Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.)
If you want to make a difference in your community, our Bachelor of Social Work program is for you! The BSW at WCU in Philadelphia is a part-time, degree completion program that is designed to put theory into practice. We train students to work in a variety of settings through hands on experiences, and promote ethical thinking, life-long learning, and self-evaluation. Our students learn to view difference as a strength rather than to perpetuate negative stereotypes about diverse groups in society.
Program Highlights:
- Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Part-time, degree completion program
- Two field placements
- Small classes
- Experience working with diverse individuals, groups, and communities
- Faculty experts who are also practitioners
- Engaged adult learning community
- Faculty mentors
The Fine Print:
Students are encouraged to complete all general education courses prior to attending
the BSW program in Philadelphia.
Application Requirements
- Completed application
- Personal Statement
- Select Fee Waiver as payment method
- Official transcripts from each college or university attended to Undergraduate Admissions with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 and a minimum of 30 previously completed credits
*The BSW program admits for the fall semester only.
Required Courses
Below are all the social work courses required for the BSW degree. Please note that some of the courses may have transferred from your prior college but still should show up on your degree progress.
- SWO 200 - Intro to Social Welfare
- SWO 220 – Introduction to Generalist Practice
- SWO 225 - Race Relations
- SWO 300 – Family Systems
- SWO 332 – Social Welfare Policies & Services
- SWO 320 – Generalist Practice I
- SWO 350 – Human Behavior. In the Social Environ. I
- SWO 351 – Human Behavior. In the Social Environ. II
- SWO 321 - Generalist Social Work Practice II
- SWO 431 – Methods of Social Inquiry
- SWO 375 – Field Experience I
- SWO 395 – Junior Seminar
- SWO 432 – Advanced Policy Practice
- SWO 495 - Senior Seminar I
- SWO 496 - Senior Seminar II
- SWO 450 -Field Experience II
- SWO 451 - Field Experience III
Transfer and General Education Credits
- Psychology (3 credits)
- Art (3 credits)
- Biology (3 credits)
- Additional science (3 credits)
- Sociology (3 credits)
- Writing 120 (3 credits)
- Writing 200-level (3 credits)
- History (3 credits)
- Foreign language (6 credits) – 2 Classes
- Political science (3 credits)
- Public speaking (3 credits)
- Philosophy (3 credits)
- Math (3 credits)
- Free electives (18 credits) – Usually classes transferred from your prior college/university
Course Sequence
Transfer Admissions
For updated listings of CCP, DCCC, MCCC and Harcum to WCU equivalencies, please visit the Transfer Credit Center page on the Registrar website.
If you have earned an A.A.S, A.A., A.S., or A.F.A from a Pennsylvania Community College, the Academic Passport waives the first 45 credits of general education requirements, so you can complete your degree faster at WCU.
CCP Students Seeking Transfer/Dual Enrollment
WCU Undergraduate Social Work Program
Social Work Course Sequence
NOTE: The Department advises all students to commit to this sequence and register courses accordingly. Academic credit for life experience or previous work experience is prohibited. If a Social Work student has difficulty enrolling in a Social Work Course, it is recommended that you contact your advisor immediately.
YEAR ONE: (Pre-Candidacy) Fall Semester
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 200 | Introduction to Social Welfare | 3 |
| SWO 225 | Race Relations (I OR J) | 3 |
| WRT 120* | English Composition Effective Writing I | 3 |
| SOC* | Select any Sociology course (SOC 200 or 240 recommended) | 3 |
| FLG** | Foreign Language | 3 |
YEAR ONE: (Pre-Candidacy) Spring Semester
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 220 | Introduction to Generalist Practice | 3 |
| SWO 300 | Family Systems (W) | 3 |
| WRT* | 200, 204, 205, 206, 208 or 220 | 3 |
| PSY* | Select any Psychology course (PSY 100 recommended) | 3 |
| FLG** | Foreign Language | 3 |
YEAR TWO: (Pre-Candidacy) Fall Semester
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 332 | Social Welfare Policies & Services | 3 |
| SWO 350 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I | 3 |
| PSC* | Select any Political Science course (PSC 100 recommended) | 3 |
| BIO* | Select any BIO (BIO 102 will not count towards this requirement) | 3 |
| HIS* | Select any History course (HIS 150 recommended) | 3 |
YEAR TWO: (Pre-Candidacy) Spring Semester
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 320 | Generalist SW Practice I | 3 |
| SWO 351 | Human Behavior & the Social Environment II (W) (J) | 3 |
| SPK 208 or 230 | Communications (transfer of SPK 101 or 216 accepted if taken prior to Fall 2006) | 3 |
| LIT* | Select any Literature course (LIT 165 recommended) | 3 |
| Select any Science class from | CHE 100 or 103 or 104 or 107 CSC 110 or 115 or 141 ESS 101 or 111 or 170 PHY 100 or 105 or 130 or 140 or 170 or 180 |
3 |
YEAR THREE: (CANDIDACY Application Due Sept 15 Professional Social Work Coursework) Fall Semester
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 321 | Generalist SW Practice II | 3 |
| SWO 431 | Methods of Social Inquiry | 3 |
| MAT* | Select any Math course (MAT 104 or 121 recommended) | 3 |
| PHI** | Select any Philosophy course (PHI 180 Recommended) | 3 |
| Advised Elective | --- | 3 |
YEAR THREE: (Professional Social Work Coursework) Spring Semester
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 375 | Field Experience I | 6 |
| SWO 395 | Junior Seminar | 3 |
| SWO 432 | Advanced Policy Practice | 3 |
| Advised Elective | --- | 3 |
YEAR FOUR: (Professional Social Work Coursework) Fall Semester
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 450 | Field Experience II | 6 |
| SWO 495 | Senior Seminar I | 3 |
| ARTS* | Select from Art, Cinematography, Dance, Music, Photography, or Theatre | 3 |
| Advised Elective | --- | 3 |
YEAR ONE: (Pre-Candidacy) Fall Semester
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 451 | Field Experience III | 6 |
| SWO 496 | Senior Seminar II | 3 |
| Advised Elective | --- | 3 |
| Advised Elective | --- | 3 |
Social Work Electives: Special fields for social work: Human Service Professionals and the Law, Child Welfare Practice and Policy, and Mental Health and Social Work Practice, Topical Social Work Seminar.
*General Education Requirements
**Required Liberal Arts
***May take social work courses concurrently while applying for candidacy.
Note: Field Experience I, II, III have been submitted for approval of name change to CAPC.
General Course Equivalencies
Courses to be Taken at CCP = 60 credits
| CCP Course Offering | WCU Equivalency | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Any Sociology (Intro recommended) | Sociology (SOC) | 3 |
| ENGL 101 - English Composition I | Writing 120 | 3 |
| ENGL 102 - English Composition II | Writing 200-level | 3 |
| See ENGL or Literature Courses | Literature | 3 |
| Any History (American History recommended) | History | 3 |
| Any Political Science (American Government recommended) | Political Science | 3 |
| ENGL 115 - Public Speaking | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Any Philosophy (Ethics recommended) | Philosophy | 3 |
| College Level Math (Statistics recommended) | Math | 3 |
| Any Biology (except BIO 102/environmental bio) | Biology 100 or 199 | 3 |
| Any lab science (Chemistry, Physics, some CSCI, etc.) | Additional Science (NOT Bio) | 3 |
| Theatre, Painting, Drawing, Music, etc. | Art | 3 |
| Any Language* (Spanish recommended) | Foreign Language #1 (e.g. SPA 101) | 3 |
| Second language must build upon first | Foreign Language #2 (e.g. SPA 102) | 3 |
| Courses taken that do not count towards BSW degree | Free electives | 15 |
Courses that can be taken at CCP or WCU-PMUC = 15 credits
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 233 | Sociology of Ethnic and Minority Group Relations | 3 |
| BHHS 101 | Introduction to Behavioral Health and Hum Svcs | 3 |
| BHHS 212 | Resolution-Focused Helping Skills | 3 |
| BHHS 293 | Family and Relationship Counseling | 3 |
| BHHS 103 | Human Dev and Behavior in the Social Env | 3 |
| SWO 225 | Race Relations | 3 |
| SWO 200 | Intro Social Welfare | 3 |
| SWO 220 | Intro to Generalist Practice | 3 |
| SWO 300 | Family Systems | 3 |
| SWO 350 | HBSE I | 3 |
BSW Program Courses to be Taken at WCU-PMUC = 45 credits
| Course # | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SWO 320 | Generalist Practice I (Individuals and Families) | 3 |
| SWO 321 | Generalist Practice II (Groups, Organizations and Communities) | 3 |
| SWO 322 | Social Welfare Policies and Services | 3 |
| SWO 351 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) II | 3 |
| SWO 375 | Field Experience I | 6 |
| SWO 395 | Junior Seminar | 3 |
| SWO 431 | Research Methods | 3 |
| SWO 432 | Advanced Policy Practice | 3 |
| SWO 450 | Field Experience II | 6 |
| SWO 451 | Field Experience III | 6 |
| SWO 495 | Senior Seminar I | 3 |
| SWO 496 | Senior Seminar II | 3 |
Requirements
University General Education Requirements
- WRT 120 (can place out of this) and one from WRT 200 series
- 3 credits of a Math course above 100 levels (Math 104 or 121 rec)
- SPK 208 or 230
- 3 credits of diverse communities (For SW – SWO 351)
- 3 credits of interdisciplinary course (For SW – SWO 225)
- 9 credits of approved writing emphasis courses
- Students must achieve a minimum of 120 credits to graduate
University Distributive Requirements
- 6 credits of Science (For SW – BIO / one Science)
- 6 credits of Behavior Science (For SW – 9 credits PSY, SOC, PSC)
- 6 credits of Humanities (For SW – 9 cr -LIT, HIS, PHI)
- 3 credits of ART
- SW Students need 2.5 GPA overall for BSW
Please see the Undergraduate Catalog Degree Requirements for a complete listing of acceptable Gen Ed and Lib Art courses