Bachelor in Social Work

BSW Program
(757) 823-8122

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program comprises two phases: Pre-Social Work Education and Professional Social Work Education. The professional social work phase begins in the junior year and combines academic course work and field practicum. The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree is conferred on undergraduates who complete all of the academic requirements of the program and of Norfolk State University. This degree is recognized as the generalist level of social work practice. Specific criteria are, therefore, established for admission to and continued enrollment in the professional program.

BSW Program Mission

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program prepares students who are capable of delivering social work services at the foundational level using a generalist practice approach that reflects multi-level systems. The program empowers students to address social injustices, with an emphasis on cultural diversity, critical thinking, and human rights.

Goals

The goals of the BSW Program are

1. To prepare the student for employment as a generalist professional social work practitioner utilizing a generalist approach
2. To prepare the student to work with diverse populations with a particular commitment to the affirmation of the unique diversity of ethnically and culturally diverse populations
3. To prepare students to deliver direct services that strengthen and empower individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
4. To prepare students to master the core competencies as explicated in the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards 2022, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), at the beginning professional level.

Summary of Graduation Requirements

Summary of Graduation Requirements

Subject Area	Credits
General Education Core	40
Major Requirements	51
Other Requirements	29
Total Credit Hours	120

Curriculum

Pre-Social Work Requirements

Plan of Study Grid

First Year		Credits
SEM 101 & SEM 102	Spartan Seminar 101 and Spartan Seminar 102	2
BIO 105 & 105L	Human Biology and Human Biology Lab	4
CSC 150	Computer Literacy 1	3
ENG 101	College English I 1	3
ENG 102	College English II 1	3
HED 100	Personal and Community Health	2
MTH 103	Mathematics in General Education	3
PED 100	Fundamentals of Fitness for Life	1
SWK 199	Professional Dev Leadership & Ethics	2
Select one of the following:		3
HIS 100	History of World Societies I
HIS 101	History of World Societies II
HIS 102	United States History to 1865
HIS 103	United States History Since 1865
PSY 210	Introduction to Psychology 1	3
SOC 101	Introduction to the Social Sciences	3
	Credits	32
Second Year
SEM 201	Spartan Seminar 201	1
ECN 200	Basic Principles of Economics	3
HUM 210	Humanities 3	3
POS 231 or POS 100	American State and Local Government 1 or Civic Engagement	3
PSY 280	Abnormal Psychology 1	3
ENG 285	Public Speaking	3
SWK 200	Introduction to Social Work	3
SWK 207	Social Welfare Policy I	3
SWK 220	Human Behavior & Social Environment I	3
SCI 101	Physical Science for Non-Science Majors	3
XXX XXX	Optional Elective	3
	Credits	31
	Total Credits	63

¹

Minimum Grade of C required in all Social Work courses and those with ¹ beside them.

²

Logic, Philosophy, Problem Solving Cluster (i.e. SOC 230 Social Problems)

³

FIA 201 Basic Art Appreciation or MUS 301 Music Appreciation, ENG 207 Introduction to World Literature

Professional Social Work Requirements

Plan of Study Grid

Third Year		Credits
SOC 331 or PSY 250	Social Psychology or Social Psychology	3
SOC 355	Social Statistics 1	3
SWK 300	Social Welfare Policy II	3
SWK 309	Human Behavior & Social Environment II	3
SWK 312	Introduction to Generalist Practice	3
SWK 313	Gen Practice Individuals/Families	3
SWK 319	Human Behavior & Social Environment III	3
SWK 320	Human Diversity & Social Justice in SW	3
SWK 333	Methods of Social Work Research	3
Select one of the following Cultural Perspectives (Social Sciences):		3
HIS 335	African American History
HIS 336	African American History Since 1865
HIS 370	Early African History/Cultures to 1600
HIS 371	African History/Cultures 1600-PRESENT
JRN 299	Multiculturalism and Mass Media
PSY 340	Psychology of the African American
SOC 237	Racial & Ethnic Minorities
POS 315	African American Politics
	Credits	30
Fourth Year
SWK 318	Gen Prac Group Organization & Community	3
SWK 416	Generalist Practice: Evaluation	3
SWK 490	Practicum Seminar I	1
SWK 491	Practicum Seminar II	1
SWK 495	Practicum in Social Work I	5
SWK 496	Practicum in Social Work II	5
SWK 498A	Bsw Field Practicum Orientation I	0
SWK 498B	Bsw Field Practicum Orientation II	0
Select one of the following Social Work Electives (Restricted-Advanced Policy):		3
SWK 411	Contemporary Social Policy Issues
SWK 497	Macro/Micro Persp Inter Social Welfare
XXX XXX	Social Work Elective	3
Select one of the following Cultural Perspectives (Humanities):		3
ENG 383	African American Literature
FIA 370	African/African-American Art
MUS 234	African American Music
	Credits	27
	Total Credits	57

¹

Minimum Grade of C required in all Social Work courses and those with ¹ beside them.

*****Restrictive Elective (Natural Sciences) - SCI 101 Physical Science for Non-Science Majors, Astronomy, Geology, Oceanography, Meteorology