The UAA Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) prepares students for professional social work practice. The mission of the BSW program is to prepare generalist social workers who collaborate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Graduates enhance human well-being, engage in decolonizing and anti-oppressive practice, and promote equity and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice and equity for Alaskans across our diverse geographic and cultural communities.
The BSW has been continuously accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1978.
Licensure
Graduates completing the Bachelor of Social Work are eligible to sit for the Licensed Baccalaureate Social Work (LBSW) examination within the state of Alaska immediately after graduation.
Please go to UAA's Authorization by State website for information about licensure or certification in a state other than Alaska.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the Admission Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Earn a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50
- Complete with a minimum grade of C, or are currently enrolled in, SWK A206 and SWK A330
- Junior standing
- Eligible for social work licensure
- Professional readiness to work in the field
- Demonstrated commitment to social work values and ethics
Guidance and Special Considerations
Declaration of social work as a major (resulting in pre-major status) does not guarantee admission to the social work program. Students typically begin by taking 100- and 200-level GER and social work courses.
Students typically apply for full admission to the BSW program during the fall semester of the academic year (AY) prior to the AY they intend to enter practicum and graduate. The BSW program accepts applications for full admission only during the fall semester. Full admission to the social work program is based upon the requirements listed below.
Social work credits earned through other social work programs accredited through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) may be transferred to UAA and applied toward the BSW. Approval from the UAA School of Social Work is required for acceptance of social work transfer credits.
Students must submit the following application materials to the School of Social Work by the last Friday in October prior to intended entry into fieldwork:
- A signed School of Social Work Application for Admission to the BSW degree and practicum for fall enrollment
- Written admissions statement
- Student practicum interest sheet
The admission committee reserves the right to request additional information if necessary.
In addition to the submission of application materials, each applicant participates in an admission interview conducted by the faculty to assess the applicant's academic and professional readiness to enter the social work program and participate in a practicum. The School of Social Work will notify applicants of their admission after fall semester final grades are completed and prior to December 31st.
Admission to the social work program is based on the following criteria:
- Meeting the aforementioned requirements
- Beginning competence in client-centered communication and interviewing skills
- Demonstration of ethical and professional behaviors and interactions with peers, faculty, staff, and community partners
- The professional judgment of the social work faculty
Most students will not have all required courses completed at the time of application to the full major. In this event, the student may be admitted to the BSW program conditionally and will be required to complete all junior-level and below courses with a minimum grade of C prior to the fall semester in which they plan to enter practicum or their admission will be denied. Other conditions may be added on a case-by-case basis.
Students who cannot obtain a minimum grade of C in two (2) attempts for any given social work course will be denied admission.
Only students who are conditionally or fully admitted to the program may complete Spring junior and Fall and Spring senior courses. Students who are admitted into the full major but fail to enroll in senior courses must reapply to the program.
The UAA School of Social Work BSW only accepts students who are eligible to receive Alaska state licensure. Please contact the School of Social Work for further information. Please go to UAA's Authorization by State website for information about licensure or certification in a state other than Alaska.
Students in the social work program must earn a minimum grade of C in all required social work courses and liberal arts foundation requirements.
Adherence to the Code of Ethics established by the National Association of Social Workers is required in all social work courses and throughout the program.
Field Practicum
Field practicum placements may become competitive if the number of applicants exceeds the number of practicum slots. The BSW program and field agencies reserve the right to refuse and/or terminate students who do not meet a minimum standard of performance. Thus, while the School of Social Work makes every effort to find appropriate field placements for students, admittance to the BSW program does not guarantee acceptance by cooperating social services agencies. The program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.
Prior to entering field practicum, students must have completed the following:
- All required prerequisites to social work courses.
- Specified liberal arts foundation courses with a minimum grade of C.
- The following social work courses with a minimum grade of C (28 credits):
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
SWK A106 | Introduction to Social Welfare | 3 |
SWK A206 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
SWK A243 | Cultural Diversity and Community Service Learning | 3 |
SWK A330 | Social Work Practice with Individuals | 4 |
SWK A342 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
SWK A424 | Social Work Research | 3 |
SWK A430 | Social Work Practice with Families and Groups | 3 |
SWK A481 | Case Management in Social Work Practice | 3 |
SWK A482 | Writing for Social Work Practice | 3 |
Total | 28 |
Graduation Requirements
- Complete the General University Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- Complete the General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees.
- All graduating BSW majors are required to complete program assessment activities as detailed in the current BSW Assessment Plan. There are no minimum scores required for graduation.
- Complete the following major requirements: It is recommended that students take one or two 3-credit electives each semester to bring total credits to 120.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Liberal Arts Foundation Courses | ||
ANTH A200 | Alaska Native Cultures | 3 |
or ANTH A202 | Cultural Anthropology | |
BA A151 | Business Foundations | 3 |
or ECON A101 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
or ECON A102 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
BIOL A102 | Introductory Biology | 3-6 |
or BIOL A100 | Human Biology | |
or BIOL A108 | Principles and Methods in Biology | |
or BIOL A111 & A111L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | |
or BIOL A112 & A112L | Human Anatomy and Physiology II and Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | |
ENGL A120 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
or PHIL A301 | Ethics | |
or PHIL A302 | Biomedical Ethics | |
or PHIL A303 | Environmental Ethics | |
or PHIL A305 | Professional Ethics | |
PSY A150 | Lifespan Development | 3 |
SOC A101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
Core Courses | ||
SWK A106 | Introduction to Social Welfare | 3 |
SWK A206 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
SWK A243 | Cultural Diversity and Community Service Learning | 3 |
SWK A330 | Social Work Practice with Individuals | 4 |
SWK A331 | Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities | 3 |
SWK A342 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 3 |
SWK A406 | Social Welfare: Policies and Issues | 3 |
SWK A424 | Social Work Research | 3 |
SWK A429 | Trauma and Crisis Intervention in Social Work Practice | 3 |
SWK A430 | Social Work Practice with Families and Groups | 3 |
SWK A481 | Case Management in Social Work Practice | 3 |
SWK A482 | Writing for Social Work Practice | 3 |
SWK A495A | Social Work Practicum I | 3 |
SWK A495B | Social Work Practicum II | 3 |
Upper-division Social Work electives | 9 | |
Total | 70-73 |
A minimum of 120 credits is required for the degree, of which 39 must be upper-division.
Honors in Social Work
The Bachelor of Social Work recognizes distinguished achievement by conferring programmatic honors in social work. In order to receive honors in social work, a student must meet the following requirements:
- Submit an intent to graduate with honors application to the BSW Program Coordinator during the spring of the junior year;
- Complete all requirements for the BSW. A minimum of 30 credits applicable to the BSW must be completed at UAA;
- Achieve a minimum GPA of 3.75 in upper-division (300- and 400-level) social work courses.
Successful completion of programmatic honors in social work in the UAA BSW earns the right to waive a regular review of an admission packet to the foundation curriculum of the UAA Master of Social Work (MSW). Students are responsible for completing a UAA Graduate Application for Admission and a program application for admission to the MSW. The application packet should be submitted to the MSW Admissions Committee by the application deadline, with a request to waive the regular review process. Admission to the full program will be granted if the applicant meets all of the requirements for programmatic honors. Students interested in waiving the foundation curriculum must apply for advanced standing with a full review.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a Bachelor of Social Work will be able to:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
- Advance human rights, equity, and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice
- Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice
- Engage in policy practice
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
- Integrate Alaska’s unique opportunities and needs into professional practice, policy, and/or research