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:
- completed at least 45 credits with an overall GPA of 2.50 or higher;
- completed or be registered in:
Course List Code Title Credits ENGH 101 Composition (Mason Core) 3 SOCI 101 Introductory Sociology (Mason Core) 3 PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychology (Mason Core) 3 - completed and earned at least a C in; and:
Course List Code Title Credits SOCW 200 Introduction to Social Work (Mason Core) 3 SOCW 311 Building Professional Social Work Skills 3 SOCW 312 Knowledge Building for Helping Professionals 3 SOCW 357 Methods of Social Work Intervention I 3 SOCW 358 Methods of Social Work Intervention II 3 SOCW 361 Methods of Social Work Intervention I: Laboratory 3 SOCW 362 Methods of Social Work Intervention II: Laboratory 3 SOCW 375 Human Behavior from an Anti-Oppressive Lens (Mason Core) 3 SOCW 380 Changing Social Policies and Systems 3 - 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).
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 120
Mason Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Requirements | ||
| Written Communication | ||
| ENGH 101 | Composition (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 course | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| Any Mason Core Quantitative Reasoning course | 3 | |
| Information Technology | ||
| Any Mason Core Information Technology course | 3-6 | |
| Exploratory Requirements | ||
| Literature | ||
| Any Mason Core Literature course | 3 | |
| Arts | ||
| Any Mason Core Arts course | 3 | |
| Natural Science | ||
| Any Mason Core non-lab Natural Science course | 3 | |
| Any Mason Core lab Natural Science course | 4 | |
| Global History | ||
| Any Global History course | 3 | |
| Global Contexts | ||
| Any Mason Core Global Contexts course | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Science 1 | ||
| Any Mason Core Social and Behavioral Science course | ||
| Integration Requirements | ||
| ENGH 302 | Advanced Composition (Mason Core) | 3 |
| Writing Intensive 2 | ||
| Mason Apex 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 34-37 | |
- 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
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GCH 300 | Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| PSYC 100 | Introduction to Psychology (Mason Core) 1 | 3 |
| SOCI 101 | Introductory Sociology (Mason Core) 1 | 3 |
| Statistics | ||
| Select one from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Statistics in Psychology | ||
| Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Mason Core) | ||
| Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | ||
| Total Credits | 12-13 | |
- 1
Students may count this course towards the appropriate Mason Core category.
Social Work Major
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOCW 200 | Introduction to Social Work (Mason Core) | 3 |
| SOCW 311 | Building Professional Social Work Skills | 3 |
| SOCW 312 | Knowledge Building for Helping Professionals | 3 |
| SOCW 357 | Methods of Social Work Intervention I | 3 |
| SOCW 361 | Methods of Social Work Intervention I: Laboratory | 3 |
| SOCW 358 | Methods of Social Work Intervention II | 3 |
| SOCW 362 | Methods of Social Work Intervention II: Laboratory | 3 |
| SOCW 375 | Human Behavior from an Anti-Oppressive Lens (Mason Core) | 3 |
| SOCW 380 | Changing Social Policies and Systems | 3 |
| SOCW 471 | Research in Social Work (Mason Core) (fulfills writing intensive requirement) | 3 |
| SOCW 472 | RS: Integrative Methods in Social Action and Social Change (Mason Core) | 3 |
| SOCW 495 | Social Work Practicum and Seminar I | 5 |
| SOCW 496 | Social Work Practicum and Seminar II | 5 |
| Total Credits | 43 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 32-33 credits of electives 1 | 32-33 | |
| Total Credits | 32-33 | |
- 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