Social Work, Comprehensive Major
Social Work, Comprehensive Major (B.S.W.)
The following is a sample degree plan, based on the current catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.
To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core. LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work. Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements. Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.
Code | Title | Credits |
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FIRST YEAR | ||
FIRST SEMESTER | ||
SW 100 | Introduction to Social Welfare (Required prior to admission - LE-I1 & LE-R2) a | 3 |
SECOND SEMESTER | ||
SW 220 | Interpersonal Skills (Required prior to admission) | 3 |
SOME TIME IN THE FIRST YEAR | ||
One WRIT course from below is required prior to admission | 2-5 | |
Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (5 credits, LE-S1) | ||
or | ||
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (5 credits, LE-S1) | ||
or | ||
Accelerated Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (2 credits, LE-S1) | ||
TOTAL FIRST YEAR | 30 | |
SECOND YEAR | ||
FIRST SEMESTER - Apply for Admission to Major | ||
SECOND SEMESTER | ||
SW 290 | Human Rights and Global Justice | 3 |
SOME TIME IN THE FIRST OR SECOND YEAR | ||
PSYC 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
LE Core Elective: Skills 2 (LE-S2) Mathematics - MATH 246 suggested | 4 | |
SOC - Any Sociology course | 3 | |
ECON - Any Economics course | 3 | |
POLS - Any Political Science course | 3 | |
LE Core Elective: Skills 1 (LE-S1) Written and Oral Communication - Foreign Language or Communications - 101 level or higher b | 3-4 | |
LE Core Elective: Responsibility 1 (LE-R1, DDIV) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity with Design for Diversity | 3 | |
LE Core Elective: Knowledge 4 (LE-K4) Fine Arts | 3 | |
LE Core Elective: Responsibility 1 (LE-R1) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity | 3 | |
LE Core Elective: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities | 3 | |
LE Core Elective: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities | 3 | |
LE Core Elective: Knowledge 1 (LE-K1L) Natural Sciences with Lab | 4 | |
LE Core Elective: Knowledge 1 (LE-K1) Natural Sciences | 3 | |
TOTAL SECOND YEAR | 30 | |
THIRD YEAR | ||
FIRST SEMESTER | ||
SW 335 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment | 3 |
SECOND SEMESTER | ||
SW 320 | Generalist Social Work Practice with Individuals | 3 |
SW 323 | Methods of Social Work Research (LE-S3) | 3 |
SW 383 | Social Welfare Policies and Programs | 3 |
SOME TIME IN THE THIRD YEAR | ||
SW Elective - Any Social Work elective c | 3 | |
LE Option: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities - additional required LE-K3 course for major) | 3 | |
TOTAL THIRD YEAR | 30 | |
FOURTH YEAR | ||
FIRST SEMESTER | ||
SW 471 | Generalist Social Work Practice with Families/Groups | 3 |
SW 405 | Culturally Competent SW Practice | 3 |
SW 472 | Generalist Social Work Practice with Communities/Organizations | 3 |
Electives | 6 | |
SECOND SEMESTER | ||
Internship: | 12 | |
Social Work Internship (LE-I1) | ||
or | ||
Social Work Internship - International (LE-I1) | ||
TOTAL FOURTH YEAR | 27 |
Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 120 credits
- a
Denotes admission to the major course sequence. Each course must be completed with a grade of C or above.
- b
Spanish is recommended and may be used for LE-S1.
- c
Social Work Electives:
SW 309: Community Based Corrections
SW 315: Aging and the Aged
SW 360: Death and Bereavement
SW 377: Self-Care in the Helping Professions
SW 385: Child Welfare
SW 389: Understanding Trauma
SW 490: Mental Health and Substance Abuse
SW 491: Special Topics
SW 492: Advanced Child Welfare
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs)
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices. The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs. There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study Abroad, Intercultural Immersion, Internship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire.
Required: Students in the Social Work major complete the Community-Engaged Learning requirement during SW 290 and an internship during their final semester.
Application to Major
Students apply for admission to the major after 30 credits are earned. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the following required courses: SW 100 and SW 220. Each course must be completed with a grade of C or above. A minimum total GPA of 2.0 is required. See other criteria in the catalog regarding the admissions process. Admission is competitive and not guaranteed.
Liberal Education (LE) Core Guidance
Liberal Education Core (LE Core)
The LE Core comprises 17 learning experiences across 11 learning outcomes. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the LE Core.
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K1 – Natural Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2).
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K2 – Social Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2).
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K3 – Humanities; two experiences.
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K4 – Fine Arts; one experience.
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S1 – Written and Oral Communication; two experiences (one experience must satisfy the University writing requirement).
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S2 – Mathematics; one experience (must satisfy the University math competency requirement).
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S3 – Creativity; one experience (can be fulfilled in a student’s major).
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R1 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; two experiences (one experience must meet the UW System Design for Diversity (DD) requirement).
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R2 – Global Perspectives; one experience.
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R3 – Civic and Environmental Issues; one experience.
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I1 – Integration; two experiences (one experience can be fulfilled in a student’s major).
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CEL—Community Engaged Learning
Additional LE Core Information
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Most LE Core learning experiences are course based, and many courses meet more than one learning outcome (e.g., K3 and R2 or K1 and R3).
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Some learning experiences can also be met outside of a traditional course (e.g., undergraduate research (S3), study abroad (I1)).
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S1 – An English placement score that fulfills the University writing requirement fulfills one S1 experience.
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S1 – A world language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 102 level satisfies one S1 experience.
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S1, R2 – A world language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 202 level satisfies one experience in S1 and the R2 experience.
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S2 – A math placement score that qualifies the student to enter Math 111, 112, 113 or 114 fulfills the S2 experience.
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S3 – Completion of two credits from any approved music ensemble fulfills the S3 experience.
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I1 – Any semester long study abroad program can fulfill one I1 experience.