Social Work - Undergraduate Programs
Overview
Undergraduate social work education at The University of Texas at Arlington is based on a set of premises. Responsible citizenship and professional social work practice recognize and respond to the realities of a complex and diverse society that is in continual need of constructive social change predicated on social justice. To this end, social work students are expected to demonstrate the capacity to critically evaluate their cultural environment and, in so doing, demonstrate analytical skills and understanding both orally and in writing. Students are required to adhere to the Code of Ethics as currently published by the National Association of Social Workers, the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners Code of Conduct, and the UT Arlington School of Social Work Professional Standards (in the BSW Program Manual) in their professional practice and in their course work. The faculty of the School of Social Work enhances this process through its commitment to teaching excellence, scholarly activities, research, and community and professional service.
The Bachelor of Social Work degree program of the School of Social Work is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Its primary educational objective is to prepare students for generalist social work practice. The sequence of courses, designed to include academic social work and field experience requirements in a liberal arts context, enables the student, upon graduation, to work in a variety of social service agencies and settings. The program is offered at the UTA main campus, the UTA Fort Worth Campus and fully online.
Admission to the BSW Program
Admission to the BSW program requires:
| ENGL 1301 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| MATH 1301 | CONTEMPORARY MATHEMATICS (or higher) | 3 |
| PSYC 1315 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| SOCI 1311 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| HIST 1311 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1312 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | 3 |
| SOCW 2311 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK | 3 |
| SOCW 2313 | SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE I | 3 |
| SOCW 3307 | DIVERSE POPULATIONS | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- Overall GPA of 2.5 or better
- Completion of SOCW 2311 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK, SOCW 2313 SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE I, and SOCW 3307 DIVERSE POPULATIONS with a grade of C or better
- 3 hours of Language, Philosophy & Culture
- 3 hours of Creative Arts
- 6 hours of Life & Physical Science from the following choices: BIOL 1333, BIOL 1334, BIOL 1441, BIOL 1442, BIOL 2457, BIOL 2458, CHEM 1345, CHEM 1346, CHEM 1451, GEOL 1330
- SOCW 2325 or MATH 1308 (Statistics Requirement)
- Completion of the BSW Admission Application Form
The application is submitted online in consultation with a BSW Advisor. Applications are reviewed by an advisor and the program director. Students will be notified of the admission decision within two weeks of submitting their application. Once accepted, students will be required to submit a personal narrative, criminal background statement, and commitment to adhere to the Code of Ethics as currently published by the National Association of Social Workers, the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners Code of Conduct, and the UT Arlington School of Social Work Professional Standards (in the BSW Program Manual). Students will complete these through a link provided in the acceptance letter. In the acceptance letter, students will also be notified of details for a mandatory orientation.
Transfer of Credit
BSW student transcripts are evaluated by the UT Arlington Office of Admissions. Courses that meet the liberal arts requirements of the BSW degree are applied to the degree plan. Other courses are designated as electives. The student receives credit for Introduction to Social Work (regardless of institution) and social work courses from CSWE accredited social work programs. The exceptions are the practicum courses (which must be completed at UT Arlington):
| SOCW 4951 | SOCIAL WORK FIELD INSTRUCTION AND SEMINAR I | 9 |
| SOCW 4952 | SOCIAL WORK FIELD INSTRUCTION AND SEMINAR II | 9 |
No credit is given for life or work experience.
Continuation Through the BSW Program
Continuation through the BSW Program and eligibility for entry into Field requires:
- 2.5 average in all social work courses and no grade lower than a C
- 2.5 overall grade point average
Requirements for a Bachelor of Social Work Degree
| Courses Required for BSW Admission | ||
| General Core Requirements | 42 | |
| ENGL 1301 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I | 3 |
| ENGL 1302 | RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II | 3 |
| MATH 1301 | CONTEMPORARY MATHEMATICS (or higher) | 3 |
| HIST 1311 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | 3 |
| HIST 1312 | HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | 3 |
| POLS 2311 | GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | 3 |
| PSYC 1315 | INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| SOCI 1311 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY | 3 |
| SOCW 2325 or MATH 1308 (Statistics) | ||
3 hours Creative Arts | ||
3 hours Language, Philosophy and Culture | ||
| 6 hours of Science from the following list: BIOL 1333, BIOL 1334, BIOL 1441, BIOL 1442, BIOL 2457, BIOL 2458, CHEM 1345, CHEM 1346, CHEM 1451, GEOL 1330 | ||
| Professional Courses | ||
| SOCW 2311 | INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK | 3 |
| SOCW 2313 | SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE I | 3 |
| SOCW 3301 | THEORIES OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR | 3 |
| SOCW 3302 | LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR | 3 |
| SOCW 3303 | SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY AND SERVICES | 3 |
| SOCW 3304 | SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE II | 3 |
| SOCW 3308 | SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH METHODS | 3 |
| SOCW 3306 | SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE III: MACRO PRACTICE | 3 |
| SOCW 3307 | DIVERSE POPULATIONS | 3 |
| SOCW 4951 Field Instruction and Seminar I | ||
| SOCW 4952 Field Instruction and Seminar II | ||
| 9 hours of Social Work Electives | ||
| Electives sufficient to give the 120 hours required for the degree 1 | ||
| Recommendations: Diversity Certificate or Minor, African American Studies Minor, Mexican American Studies Minor, Disability Studies Minor, Women and Gender Studies Minor | ||
| 1 | No more than four hours of activity (EXSA/DNCA) can be used toward a degree for either hours or GPA. |
Field Work Requirements
The BSW Program requires two consecutive semesters of field experience in a single human-service agency. Once necessary pre-requisites are complete and students have a 2.5 or better GPA, students enroll in the field courses (SOCW 4951 Field Instruction and Seminar I, first semester; SOCW 4952 Field Instruction and Seminar II, second semester) and complete 240 clock hours per semester in their assigned agency. Field placements are arranged early in the preceding semester by applying through the field office. Students should consult with a BSW advisor to ensure completion of pre-requisites for field.
All social work students enrolling in Field Instruction courses will be required to purchase professional liability insurance; the field office will provide further instruction upon application for field.