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Eberly College of Arts & Sciences School of Social Work
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The BSW Curriculum

BSW Student Handbook

The Liberal Arts Foundation

The University’s requirements, approved by the Board of Trustees and accreditation standards advanced by the Council on Social Work Education (EPAS 2022) define the curriculum in social work. Both sets of policies require a strong foundation in the liberal arts and competence in a major field of study (social work). As defined by WVU, the General Education Foundation objectives must be met. The liberal arts foundation must be completed by the time of admission to the professional level of the major (i.e., to enroll in the upper division social work courses). The WVU Undergraduate Online Catalog and Schedule of Courses provide more detailed information on the GEF requirements.

BSW Pre-Professional Sequence (lower division courses)

  • SOWK 147: Human Diversity
  • SOWK 151: Introduction to Social Work
  • SOWK 191: Orientation

BSW Professional Program (upper division courses)

Students must apply to the BSW Program for admission into the professional program of course work. The professional program includes the following courses:

  • SOWK 300: Social Welfare Policy 1
  • SOWK 310: Social Welfare Policy 2
  • SOWK 320: Methods 1, Generalist Practice with Individuals
  • SOWK 322: Methods 2, Generalist Practice with Families and Groups
  • SOWK 324: Methods 3, Generalist Practice with Organizations & Communities
  • SOWK 330: Human Behavior in the Social Environment
  • SOWK 345: Interprofessional Social Justice Practice
  • SOWK 360: Research Methods & Statistics
  • SOWK 370: Wellness and Resilience (Elective)
  • SOWK 380: Child Welfare (Elective)
  • SOWK 481: Senior Capstone
  • SOWK 491: Field Practicum

Social Work Competencies (EPAS 2022)

  • Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  • Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  • Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
  • Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-informed Practice
  • Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
  • Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
  • Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
  • Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities

According to CSWE accreditation standards (2022), the professional foundation in social work includes content on social work values and ethics, human rights, social justice, racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, anti-racism, diversity, equity, inclusion, human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social work practice, social work research, and the professional field practicum experience. 

Completion of the professional foundation coursework prepares you as a generalist practitioner. A generalist practitioner has a broad-based education that enables work with systems of all sizes, including individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations. A generalist does not specialize in practice with any single population, system, or field of practice; neither is there specialization in the use of any single practice method or technique.