Bachelor of Social Work

Undergraduate students who are admitted as degree-seeking students will be required to complete the campus-wide General Education program prior to graduation with a baccalaureate degree. 

The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree requires a minimum of 120 hours. This includes 42-45 hours of general/supportive liberal arts courses and 52 credit hours in social work courses. The remainder of credits are completed through selection of electives and meeting general education requirements. The School of Social Work requirements sometimes overlap with the GenEd requirements for the IUSB campus.

Degree Requirements (120 cr.)

All courses are 3 credit hours, unless otherwise specified.

General Education Curriculum

Visit the General Education website for a detailed description of the IU South Bend general-education curriculum, including lists of approved courses. All courses certified as meeting the campuswide general-education requirements are designated in the Schedule of Classes.

Campuswide Curriculum (33-37 cr.)

Fundamental Literacies (13-19 cr.)

• Writing | ENG-W 131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry I
• Critical Thinking | Select from approved course list
• Oral Communication | SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking
• Visual Literacy | select one of the following:

• CJUS-P 424 Crime Mapping and Geographic Information Systems
• Select from approved course list

• Quantitative Reasoning | Select one of the following:

• CJUS-K 300 Techniques of Data Analysis
• MATH-M 111 Mathematics in the World
• MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics

• Information Literacy | COAS-Q 110 Introduction to Information Literacy (1 cr.)
• Computer Literacy | Select from approved course list

Common Core Courses (12 cr.)

• Complete one course from each of the following four areas, as designated in the Schedule of Classes. At least one of the areas must be completed at the 300-level.

• The Natural World | Select from approved course list
• Human Behavior and Social Institutions | Select from approved course list
• Literary and Intellectual Traditions|  Select from approved course list
• Art, Aesthetics, and Creativity | Select from approved course list

Contemporary Social Values (8 cr.)

• Students must complete one course from each of the following three areas, as designated in the Schedule of Classes.

• Non-Western Cultures | Select from approved course list
• Diversity in United States Society | Select from approved course list (sociology or psychology recommended)
• Health and Wellness (2 cr.) | Select from approved course list

Electives (18 cr.)

Social and Historical Studies (9 cr.)

• HIST-H-106 American History II
• POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics
• SOC-S 161 Principles of Sociology

Supportive Area Requirements (9 cr.)

• PSY-P 103 General Psychology
• Any Biology course
• Any 300-level Psychology course

Required Courses (52 cr.)

• SWK-S 102 Understanding Diversity in a Pluralistic Society
• SWK-S 141 Introduction to Social Work
• SWK-S 221 Human Growth and Development in the Social Environment
• SWK-S 251 History and Analysis of Social Welfare Policy
• SWK-S 322 Small Group Theory and Practice
• SWK-S 331 Generalist Social Work Practice I: Theory and Skill
• SWK-S 332 Generalist Social Work Practice II: Theory and Skill
• SWK-S 352 Social Welfare Policy and Practice
• SWK-S 371 Social Work Research
• SWK-S 401 Integrative  Practicum Seminar I (awaiting final approval)
• SWK-S 402 Integrative Practicum Seminar II (awaiting final approval)
• SWK-S 423 Organizational Theory and Practice (awaiting final approval)
• SWK-S 433 Community Behavior and Practice within a Generalist Perspective (awaiting final approval)
• SWK-S 442 Practice-Policy Seminar in Fields of Practice (awaiting final approval)
• SWK-S 472 Practice Evaluation (awaiting final approval)
• SWK-S 481 Social Work Practicum I (awaiting final approval)
• SWK-S 482 Social Work Practicum II (awaiting final approval)