Program Overview

Introduction to Social Work Programs

The School of Social Work at San Francisco State University offers two fully accredited programs by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE): the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) and the Master of Social Work (MSW). The purpose of these programs is to educate social workers who can deliver culturally competent and multiculturally relevant services to diverse populations.

Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW)

The BASW program provides students with a solid grounding in generalist social work practice through the mastery of nine core competencies developed by the Council on Social Work Education's Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS, 2015). Upon completion of the degree, students are prepared for a broad range of early career professional social work positions.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

The MSW program prepares graduates for advanced practice through the mastery of core competencies supplemented by knowledge and behaviors specific to advanced social work practice and advanced social work competencies. Only a full-time program is offered, requiring four academic semesters or two years of full-time study to complete.

Program Learning Outcomes and Core Competencies

The program learning outcomes are designed to teach students to demonstrate the integration and application of social work competencies in practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The nine core competencies for the BASW and MSW programs are:

• 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 with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
• Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
• Evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities

Career Outlook

Students who complete the baccalaureate social work major are prepared for graduate study in accredited schools of social work and social welfare, professional or graduate training in related fields, and for early-level professional positions in both public and private social welfare and social service agencies. Graduates of the Master of Social Work program are prepared for advanced level professional positions in both public and private social service agencies and community organizations.

Course Descriptions

The social work programs offer a variety of courses, including:

• S W 300: U.S. Social Welfare: Past, Present, and Future
• S W 301GW: U.S. Social Welfare II: Problems, Policies, and Programs - GWAR
• S W 302: Introduction to Social Service Organizations
• S W 350: Services to Children, Youth, and Their Families
• S W 352: Gender, Sexism, and Social Welfare
• S W 400: Social Work Practice I
• S W 401: Social Work Practice II
• S W 402: Interviewing Skills in Social Work
• S W 410: Human Development and the Social Services
• S W 450: Introduction to Research in Social Work
• S W 456: Urban Community Organizing and Citizen Action
• S W 470: Social Differences and Social Work Practice
• S W 502: Seminar on Internship Experience I
• S W 503: Internship Experience in the Social Services I
• S W 504: Seminar on Internship Experience II
• S W 505: Internship Experience in the Social Services II
• S W 699: Independent Study
• S W 700: History and Philosophy of Social Welfare
• S W 701: Social Policy Analysis
• S W 710: Human Behavior and the Social Environment
• S W 720: Research Methods in Social Work
• S W 721: Seminar: Evaluative Research in Social Work
• S W 730: Social Work Practice Methods
• S W 740: Practicum Instruction
• S W 741: Graduate Practicum Seminar
• S W 760: Social Work and the Law
• S W 770: Anti-Racism, Intersectionality, and Social Justice in Social Work
• S W 780: Global Poverty
• S W 810: Mental Health Diagnoses in Social Work Practice
• S W 820: Seminar: Advanced Research Methodology in Social Work
• S W 830: Seminar: Social Casework
• S W 831: Seminar: Advanced Social Casework
• S W 832: Seminar: Social Group Work
• S W 840: Wellness, Recovery and Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Social Work and Mental Health
• S W 843: Child Welfare Practice with Children and Families
• S W 855: Social Work Education, Professionalism, and Practice
• S W 865: Social Work Practice in School Settings
• S W 895: Research Projects in Social Work
• S W 898: Master's Thesis
• S W 899: Independent Study

Faculty

The School of Social Work has a diverse faculty with expertise in various areas of social work, including:

• Professor Rashmi Gupta
• Professor Susanna Jones
• Professor Yeon-Shim Lee
• Associate Professor Jocelyn Hermoso
• Assistant Professor Ronna Bańada
• Assistant Professor Erica Bosque
• Lecturers Beverly Green, Marsha Anne Luster, Sonia Melara, Sandy Vaughn, and Ricka White-Soso