further information.
Senior year internships are arranged by the field coordinator. Applications must be filed and interviews with the field coordinator and interviews for agency selection must be completed in the semester prior to entering the field.
Students who have prior knowledge of Spanish or Southeast Asian languages but lack fluency are encouraged to take additional coursework in the languages.
A booklet describing the program more fully is available in the department office and on the Web.