Program Overview

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University of West Florida Bachelor of Social Work Program

The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) program at the University of West Florida, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, prepares students for beginning professional social work practice. The program requires 120 semester hours, including 51 hours in social work courses and a field experience.

Program Requirements

In addition to the University's general requirements, students seeking the B.S.W. must meet the following requirements:

• Complete 51 semester hours in social work courses, including a field experience.
• Achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 overall and 2.5 in the major.
• Complete all social work courses with at least a "C" grade.
• Apply for the Field Instruction courses (SOW 4510 and SOW 4522) after declaring the Social Work major.

Program Courses

The following courses are required for the B.S.W. program:

• SOW 3103: Human Behavior in Social Environment
• SOW 3113: Human Behavior in Organizations and Communities
• SOW 3203: Introduction to the Field of Social Work
• SOW 3313: Work With Individuals
• SOW 3314: Case Management
• SOW 3322: Work With Groups
• SOW 3350: Interviewing and Recording
• SOW 4232: Introductory Analysis of Social Service Policy
• SOW 4233: Human Diversity and Social Justice
• SOW 4242: Families and Family Treatment
• SOW 4403: Social Work Research Foundations
• SOW 4510: Social Work Field Instruction
• SOW 4522: Senior Seminar
• SOW 4613: The Social Work Perspective in Behavioral Health

Minors

The University of West Florida offers several minors related to Social Work:

• Aging Studies Interdisciplinary Minor: Provides a broad orientation to the field of gerontology and service to the elderly.
• Child Welfare Minor: Introduces students to the social problems of children and families and the availability of services to families in need.
• Social Welfare Minor: Includes beginning courses in social work philosophy, ethics, and practice areas, as well as social work electives.
• Substance Abuse Minor: Fulfills some requirements for certification from the Certification Board for Addiction Professionals of Florida.

General Education

The General Education curriculum includes courses in:

• Communication: English Composition I and II, and an elective.
• Humanities: Two courses, one from the Humanities Core and one from either the Humanities Core or Breadth.
• Mathematics: Two courses, one from the Mathematics Core and one from either the Mathematics Core or Breadth.
• Natural Sciences: Two courses, one from the Natural Sciences Core and one from either the Natural Sciences Core or Breadth.
• Social Sciences: Two courses, one from the Social Sciences Core and one from either the Social Sciences Core or Breadth.

Civic Literacy Requirement

Students must demonstrate competency in civic literacy by passing an assessment or taking a designated course, such as AMH 2020 United States Since 1877 or POS 2041 American Politics.

Mathematics Pathway

Students are advised to complete courses that fulfill the mathematics pathway, which aligns with the mathematics skills needed for success in their program and career goals.

Common Prerequisites

State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program.

Lower Division Electives

Students must complete sufficient 1000/2000 level electives to satisfy at least 60 semester hours in the lower division.

Upper Division Electives

Students must complete sufficient 3000/4000 level electives to meet the University's requirement of 48 semester hours in the upper division.