Program Overview

---

Bachelor of Social Work

About

Social work is a profession in which practitioners work directly with individuals, families, and groups, helping people cope, change, and solve problems in all facets of their daily lives. Social workers also work with community stakeholders, organizations, neighborhoods and communities, and in activities such as community organization and development, policy and legislative advocacy. They are employed in a wide variety of agencies, positions, and areas of service, such as mental health, aging services, domestic violence, child welfare, school social work, healthcare services, geriatric social work, and substance abuse treatment and prevention. In addition, social workers may advance to positions of management of social service agencies or establish their own private practice. The uniqueness of social work as a profession includes the emphasis on the person-in-environment, identification with the most marginalized and oppressed of society, and commitment to core values of social work—social and economic justice, respect for the worth of others, cultural diversity, and the principle of self-determination for individuals, families, and groups. At both the BSW and MSW level social workers may be licensed for social work practice within their state.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
  • Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context;
  • Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations;
  • Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication;
  • Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes; and
  • Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.
• Engage diversity and difference in practice.
  • Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels;
  • Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences; and
  • Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.
• Advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice.
  • Apply their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels; and
  • Engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice.
• Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
  • Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research;
  • Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings; and
  • Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery.
• Engage in policy practice.
  • Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services;
  • Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services;
  • Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
• Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies; and
  • Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.
• Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies;
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies;
  • Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies; and
  • Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies.
• Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies;
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies;
  • Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes;
  • Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies; and
  • Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals.
• Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes;
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes;
  • Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes; and
  • Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

Career Possibilities

Social work is a profession in which practitioners work directly with individuals, families, and groups helping people cope, change, and solve problems in all facets of their daily living. Social workers may also provide mental, behavioral, and emotional counseling and therapy. Social workers work with community stakeholders, organizations, neighborhoods and communities, and in activities such as community organization and development, policy and legislative advocacy. They are employed in a wide variety of agencies, positions, and areas of service, such as mental health, aging services, domestic violence, child welfare, school social work, healthcare services, geriatric social work, and substance abuse treatment and prevention. In addition, social workers often manage human services agencies or may establish their own private practice. The uniqueness of social work as a profession includes the emphasis on the person-in-environment, identification with the most marginalized and oppressed of society, and commitment to core values of social work—social and economic justice, respect for the worth of others, cultural diversity, and the principle of self-determination for individuals, families, and groups.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the year 2000 there will be more than half a million social workers in the United States. Preparation for social work can occur on the undergraduate and/or graduate level, with licensure eligibility at both levels. Bachelor-level (BSW) social workers often work as direct-service case managers in social service agencies. Master’s level (MSW) social workers are eligible for state licensure at an advanced clinical level, following a supervised clinical internship at 3000 hours in most states. Median pay for social workers is about $42,500 per year (2010), generally higher than other counseling and mental health therapists. The top 10% of social workers earn over $70,000 per year, while social work managers and similar administrative positions may exceed $100,000 per year. The job outlook for social workers shows about 650,500 positions nationally for social workers in 2010. The profession is also growing 25% faster than the national average, given the expected increase in health-related social work and other social services in the coming decades. Growth in areas of mental health and substance abuse is expected to grow by 31 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010).

Requirements

Social Work (BSW)

Social work is a profession in which practitioners work directly with individuals, families, and groups, helping people cope, change, and solve problems in all facets of their daily lives. Social workers also work with community stakeholders, organizations, neighborhoods and communities, and in activities such as community organization and development, policy and legislative advocacy. They are employed in a wide variety of agencies, positions, and areas of service, such as mental health, aging services, domestic violence, child welfare, school social work, healthcare services, geriatric social work, and substance abuse treatment and prevention. In addition, social workers may advance to positions of management of social service agencies or establish their own private practice. The uniqueness of social work as a profession includes the emphasis on the person-in-environment, identification with the most marginalized and oppressed of society, and commitment to core values of social work—social and economic justice, respect for the worth of others, cultural diversity, and the principle of self-determination for individuals, families, and groups. At both the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) level social workers may be licensed for social work practice within their state.

Please see the School of Social Work web page at for information about department programs, faculty and facilities. Degree worksheets and 4/5 year plans for the major are available at

CSWE Practice Competencies/Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
2. Engage diversity and difference in practice.
3. Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
5. Engage in policy practice.
6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Career Possibilities

Social work is a profession in which practitioners work directly with individuals, families, and groups helping people cope, change, and solve problems in all facets of their daily living. Social workers may also provide mental, behavioral, and emotional counseling and therapy. Social workers work with community stakeholders, organizations, neighborhoods and communities, and in activities such as community organization and development, policy and legislative advocacy. They are employed in a wide variety of agencies, positions, and areas of service, such as mental health, aging services, domestic violence, child welfare, school social work, healthcare services, geriatric social work, and substance abuse treatment and prevention. In addition, social workers often manage human services agencies or may establish their own private practice. The uniqueness of social work as a profession includes the emphasis on the person-in-environment, identification with the most marginalized and oppressed of society, and commitment to core values of social work—social and economic justice, respect for the worth of others, cultural diversity, and the principle of self-determination for individuals, families, and groups.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the year 2000 there will be more than half a million social workers in the United States. Preparation for social work can occur on the undergraduate and/or graduate level, with licensure eligibility at both levels. Bachelor-level (BSW) social workers often work as direct-service case managers in social service agencies. Master’s level (MSW) social workers are eligible for state licensure at an advanced clinical level, following a supervised clinical internship at 3000 hours in most states. Median pay for social workers is about $42,500 per year (2010), generally higher than other counseling and mental health therapists. The top 10% of social workers earn over $70,000 per year, while social work managers and similar administrative positions may exceed $100,000 per year. The job outlook for social workers shows about 650,500 positions nationally for social workers in 2010. The profession is also growing 25% faster than the national average, given the expected increase in health-related social work and other social services in the coming decades. Growth in areas of mental health and substance abuse is expected to grow by 31 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010).

Advising

Please see advising information at the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Student Advising Center.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

University Graduation Requirements

Please see Graduation Policies for complete information.

Social Work (BSW) Degree Requirements - Total: 120 Credits

Recommended Courses That Meet General Education Core Requirements

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs strongly recommends that students address their General Education Core curriculum requirements through our college. The following classes offered in our college meet graduation requirements.

• Seminars
  • First-Year Seminar
  • GSC 100 - First Year Experience Seminar
  • Second-Year Seminar
  • GSC 300 - Second-Year Seminar: Civic Engagement in Urban Communities required course for all majors in Greenspun College of Urban Affairs
• Constitution
  • URST 241 - Governance in the United States: An Urban Focus
• Humanities
  • COM 101 - Public Speaking
  • COM 211 - Introduction to Rhetorical Research
  • COM 216 - Survey of Communication Studies
• Social Sciences
  • CRJ 104 - Introduction to Administration of Justice
  • CRJ 270 - Introduction to Criminology
  • CRJ 435 - Jury Decision-Making
  • CRJ 469 - Psychology and the Legal System
  • CFT 150 - Personal Growth
  • CFT 350 - Human Sexuality
  • CFT 360 - Contemporary Marriage and Families
• Life and Physical Science
  • ENV 101 - Introduction to Environmental Science
• Multicultural
  • COM 412 - Intercultural Communication
  • CRJ 428 - Women and Crime
  • CRJ 429 - Gender and Crime
  • CFT 225 - Multicultural Issues and Families
• International
  • CRJ 407 - Law in Non-Western Societies
  • CRJ 411 - Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
  • URST 205 - Environment and Development
  • JOUR 475 - Global Media
  • SW 493 - Gandhian Welfare Philosophy and Nonviolent Culture

General Education Requirements - Subtotal: 46-56 Credits

• First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3
• English Composition - Credits: 6
  • ENG 101 - Composition I
  • ENG 102 - Composition II
• Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3
  • GSC 300 - Second-Year Seminar: Civic Engagement in Urban Communities
• Constitutions - Credits: 4-6
• Mathematics - Credits: 3
  • MATH 124 - College Algebra
• Distribution Requirement - Credits: 28-29
  • Please see Distribution Requirements for more information.
  • Humanities and Fine Arts: 9 credits
    • COM 101 and one additional Humanities course - 6 credits
    • One course in Fine Arts - 3 credits
  • Social Science: 9 credits
    • ANTH 101, PSY 101, SOC 101
  • Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking: 10-11 credits
    • BIOL 100 plus one additional Science course with or without lab - 7-8 credits
    • Analytical Thinking 3 credit course
• Multicultural and International
  • Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
  • International, one 3 credit course required

These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements. A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. For the list of approved multicultural and international courses, go to:

Major Requirements - BSW in Social Work Major Requirements - Subtotal Credits: 46

• SW 101 - Introduction to Social Work
• SW 315 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
• SW 401 - Social Welfare Policy
• SW 410 - Social Work Methods I
• SW 411 - Introduction to Professional Practice
• SW 416 - Social Work Research I
• SW 419 - Field Practicum I
• SW 420 - Social Work Practice I
• SW 425 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
• SW 426 - Social Work Research II
• SW 429 - Field Practicum II
• SW 421 - Social Work Practice II
• SW 495 - Capstone Seminar

Social Work Electives - Credits: 3

Additional Requirements - Credits: 9

Select one from the following:

ECON 180 preferred.

• ECON 102 - Principles of Microeconomics
• ECON 103 - Principles of Macroeconomics
• ECON 104 - Current Economic Issues
• ECON 190 - Global Economics
• Ethnic Studies/Cross Culture Electives - Total Credits: 6

General Electives - Credits: 6-16

Total Credits: 120

Notes

1. In keeping with the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) accreditation standards, academic credit for life experience and previous work experience is not given.
2. In satisfying the University General Education Core requirements, all social work majors must take:

• Social sciences:
  • SOC 101 - Principles of Sociology
  • PSY 101 - General Psychology
  • ANTH 101 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
• Mathematics:
  • MATH 124 - College Algebra
• Sciences:
  • BIOL 100 - General Biology for Non-Majors
• Humanities:
  • COM 101 - Public Speaking

3. SW 411 is a Milestone Experience course for Social Work BSW.
4. SW 495 is a Culminating Experience course for Social Work BSW.

Documents/Downloads

Bachelor of Social Work

• Plans of Study
  • 4 Year Plan185.06 KB
  • 4 Year Plan173.97 KB
  • 4 Year Plan173.09 KB
  • 4 Year Plan173.86 KB
• Syllabi
  • SW .8 KB
  • SW .76 KB
• Degree Worksheets
  • .62 KB
  • .71 KB
  • .02 KB
  • .9 KB
  • .58 KB
• Careers
  • NA
• Graduate Handbooks
  • NA
• Additional Downloads
  • NA
• Related Links
  • NA

Contacts

School of Social Work

The programs offered by the School of Social Work strive to instill values of social and economic justice, respect and worth of others, cultural diversity, and self-determination. We also foster a strengths-based environment that emphasizes openness, collaboration, and engagement striving towards individual and community resiliency.

Greenspun College of Urban Affairs

The Greenspun College of Urban Affairs is committed to creating contemporary solutions for resilient communities. Our academic programs focus on making effective public policy, creating support structures to meet behavioral and mental health challenges, ensuring cities are safe and prepared to meet emergency situations, effective and ethical journalism, and interpersonal and public communication strategies.