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.