Social Work | Bachelor of Social Work: Social Work
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is available on-campus and completely online. The BSW prepares you to start your career as a generalist in social work practice. The social work program requires both liberal arts and professional foundation courses. The social work core courses provide students with a specific body of professional knowledge, values, and skills to practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
BSW Assessment of Learning Outcomes 2022-2023
Program Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34 | |
| Program (Major) Core | 54 | |
| Directed Electives | 6 | |
| Open Electives 1 | 26 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Open electives are the credit hours required to reach a minimum of 120 total hours and 45 upper-level hours. The number listed assumes all courses are completed at FHSU as listed. This number may vary if students transfer courses, or have individual substitutions allowed. Students should speak with their advisor if either situation applies to determine if the number will vary, and to ensure they enroll in a minimum of 45 upper-level hours.
Students entering within 1 year of high school graduation will take UNIV 101 Freshman Seminar and may apply that hour in the open elective category.
Program Requirements
General Education
All undergraduate degrees require completion of the Kansas Systemwide General Education.
Courses identified with GE on this page may satisfy a general education requirement in addition to the identified degree requirement. Students who apply a degree requirement to satisfy a general education requirement will typically add an equal number of hours to the the university elective category. This flexibility may allow you to complete a minor or certificate within the 120 hour degree. Transfer students and students majoring in programs with approved exceptions are especially encouraged to select these courses in completing General Education requirements to maximize the likelihood of completing the degree with 120 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34-35 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work Core | ||
| SOCW 260 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| SOCW 310 | Social Welfare Policy and Services I | 3 |
| SOCW 320 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 |
| SOCW 322 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SOCW 360 | Social Work Research Methods | 3 |
| SOCW 365 | Advanced Social Work Methods | 3 |
| SOCW 380 | Generalist Practice: Foundations of Practice | 3 |
| SOCW 381 | Generalist Practice: The Helping Relationship | 3 |
| SOCW 410 | Social Welfare Policy and Services II | 3 |
| SOCW 420 | Human Behavior & the Social Environment III | 3 |
| SOCW 461 | Generalist Practice: Groups and Families | 3 |
| SOCW 462 | Generalist Practice: Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SOCW 463 | Generalist Practice: Practicum Preparation | 3 |
| SOCW 467 | Social Work Professional Seminar | 3 |
| SOCW 468 | Field Practicum | 12 |
| Social Work Elective | ||
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Sociology of Death and Dying | ||
| Grant Writing | ||
| Program Development and Evaluation | ||
| Workshop in Sociology | ||
| Internship in Sociology | ||
| Nonprofit Organizations | ||
| Introduction to Addictions | ||
| Individual Counseling in Addictions | ||
| Client Management Procedures | ||
| Pharmacology and High Risk Medical Issues | ||
| Addictions Counseling with Families | ||
| Ethics in Addictions Counseling | ||
| Psychopathology and Addictions | ||
| Group Counseling with Addiction Populations | ||
| Spirituality & Aging: The Empowering Relationship | ||
| Workshop in Social Work | ||
| Internship in Social Work | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Course Descriptions for social work courses
Students seeking to become licensed as Addiction counselors in Kansas may do so in this program by selecting specific courses for their electives. Talk to your advisor if interested.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All bachelor degrees require: | ||
| GPA of 2.0 on FHSU courses & 2.0 on all coursework (Higher program requirements prevail over the 2.0 when set) | ||
| A minimum of 30 hours earned from FHSU with a grade of D, C, B, or A | ||
| Successful completion of an upper division Writing and Information Literacy course (Most majors contain a course designated) | ||
| A minimum of 45 hours of recognized upper division credit | ||
| A minimum of 120 hours of recognized college credit | ||
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| SGE030 - Math Statistics Discipline Area | 3 | |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 2 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Personal and Professional Development | 3 | |
| SGE040 - Natural Physical Science Discipline Area | 4 | |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 2 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SGE060 - Arts Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| SOCW 322 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| SOCW 260 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SGE060 - Arts Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE050 - Social Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SOCW 322 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SOCW 310 | Social Welfare Policy and Services I | 3 |
| SOCW 360 | Social Work Research Methods | 3 |
| SOCW 380 | Generalist Practice: Foundations of Practice | 3 |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOCW 410 | Social Welfare Policy and Services II | 3 |
| SOCW 365 | Advanced Social Work Methods | 3 |
| SOCW 381 | Generalist Practice: The Helping Relationship | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Open Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SOCW 420 | Human Behavior & the Social Environment III | 3 |
| SOCW 462 | Generalist Practice: Organizations and Communities | 3 |
| SOCW 463 | Generalist Practice: Practicum Preparation | 3 |
| SOCW 461 | Generalist Practice: Groups and Families | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SOCW 467 | Social Work Professional Seminar | 3 |
| SOCW 468 | Field Practicum | 12 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Academic Degree Maps are term-by-term sample course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are examples and are not prescriptive. Individualized choices such as concentration options, transfer credits, optional minors, advisory programs (certificates), etc. can alter the recommended coursework. Course offerings are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course planning.
To determine courses to take in the directed choices (often listed as Program Elective Course) and directed elective course blocks see the overview tab for courses. To locate approved courses in General Education areas (Undergraduate Programs) see the general education section of the catalog.
The undergraduate course maps typically advise the most efficient route for students to complete the general education requirements. Courses that are required in the major may be listed as fulfilling relevant general education requirements. This will result in more open elective course hours in some maps than is listed on the degree overview page.
Applying to the Program
Individuals wanting to complete a social work degree will initially be considered pre-social work majors. To apply to FHSU and the Social Work program, complete an application, send your transcripts and then get assigned an academic advisor.
Pre-social work majors must have completed or concurrently enrolled in SOCW 260 Introduction to Social Work and SOCW 380 Generalist Practice: Foundations of Practice, before making formal application to the program.
Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in each social work course, a 2.50 or better grade point average (GPA) in the major, and an overall cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
The Council on Social Work Education accredits the Social Work Program at Fort Hays State University at the undergraduate level. In accord with the Council on Social Work Education's evaluative standards, the Social Work Program does not grant academic credit for life experience or previous work experience.