Social Work, BSW

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:

   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
   GOVT 103	Introduction to American Government (Mason Core)	3

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

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

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

¹

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

Social Work Major

Electives

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

Social Work, BSW/Social Work, Accelerated MSW

Overview

Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the Bachelor's Accelerated Master's Program (BAM) and obtain a Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) and Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree with George Mason University in an accelerated time-frame. Admitted students may obtain both a Baccalaureate Social Work (BSW) and Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degrees with George Mason University after a satisfactory completion of a minimum of 168 credits. Social work majors who meet the requisite criteria for progressing into graduate-level social work education are eligible to participate in part- or full-time MSW Program options (on-campus or online). Students participating in BAM are not eligible to progress into any of the MSW Program’s Advanced Standing Options.     

Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies. See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree for policies related to this program.

BAM Pathway Admission Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies. For information specific to this accelerated master's program, click on the following link: Admissions - Department of Social Work

Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits, and additional unit-specific criteria (see information below).

• Students must have an overall/institutional undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2. 
• Students must submit two letters of recommendation, one of which needs to be from an individual who can attest to academic accomplishments (e.g., professor), and the second from an individual that can attest to high standards of professionalism (e.g., employment supervisor). The professionals best suited to provide recommendations for the Social Work, BSW/Social Work, Accelerated MSW pathway on the applicant's behalf (recommenders) are faculty members or university administrators who can attest to academic capabilities, academic potential for graduate study, and professionalism within the classroom; and practicum instructors or employment or service supervisors who can attest to professionalism outside of the classroom setting.
• Students must also submit a goals statement of no more than 2 pages that clearly and directly addresses the following:

1. Why are you applying to the Social Work, BSW/Social Work, Accelerated MSW program?
2. How will earning an MSW help you achieve your professional goals?
3. What have you learned from successes and/or challenges in your past educational and professional experiences? Please use specific examples as applicable.

Students who are accepted into the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits and course-specific pre-requisites.

Accelerated Master’s Admissions Requirements

Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to an MSW Program option if they have met the following criteria set by the Department of Social Work, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:

• Successfully completed the BSW degree requirements.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

To maintain the integrity and quality of both the BSW and MSW Programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses for advanced standing may complete the following:

¹

GCH 500 Foundations of Public Health can substitute for GCH 300 Introduction to Public Health.

²

SOCW 600 Foundations of Social Work and Social Welfare and SOCW 656 Poverty, Oppression, and Inequity will count toward required BSW social work elective courses.

³

SOCW 659 Organizing and Advocating for Change can substitute for SOCW 380 Changing Social Policies and Systems.

Reserve credit courses

While still undergraduates, students in the accelerated master’s program may take up to 6 additional MSW graduate credits. These “reserve credits” do not apply to the student’s undergraduate degree but may later be applied to their master’s degree, using the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition Form. Courses should be selected in consultation with the MSW Program Director.

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies.