The BSW program prepares students for beginning generalist professional practice in social work at the baccalaureate level and has been granted full accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). All students are expected to abide by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers.

No academic credit toward practicum experience or coursework is given based on previous work or life experience. Students are required to successfully complete 450 hours of supervised practicum in agencies approved by the Department of Social Work. The Department of Social Work will make reasonable efforts to work with a student to secure an appropriate practicum placement, but it does not guarantee a placement. The social work program does not offer all of the required courses during the evening hours, so students should meet with their academic advisor to develop a plan to complete coursework for the degree. Practicum placements generally require availability during regular daytime hours.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

University-wide admissions policies can be found in the Undergraduate Admissions Policies section of this catalog.

Junior level BSW candidates must meet all criteria to matriculate into the senior year of BSW program. The application packet, in its entirety, must be submitted by the required due date each calendar year. Students meeting the established criteria for the BSW program begin the senior year coursework during the following Fall Semester. Information about the criteria, directions for completing all application components, the due date for the application packet, and notification dates can be found at the College of Public Health Admissions website.

Policies

For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.

Program Requirements

To earn a bachelor's degree in social work, students must earn a grade of C or above in all Social Work classes applied to the major and must achieve a GPA of 2.50 overall. Class attendance is required in all Social Work courses. Before beginning SOCW 495 Social Work Practicum and Seminar I, students must successfully complete all required 200-, 300-, and 400-level social work courses with a grade of C or above. Students may not take a social work course when earning a grade of less than C in any other social work courses that serve as a prerequisite. 

The Social Work faculty evaluates student performance periodically and may require students to withdraw from the program when, in their judgment, performance is not satisfactory. The decision is based on the quality of academic and field performance, and issues with professional standards and behavior. Students have the right to appeal.

A student with a criminal history may find it difficult to obtain a field placement or employment in a human service agency depending on the specific charge. It is possible that a student with a criminal background may not be able to be placed in a field practicum or complete their degree program. The Criminal Background Policy is available on the Social Work Department website.

Immunization and Fees

All students who are enrolled in a course that requires a practicum placement (SOCW 495 Social Work Practicum and Seminar I and SOCW 496 Social Work Practicum and Seminar II) must have an annual tuberculosis screening (PPD). In addition, students must complete the entire hepatitis B immunization series in accordance with current U.S. Public Health Service recommendations. The cost of immunizations is the responsibility of the student. Practicum placement agencies may require fingerprinting, a criminal background check (may be more extensive than the university requirement), and a child protective services check. Any cost related to these requirements is the responsibility of the student.

BSW Progression Standards

To matriculate into the senior year coursework of the BSW program, a student must have:

  1. completed at least 45 credits with an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher;
  2. completed or be registered in:
    ENGH 101Composition (Mason Core)3
    SOCI 101Introductory Sociology (Mason Core)3
    PSYC 100Introduction to Psychology (Mason Core)3
  3. completed and earned at least a C in; and:
    SOCW 200Introduction to Social Work (Mason Core)3
    SOCW 311Building Professional Social Work Skills3
    SOCW 312Knowledge Building for Helping Professionals3
    SOCW 357Methods of Social Work Intervention I3
    SOCW 358Methods of Social Work Intervention II3
    SOCW 361Methods of Social Work Intervention I: Laboratory3
    SOCW 362Methods of Social Work Intervention II: Laboratory3
    SOCW 375Human Behavior from an Anti-Oppressive Lens (Mason Core)3
    SOCW 380Changing Social Policies and Systems3
  4. Applications for progression into the senior year of the social work major and social work practicum submitted by the respective deadlines stated in the BSW Program and Practicum Education Handbooks.

The student's application for admission to the BSW program is reviewed for action by BSW social work faculty members. A personal interview may be required.

Students who have not met all criteria for admission to the major by the summer prior to starting the program's senior-level curriculum will not be considered for admission until the next academic year.

Writing Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in the 300 level or above. Students majoring in social work fulfill this requirement by successfully completing SOCW 471 Research in Social Work (Mason Core).

Banner Code: PH-BSW-SOCW

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 120

Mason Core

Foundation Requirements
Written Communication
ENGH 101Composition (Mason Core)3
or ENGH 100 Composition for Multilingual Writers (Mason Core)
or ENGH 123 Language-Enhanced Composition for Multilingual Writers (Mason Core)
Oral Communication
Any Mason Core Oral Communication course3
Quantitative Reasoning
Any Mason Core Quantitative Reasoning course3
Information Technology
Any Mason Core Information Technology course3-6
Exploratory Requirements
Literature
Any Mason Core Literature course3
Arts
Any Mason Core Arts course3
Natural Science
Any Mason Core non-lab Natural Science course3
Any Mason Core lab Natural Science course4
Global History
Any Global History course3
Global Contexts
Any Mason Core Global Contexts course3
Social and Behavioral Science 1
Any Mason Core Social and Behavioral Science course
Integration Requirements
ENGH 302Advanced Composition (Mason Core)3
Writing Intensive 2
Mason Apex 3
Total Credits34-37
1

Social and Behavioral Science requirement fulfilled by SOCW 200 Introduction to Social Work (Mason Core) in major requirements; this course is therefore not counted towards the total required for Mason Core.

2

This program includes the writing intensive course as a part of the major requirements; this course is therefore not counted towards the total required for Mason Core.

3

This program includes a Mason Apex course as a part of the major requirements; this course is therefore not counted towards the total required for the Mason Core.

Required Courses

GCH 300Introduction to Public Health3
PSYC 100Introduction to Psychology (Mason Core) 13
SOCI 101Introductory Sociology (Mason Core) 13
Statistics
Select one from the following:3-4
Statistics in Psychology
Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Mason Core)
Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)
Total Credits12-13
1

Students may count this course towards the appropriate Mason Core category. 

Social Work Major

SOCW 200Introduction to Social Work (Mason Core)3
SOCW 311Building Professional Social Work Skills3
SOCW 312Knowledge Building for Helping Professionals3
SOCW 357Methods of Social Work Intervention I3
SOCW 361Methods of Social Work Intervention I: Laboratory3
SOCW 358Methods of Social Work Intervention II3
SOCW 362Methods of Social Work Intervention II: Laboratory3
SOCW 375Human Behavior from an Anti-Oppressive Lens (Mason Core)3
SOCW 380Changing Social Policies and Systems3
SOCW 471Research in Social Work (Mason Core) (fulfills writing intensive requirement)3
SOCW 472RS: Integrative Methods in Social Action and Social Change (Mason Core)3
SOCW 495Social Work Practicum and Seminar I5
SOCW 496Social Work Practicum and Seminar II5
Total Credits43

Electives

Select 32-33 credits of electives 132-33
Total Credits32-33
1

Six credits must be in social work at the 400-, 500-, or 600-level, not including courses listed above; SOCW 499 Independent Study in Social Work may be used to satisfy an additional 1 to 3 credits toward general electives.

Notes

SOCW 357 Methods of Social Work Intervention I and SOCW 361 Methods of Social Work Intervention I: Laboratory (only offered in the fall semester) must be taken concurrently and are prerequisites to SOCW 358 Methods of Social Work Intervention II and SOCW 362 Methods of Social Work Intervention II: Laboratory. SOCW 358 Methods of Social Work Intervention II and SOCW 362 Methods of Social Work Intervention II: Laboratory must also be taken concurrently and both courses are only offered in the spring semester. Graduation may be delayed if courses are not taken in proper sequence.

Selected Social Work electives are offered each semester on a rotating basis.

Bachelor of Social Work in Social Work Sample Plan of Study 

Detailed four year plans can be found on https://publichealth.gmu.edu/students/academic-advising