Social Work Major, B.S.

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Department of Social Work

College of Health and Human Sciences

Available Program Format(s): Online, In-Person, Hybrid

About the Program

The undergraduate social work program at MSU Denver is about empowering change and transforming lives. Our program is dedicated to preparing the next generation of professionals to tackle today’s complex social challenges with innovation, resilience, and a solid foundation of social work skills. The BSSW program at MSU Denver believes that social work is more than a profession - it is a passion for justice and a commitment to change and wellness in our communities. Our program provides a comprehensive education, blending rigorous academics with experiential learning in community-based organizations. Program highlights include a curriculum rooted in a commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion; experienced faculty who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to student learning; and dedicated advisors, mentors, and peer networks here to help you succeed. Students may complete the BSSW degree fully online or in the mixed delivery program, which consists of a variety of options including on campus, hybrid and online. Online courses often require synchronous activity with a set meeting time each week.

Social work is a continually growing field, so the job market is good for social workers right now. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects social work jobs to grow by 7% by 2032, which is faster than the national average growth rate. Because social work is such a diverse field, there are many opportunities for individuals with a degree in social work. Social workers can find jobs in a variety of settings including non-profits, schools, governmental agencies, hospitals, and mental health centers.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) Program has been continuously accredited since 1997 by the Council on Social Work Education, the sole accrediting body for social work programs in the U.S. Accreditation assures that professional standards are met in curriculum content and delivery. Accredited programs periodically undergo rigorous review by CSWE in order to ensure compliance with educational standards.

Student Outcomes

The goal of the BSSW Program is to prepare students for generalist social work practice in professional settings, as is congruent with our accreditation standards. More specifically, students who graduate from our program will be able to:

Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
Advance human rights 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

General Degree Requirements

To earn a degree, students must satisfy all requirements in each of the four areas below, in addition to their individual major requirements.

Program Requirements

A total of 120 semester hours are required for graduation.
A grade of C- or better is required for each SWK course in this program to count toward the bachelor’s degree. Students should note that programs differ in the minimum grade required.
All ancillary courses must be completed with a grade of “D-” or better.
The major requires 6 credits of Social Work prerequisite courses to set the foundation for coursework in the major. Students must have all prerequisite courses completed prior to entry into the major.
Upon approaching completion of the prerequisites, students may apply to the program (a formal application is required for acceptance into the major, see below).

General Studies Requirements: 33 credits

Students should consult the General Studies Requirements for a list of courses that fulfill the General Studies Requirements for degree completion.

Written Communication (6 credits)
- Recommended: ENG 1010 - Composing Arguments and ENG 1020 - Research and Argument Writing are recommended for Social Work majors.
Oral Communication (3 credits)
Quantitative Literacy (3 credits)
Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
Historical (3 credits)
Natural and Physical Sciences (6 credits)
- Recommended: BIO 1000 - Human Biology for Non-Majors , BIO 1030 - General Biology for Non-Majors , or BIO 1080 - General Biology I and BIO 1090 - General Biology Laboratory I are recommended for Social Work Majors.
Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 credits)
- Recommended: PSC 1010 - American National Government and PSY 1001 - Introductory Psychology are recommended for Social Work majors. One of the following courses is also recommended: SOC 1010 - People, Power, and Progress , ANT 1310 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology , or ANT 2330 - Cross-Cultural Communication .
Global Diversity (0 or 3 credits**)

** Students will fulfill the global diversity requirement by taking an approved course within one of the following categories: arts and humanities; historical; natural and physical sciences; or social and behavioral sciences.

Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Requirement: 0 or 3 credits

Students should consult the Ethnic Studies & Social Justice Graduation Requirement for a list of courses that fulfill the ESSJ Requirement for degree completion.

Required Ancillary Prerequisite Courses: 18-19 credits

The following courses must be completed before students may apply to the BSSW Program. All ancillary courses must be completed with a grade of “D-” or better.

ENG 1010 - Composing Arguments Credits: 3
and
ENG 1020 - Research and Argument Writing Credits: 3
BIO 1000 - Human Biology for Non-Majors Credits: 3
or
BIO 1030 - General Biology for Non-Majors Credits: 4
or
BIO 1080 - General Biology I Credits: 3
and
BIO 1090 - General Biology Laboratory I Credits: 1
PSC 1010 - American National Government Credits: 3
PSY 1001 - Introductory Psychology Credits: 3
SOC 1010 - People, Power, and Progress Credits: 3
or
ANT 1310 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3
or
ANT 2330 - Cross-Cultural Communication Credits: 3

Social Work Prerequisites: 6 credits

The following social work courses must be completed before students may apply to the BSSW Program. All social work courses must be completed with a grade of “C-” or better.

SWK 1010 - Introduction to Social Work Credits: 3
SWK 1600 - Community Engagement and Civic Responsibility Credits: 3

Required Social Work Courses: 45 credits

Once a student has completed all General Studies requirements, ancillary course requirements, and social work prerequisite courses, they are eligible to apply to the BSSW program. Once admitted to the BSSW Program, students are eligible to enroll in the following required courses. Because the BSSW degree is professionally-oriented, students must pass through the curriculum in a sequential manner with lower-level courses preparing them for the work and expectations of upper-level courses. Students must adhere to the required coursework and pass all courses with a C- or better.

SWK 3050 - Theories for Individual and Social Change Credits: 3
SWK 3090 - Critical Reflection: Exploring Social Work Thinking and Knowledge Credits: 3
SWK 3120 - Unraveling Inequalities in Social Work Practice Credits: 3
SWK 3350 - Social Work Experience, Practice and Communication Credits: 3
SWK 3780 - Social Work Policy Practice Credits: 3
SWK 3410 - Engaging for Change Credits: 3
SWK 3420 - The Power of Groups in Social Work Credits: 3
SWK 4400 - Macro Magic: Co-Creating Change in Communities and Organizations Credits: 3
SWK 4300 - Introduction to Social Work Research Methods Credits: 3
SWK 4310 - Research Applications and Data Analysis Credits: 3
SWK 4430 - Partnering with Families for Change Credits: 3
BSSW students are required to take 4 upper division elective courses (12 credits). An up-to-date list of approved upper division Social Work electives can be found on our departmental website, as well as the semester the course is likely to be offered.

Senior Experience: 6 credits

SWK 4500 - Field Experience I Credits: 3
SWK 4510 - Field Experience II Credits: 3

Summary of Requirements

General Studies Requirements	33 credits
ESSJ Requirement	0-3 credits
Required Ancillary Prerequisites	18-19 credits
Social Work Prerequisites	6 credits
Required Social Work Courses	45 credits
Senior Experience	6 credits
Unrestricted Electives	8-28 credits
Total for the Social Work Major, B.S.	120 credits

Required courses for the major may also count for General Studies and ESSJ requirements, so the total credits listed may be greater than the number required to complete the degree. Therefore, it is important that you work with your advisor to make sure you are meeting requirements for your degree.