16. School of Social Work

• Barbara W. White, PhD, Dean
• David W. Springer, PhD, Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
• Rowena Fong, EdD, BSW Program Director

• http://www.utexas.edu/ssw/

General Information

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Social Work degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

History

The School of Social Work was established as a graduate program in 1949 and began classes in the fall of 1950 with twenty-four students enrolled in the MSSW program. Undergraduate courses in social work were first offered in 1958. These were incorporated into a full Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program in the fall of 1974.

The first BSW degree was awarded in December, 1977. Since that time, the program has been strengthened by curriculum modifications reflecting changes in the profession and in society that have implications for beginning social work practice. Since the program was established, more than eleven hundred students have received BSW degrees.

The School of Social Work also offers programs leading to the Master of Science in Social Work and the Doctor of Philosophy. These graduate social work programs are described in the Graduate Catalog.

Purpose

The School of Social Work provides professional education and leadership in social work practice, research, and service to promote social and economic justice, enhance social welfare, and build strong community-University partnerships.

The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work program is to prepare students as beginning-level generalist professional social work practitioners who are committed to the provision of services that further the well-being of people and who promote social and economic justice. Building on a broad liberal arts framework, the BSW curriculum is designed to develop generalist practitioners who have an understanding of social work knowledge and values and are able to select different methods and resources to meet identified client needs, while recognizing and engaging the strengths of the client in the process. The curriculum offers students the opportunity to learn to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the social functioning of multiple levels of systems in the environment, including individuals, families, small groups, organizations, and communities; to recognize worker and client limitations; and to know when to refer clients to other resources.

The BSW student is given the opportunity to learn to work collaboratively in a variety of settings using an ecosystems/developmental perspective; to recognize the relationships between client needs and public issues; to work toward the development of social policies, resources, and programs that meet basic human needs and empower at-risk groups; and to be sensitive to the diversities among individuals, including ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, and ability. The program is intended to prepare reflective, self-evaluating practitioners who have a strong identification with the social work profession and work to alleviate poverty, oppression, and discrimination.

Graduates of the program are expected to be able to enhance the problem-solving, coping, and developmental capacities of individuals, especially those from at-risk populations. They also are expected to contribute to the effective and humane operation of the systems within the environment that provide individuals with resources, services, and opportunities; to link individuals in need with the appropriate systems; and to contribute to the development and improvement of social policies that have an impact on people and their social environments, especially by empowering at-risk groups and by promoting social and economic justice.

The BSW program is integrated with and builds upon a liberal arts base that includes knowledge in language arts, the humanities, and the social, behavioral, and natural sciences. The curriculum includes content in social work values, diversity and at-risk populations, social and economic justice, human behavior and the social environment, research, social welfare policy and services, and social work intervention.

Program Objectives

Students graduating from the BSW program are expected to demonstrate

1. A professional identity that incorporates the values and ethics of the social work profession and the professional development of self.
2. The ability to work with diverse populations with an understanding of and respect for the positive value of diversity, including ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, and religion, and to use communication skills differentially with diverse groups.
3. An understanding of the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination.
4. The ability to apply strategies and skills that advance social and economic justice and to address the oppression of at-risk populations.
5. An understanding of the biological, psychological, social, and cultural contexts of changing client systems, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and the broader society, and their effects on development and behavior.
6. Beginning-level competencies in research and evaluation, including the ability to evaluate research studies and apply their findings to practice, and, under supervision, evaluate their own practice interventions and those of other relevant systems.
7. An understanding of how social policy develops and differentially affects various client systems, workers, and agencies.
8. An understanding of the role the social work profession has played in promoting social change, historically and currently.
9. The attainment of knowledge and skills that demonstrate the ability to practice effectively with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, in a manner that empowers client systems and uses their strengths in order to maximize their health and well-being.
10. An ability to apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work roles and practice.
11. An awareness of their responsibility to continue their professional growth and development, including the use of supervision appropriate to generalist practice.

Facilities

The School of Social Work Building (1925 San Jacinto Boulevard) provides space for social work classes, including a classroom equipped for distance learning and an instructional technology classroom; offices for the faculty and staff; an advising center and student services area; and a student lounge. The building also houses the school's Learning Resource Center (LRC), which has an extensive collection of social work-related books, journals, and other publications partially funded by the Josleen Lockhart Memorial Book Fund. The LRC includes a large computer laboratory for student use and provides space, equipment, and technical assistance for studying, meetings of small groups of students, viewing audiovisual materials, videotaping, and completing other skills-based learning assignments. The School of Social Work Building also houses the Center for Social Work Research, the Protective Services Training Institute of Texas, and the Junior League Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program.

Financial Assistance Available through the School of Social Work

Although many University scholarships are awarded through the Office of Student Financial Services, a limited number are awarded by the School of Social Work to undergraduate social work students. Awards are made for reasons ranging from academic promise to financial need. All social work majors who meet the eligibility requirements for the scholarships listed below are encouraged to apply. Additional information is available from the Academic Affairs Office.

The Charles W. Laughton Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship Award was established in October, 1975, with major assistance from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, the Social Work Foundation Advisory Council, and alumni of the School of Social Work. The award provides recognition to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students. Students are nominated on the basis of academic excellence and potential contribution to the field. The award, in recognition of excellence, is not made unless there is a candidate who merits it.

The Victor and Myra Ravel Scholarship in Children's Rights was endowed in 1989 by Mr. and Mrs. Victor Ravel of Austin and the University Regents' Endowed Student Fellowship and Scholarship Program. The endowment is administered through the Austin Community Foundation; the income is used for scholarships to social work students interested in children's rights or child advocacy. Students are nominated on the basis of academic excellence and potential contribution to professional social work in the area of child advocacy.

The Sylvia Shapiro Scholarship was established in 1985 by Sidney S. Smith of Austin, in memory of his cousin, Sylvia Shapiro. Students are nominated on the basis of academic excellence, need, and potential contribution to professional social work with emphasis on work with the frail elderly.

The King S. Stephens II Memorial Endowed Scholarship was established in 1995 through the generosity of faculty members, family members, and friends in loving memory of this respected faculty member, whose fierce intellect and commitment to social justice challenged our ideas and inspired our sense of responsibility. Students are nominated on the basis of academic excellence and commitment to social justice.

The August N. "Gus" Swain Endowed Scholarship was established in 1993 in honor of Gus Swain, the first African American student to receive an MSSW degree from the School of Social Work. Students are selected on the basis of academic excellence, financial need, and potential contribution to the social work profession.

The Anne Wilkens Memorial Scholarship was established through the efforts of her family, with the support of friends and alumni, in memory of this alumna of the school. The award provides recognition to outstanding students in social work.

Other scholarships. Additional scholarships funded by contributions to the School of Social Work are awarded to undergraduate social work majors each year. Students are nominated on the basis of academic excellence, financial need, and potential contribution to professional social work.

Career Services

Career development services are provided to students preparing to enter the professional job market. Students should inquire in the DiNitto Center for Career Services, School of Social Work Building 2.214. The office maintains a listserv of employment opportunities and provides information about social work careers, graduate programs, Internet resources, and other opportunities for professional development, volunteer placement, and social work licensure. Workshops and other programs are offered on the fields of social work practice, résumé preparation, and job search and interview skills.

Professional social workers may seek employment in a number of areas. The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services has established quality control standards that mandate the hiring of holders of BSW degrees in designated positions. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services hires social workers for its child protective services programs, and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission hires BSW graduates for its client support services programs. Large nursing home facilities are also required to have a social work staff. Substance abuse treatment programs, psychiatric hospitals, health care programs, school social work and dropout prevention programs, criminal justice programs, and programs for the elderly also employ social workers. More than a third of the program's graduates go on to graduate schools throughout the country.

As a complement to the assistance available from the school, the Career Exploration Center, located in Jester Center, provides comprehensive career services to all students. The center offers professional assistance to students in choosing or changing their majors or careers, seeking an internship, and planning for the job search or for graduate study.

The University makes no promise to secure employment for each graduate.

College Council of Social Work

The College Council of Social Work is an organization open to all students pursuing a social work degree or interested in the social work profession. The council's purposes are to help students acquire a better understanding of the profession of social work, to provide a mechanism for student input on issues related to the social work curriculum and the school, and to organize and support social work-related programs and projects that will benefit students, the school, the University, and the community.

Council activities are often conducted in collaboration with the Office of Academic Affairs. They include orientations to the BSW and MSSW programs, a career night, forums with guest speakers from community agencies and the University, community service projects, special interest groups that meet to discuss social work-related topics, and social gatherings. Members of the council represent student concerns as voting members of the school's curriculum committees, the Senate of College Councils, and the Student Government.

Professional Liability Insurance

Students must purchase professional liability insurance while they are enrolled in the field practicum. The cost is about fifteen dollars a semester. Payment is made to the Field Office of the School of Social Work.

Admission and Registration

Requirements for Admission to the University

Admission and readmission of undergraduate students to the University is the responsibility of the director of admissions. Information about admission to the University is given in General Information.

Requirements for Admission to the School of Social Work

The School of Social Work maintains two classifications of undergraduate students: pre-social work majors and social work majors. Pre-social work majors are usually freshmen and sophomores. After completing the requirements below, a student may apply for admission to the professional curriculum as a social work major. Students who are admitted into the major complete at least three semesters of social work coursework and any other remaining degree requirements. Students who fulfill all degree requirements receive a Bachelor of Social Work degree.

The professional practice of social work requires people who are above average in academic ability and performance, sufficiently emotionally mature to assume a helping role with people under stress, and committed to the ethical standards and performance demands of social work practice. Students are encouraged to use the advising services in the School of Social Work early in their college careers in anticipation of meeting requirements for admission to the major. A student who is interested in seeking a social work degree must discuss his or her intentions with a social work adviser before applying for admission to the program.

Admission to the School of Social Work as a Pre-Social Work Major

Any student newly admitted to the University may enter the School of Social Work as a pre-social work major. A student who is enrolled in another college or school of the University may transfer to the School of Social Work as a pre-social work major in accordance with the University's rules on transfer from one division to another; these rules are given in General Information.

Admission to the Major in Social Work

No student may enter the professional curriculum (the required upper-division social work courses) unless he or she has been admitted to the University as described in General Information and has been admitted to the major in social work by the dean, following recommendation by the Undergraduate Committee, according to the procedures below. All students are considered according to the policies given in the editions of General Information and the UnderGraduate Catalog that are in effect at the time of the application.

The School of Social Work considers students for admission to the major twice a year, during the fall and spring semesters. A student who enters the University as a freshman in a fall semester will usually apply for admission to the professional curriculum in the spring semester of the sophomore year or the fall semester of the junior year. Admission applications are distributed during mandatory information sessions held by the Office of Academic Affairs. The application allows the student to outline his or her background and motivation to enter the social work profession as well as any special experiences that enhance his or her application.

The School of Social Work limits admission to the major to the number of students to whom a professional education of high quality can be provided. Because of enrollment restrictions dictated by the availability of faculty members and facilities, some applicants may be denied admission even though they meet the following minimum requirements.

1. The applicant must have completed at least forty-five semester hours of coursework, including at least thirty hours chosen from the following area requirements:

   1. Rhetoric and Writing 306 and English 316K
   2. A course with a substantial writing component
   3. Two semesters of coursework in a single foreign language
   4. Sociology 302
   5. Psychology 301
   6. A three-semester-hour course in economics
   7. Six semester hours in American government, including Texas government
   8. Six semester hours in American history
   9. Twelve semester hours of coursework to fulfill the Area C mathematics and natural science requirements. To fulfill the mathematics requirement, Mathematics 302, 303D, 316, or an equivalent course is recommended. A course in human or environmental biology is part of the major requirements.
   10. Six semester hours of coursework in fine arts or humanities, including at least three hours of coursework with multicultural content.
2. The applicant must have completed the following courses with a grade of at least C in each course: Social Work 310, 312, 313, 318, and Human Development and Family Sciences 313 or Psychology 304. He or she must also have a grade point average of at least 2.50 in courses that are part of the social work major requirements.
3. The applicant must have a University grade point average of at least 2.00.
4. Application for admission must be made on forms available from the Office of Academic Affairs in the School of Social Work.

5. The following must be submitted to the BSW Program by the application deadline:

   1. The completed application for admission to the professional curriculum.
   2. A personal statement as explained on the application.
   3. At least two recommendation forms completed by appropriate individuals who can attest to the applicant's academic and professional readiness to enter the program.
   4. Documentation of successful completion of at least forty-five hours of supervised volunteer experience involving direct contact with clients in a human services organization.
   5. Official transcripts from all colleges attended, if the coursework has not been transferred to the student's University record.
   6. Score reports for any credit earned by examination, if the scores are not on the student's University record.
6. The applicant may be asked to appear for a personal interview.

The applicant is considered on the basis of academic performance and his or her commitment to and suitability for generalist social work practice. The committee also assesses the applicant's emotional and professional readiness to work with clients on the basis of such factors as his or her work in courses already taken, previous meetings with social work advisers, personal statement, and the interview, if any, that is part of the application process. As a general guide, the committee also uses the Student Standards for Social Work Education, which delineates expectations for social work students in four areas: basic abilities to acquire professional skills, mental and emotional abilities, professional performance skills, and scholastic performance.

A student who is unable to attend in the semester for which he or she is admitted must reapply for admission in order to enroll at a later time. A student who has been admitted to and enrolls in the professional curriculum, withdraws, and then wishes to return must apply for readmission on the basis of the curriculum in effect at the time of the return. A student who has been out of the University for a semester or more must also submit an application for readmission to the University.

Transfer Credit

As part of the application for admission to the University, students must submit transcripts from all other colleges and universities they have attended to the Office of Admissions. Students seeking readmission must submit transcripts from all schools they have attended since leaving the University. The Office of Admissions evaluates all transcripts and grants the student transfer credit when possible for coursework completed at the other schools.

Although the Office of Admissions may grant the student a certain number of semester hours of transfer credit for work completed in another social work program, the BSW program director in the School of Social Work determines whether this coursework may be counted toward fulfillment of the Bachelor of Social Work degree requirements. Students who wish to use transfer credit to meet degree requirements should submit a course syllabus, assignments, and the titles and names of authors of textbooks to the BSW program director for evaluation.

Students may also seek transfer credit for coursework they complete at another institution after enrolling at the University. In this case also the student should submit a transcript from the other institution to the Office of Admissions and a syllabus, course assignments, and information about textbooks to the School of Social Work BSW program director.

Registration

General Information gives information about registration, adding and dropping courses, transfer from one division of the University to another, and auditing a course. The Course Schedule, published before registration each semester and summer session, includes registration instructions, advising locations, and the times, places, and instructors of classes. The Course Schedule and General Information are published on the registrar's Web site. The printed General Information is also sold at campus-area bookstores.

Academic Policies and Procedures

Academic Advising

The Office of Academic Affairs in the School of Social Work seeks to assist the student in exploring social work as a career choice, in planning an academic program suited to the student's interests and talents, in seeking help with academic or personal problems, and in postgraduation planning, whether for employment or for further study. The Office of Academic Affairs also provides administrative support and student services, including maintenance of academic records, provision of official degree audits, and graduation certification for social work majors. Faculty and staff members are also available to assist students with questions about scholarship programs, degree requirements, rules and regulations, and other available campus services. Students who declare an interest in completing the social work program are required to meet with a social work adviser at least once each semester for academic advising. To arrange an appointment with an adviser, students should contact the Office of Academic Affairs.

During the student's first and second academic years, the student and the adviser discuss the student's career choice, the selection of a major, degree requirements, and requirements for admission to the major and to upper-division courses in social work; during the third year, the work required for the major and the student's preparation for entry into the field practicum; and during the fourth year, the field practicum and the student's postgraduation plans.

Career Choice Information

Students interested in social work as a career are encouraged to discuss this interest at any time with a social work adviser. Advisers are available in the school's Office of Academic Affairs to help students explore social work practice and settings and the development of interest in social work through academic and volunteer experiences. Students may also seek the assistance of the DiNitto Center for Career Services.

Members of the social work faculty are also available to assist the student in choosing a career, as are the staff and resources of the University's Career Exploration Center and Volunteer and Service Learning Center. Since the social work program requires admission to the major and completion of 125 semester hours, students are encouraged to discuss their interest in social work as a career early in their studies.

Honors

University Honors

The designation University Honors, awarded at the end of each long-session semester, gives official recognition and commendation to students whose grades for the semester indicate distinguished academic accomplishment. Both the quality and the quantity of work done are considered. Criteria for University Honors are given in chapter 1.

Graduation with University Honors

Students who, upon graduation, have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement are eligible to graduate with University Honors. Criteria for graduation with University Honors are given in chapter 1.

Review and Grievance Procedures

The School of Social Work document Student Standards for Social Work Education delineates standards for professional education that apply to students enrolled in the School of Social Work. Because of the nature of professional social work practice, the School of Social Work has different expectations of students than do nonprofessional programs. All social work students are expected to abide by the Standards and by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics. When a student's performance does not meet expectations according to these established guidelines, a review may be called to bring the problem to the student's attention and to develop a plan to address the problem. Usually, the issue is resolved and the student is continued in the program with additional support provided to the student and/or conditions established for the student's continuance in the program. In some instances, depending on the nature of the problem, the student may be referred to the University's Office of the Dean of Students, counseled to change majors, or dismissed from the program.

Students enrolled in the social work program have the right to appeal decisions made by the social work program, including scholastic dismissal. Students are assured freedom from reprisals for filing appeals. Students who wish to appeal a decision made during a school review process should consult the Standards for information on grievance procedures. Students who wish to appeal other decisions made by the social work program may do so, first to the BSW program director and then to an appeal panel convened by the dean of the School of Social Work. The panel will consist of three faculty members who have no direct knowledge of or experience with the student. Students must appeal in writing to the appropriate person or committee within ten calendar days of receiving the letter of notification on the decision being appealed. Advisers are available in the Office of Academic Affairs to assist students with the appeal process.

Graduation

Special Requirements of the School

All students must fulfill the general requirements for graduation given in chapter 1. Students in the School of Social Work must also fulfill the following requirements.

1. All University students must have a grade point average of at least 2.00 to graduate. In the School of Social Work, students must also have a grade point average of at least 2.50 in required social work courses.

2. To receive an undergraduate degree from the University, every student must fulfill the following requirements on coursework taken in residence:

   1. All University students must complete in residence at least sixty semester hours of coursework counted toward the degree. For the Bachelor of Social Work degree, these sixty hours must include at least twenty-four hours in the major and must include the required field practicum courses.
   2. The University requires that at least six semester hours of advanced coursework in the major be completed in residence. The School of Social Work further requires that twenty-four of the forty-six hours of upper-division coursework for the Bachelor of Social Work be completed in residence.
3. An Air Force, Army, or Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps student who elects the basic and/or advanced program in air force science, military science, or naval science will not be approved for graduation until the government contract is completed, unless the student is released from the ROTC.

Applying for a Degree

The Office of Academic Affairs provides each student with a computer-generated degree audit during each long-session semester. The degree audit notifies the student of the courses he or she must take and the requirements he or she must fulfill to receive the degree. The degree audit normally provides an accurate statement of requirements, but the student is responsible for knowing the exact requirements for the degree as stated in a catalog under which he or she is eligible to graduate and for registering so as to fulfill those requirements. The student should seek an official ruling in the Office of Academic Affairs before registering if in doubt about any requirement.

In the semester or summer session in which the degree is to be conferred, the candidate must be registered at the University and must apply for the degree in the Office of Academic Affairs. This should be done at the time of registration for the last semester, if possible, but in no event later than the deadline given in the official academic calendar. No degree will be conferred unless the graduation application form has been filed on time.

Advanced Standing in Master's Degree Programs

A number of graduate schools of social work grant advanced standing to students who have completed all the requirements of an accredited undergraduate social work program. Many programs allow up to one year of credit toward the master's degree in social work. Information about programs offering advanced standing is available in the Office of Academic Affairs.

Degrees

Applicability of Certain Courses

No more than thirty-six semester hours in any one field of study other than social work may be counted toward the Bachelor of Social Work degree. No more than fifty-four semester hours of social work may be counted toward the degree.

Physical Activity Courses

Physical activity courses (PED) are offered by the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. Six semester hours of this coursework may be counted toward the Bachelor of Social Work degree. All physical activity courses are counted among courses for which the student is enrolled, and the grades are included in the grade point average.

ROTC Courses

No more than six semester hours of credit for air force science, military science, or naval science courses may be counted toward the Bachelor of Social Work. Such credit may be used only as lower-division electives in degree programs that have room for such electives and only by students who have completed the third and fourth years of the ROTC program.

Correspondence and Extension Courses

Credit that a University student in residence earns simultaneously by correspondence or extension from the University or elsewhere or in residence at another school will not be counted toward a degree in the School of Social Work unless specifically approved in advance by the dean. No more than 30 percent of the semester hours required for the Bachelor of Social Work may be taken by correspondence. More information is available from the BSW program director.

Courses Taken on the Pass/Fail Basis

Undergraduate students who have received at least thirty semester hours of college credit may take no more than five one-semester courses in elective subjects outside their major area on the pass/fail basis. Students must state their intention to register on this basis by the deadline given in the official academic calendar; they may not change the basis of registration in a course more than once; and they may not take more than two courses a semester on this basis.

Other Courses

Music 101G may not be counted toward any degree in the School of Social Work. Other introductory courses, such as Music 201J, 201M, and 201N, may be counted toward degrees in the school.

No more than six semester hours of Bible courses may be counted toward the Bachelor of Social Work degree.

The Minor

Plans for a minor in psychology, sociology, or another approved area may be developed with advising assistance from the Office of Academic Affairs. A minor requires completion of at least twelve semester hours, six of which must be upper-division.

Bachelor of Social Work

The requirements for the Bachelor of Social Work degree are designed to give the student an opportunity for integrated, nonrepetitive learning. A total of 125 semester hours is required. These may include credit by examination and a maximum of five one-semester elective courses taken on the pass/fail basis. All students must complete the requirements for the major and must complete at least sixty semester hours in residence at the University. These sixty hours must include at least twenty-four semester hours in social work. A completed degree program must include at least forty-six semester hours of upper-division coursework, of which twenty-four semester hours must have been taken in residence. No more than fifty-four semester hours in social work may be counted toward the degree.

Each student must complete a sequence of prescribed work; major requirements, which include the field practicum; and special requirements, which include electives.

Prescribed Work

The prescribed work is divided into four areas that provide the liberal arts base for the social work curriculum. Interdepartmental courses and credit by examination may be used to meet these requirements. Unless otherwise indicated, a course taken to meet the requirements of one area may not also be used to fulfill the requirements of another area; however, a single course may be used, unless otherwise indicated, to fulfill both an area requirement and a major requirement. No course used to fulfill area or major requirements, other than the field practicum, may be taken on the pass/fail basis.

Area A

English composition and literature, and writing: Rhetoric and Writing 306 and English 316K; and a three-semester-hour course that emphasizes written communication. The third course must be certified as having a substantial writing component.

In addition, the student must complete two courses certified as having a substantial writing component. (These courses are identified in the Course Schedule; two of the required courses in social work generally contain a substantial writing component.) One of these courses must be upper-division. Courses used to fulfill the writing requirement may be used to fulfill other area requirements or major requirements.

Foreign language: Students must complete two semesters of college coursework in a single foreign language. Coursework in American Sign Language may be used to fulfill this requirement. Credit by examination may be used to fulfill all or part of this requirement. Coursework taken on the pass/fail basis may not be used, but credit by examination earned on the pass/fail basis may be used. Courses used toward fulfillment of the foreign language requirement must be language courses; literature-in-translation courses, for example, may not be used.

If a student did not complete two high school units in a single foreign language, the first two semesters of coursework may not be counted toward the 125 semester hours required for the Bachelor of Social Work. However, they may be used to fulfill the foreign language requirement.

Area B

Twenty-four semester hours, distributed among at least five of the fields of study listed below. None of these courses may be taken on the pass/fail basis.

1. Six hours in each of the following areas:

   1. American government, including Texas government
   2. American history

2. Twelve hours, including coursework in three of the following fields of study. These twelve hours must include Psychology 301, Sociology 302, and either Human Development and Family Sciences 313 or Psychology 304.

   1. Anthropology
   2. Economics[1]
   3. Geography
   4. Linguistics
   5. Psychology or human development and family sciences
   6. Sociology

Area C

Mathematics: Three semester hours of mathematics other than Mathematics 301, 316K, and 316L. Algebra courses at the level of Mathematics 301 or the equivalent may not be counted toward the Area C requirement or toward the total number of hours required for the degree. Students who enter the University with fewer than three units of high school mathematics at the level of Algebra I or higher must take Mathematics 301 without degree credit to remove their deficiency.

Natural sciences: Nine additional semester hours, chosen from the fields of study listed below, with at least six semester hours in one field. These nine semester hours may include no more than three semester hours of mathematics and no more than three semester hours of computer sciences. In addition to courses in the following fields, Nutrition 3o6 may be counted toward the Area C requirement. Students, counselors, and advisers are urged to make careful selection of Area C courses in order to develop a meaningful pattern and a coherent sequence.

1. Astronomy
2. Biology[2]
3. Chemistry
4. Computer sciences
5. Geological sciences
6. Marine science
7. Mathematics
8. Physical science
9. Physics

Area D

Six semester hours from the fields of study listed below. Three of these six hours must include multicultural content. A student who uses Greek or Latin to meet the foreign language requirement may use additional coursework in the same language to meet the Area D requirement, but only upper-division courses may be used.

1. Architecture
2. Classical civilization, Greek, and Latin
3. Art history, design, ensemble, fine arts, instruments, music, studio art, theatre and dance, and visual art studies
4. Philosophy
5. Approved interdisciplinary courses in such fields as African and African American studies, American studies, Asian American studies, Asian studies, Mexican American studies, and women's and gender studies.

Major Requirements

The Bachelor of Social Work program offers basic courses designed to provide students with concentrated and in-depth educational experience combining social work knowledge and practice skills. No course used to fulfill major requirements, except Social Work 640 and 641, may be taken on the pass/fail basis. Students are advised to take all lower-division courses in Areas A, B, C, and D and all lower-division major requirements before taking upper-division courses. In developing their degree plans, students must also pay careful attention to the sequencing of social work courses to ensure that prerequisite requirements are met.

Academic credit cannot be granted for life experience or previous work experience, and such experience cannot be substituted for any of the courses in the professional foundation areas or the field practicum. Students who believe they have the qualifications to receive credit by examination for a social work course other than the practice sequence coursework (Social Work 312, 332, 333, and 334) and the field practicum may submit a written request to the BSW program director. The director will review the request and determine whether or not the student should be permitted to take the examination.

1. The following courses are required:

   1. Social welfare policy: Social Work 310, 323K.
   2. Research: Social Work 313, 318.
   3. Human behavior: Social Work 325, 327.
   4. Practice: Social Work 312, 332, 333, 334.
   5. Field practicum: Social Work 640, 641, 444.
2. Students must complete a three-semester-hour introductory course in psychology.
3. Students must complete a three-semester-hour introductory course in sociology.
4. Students must complete a three-semester-hour course in child development or child psychology.
5. Students must complete a three-semester-hour course in human/environmental biology: Biology 301M, 309D, 309F, or the equivalent.
6. Students must complete three semester hours in economics.
7. Students must complete at least nine semester hours of upper-division coursework in the social and behavioral sciences (anthropology, economics, educational psychology, government, history, psychology, and sociology) in addition to other major requirements. Six of these nine hours may be upper-division social work electives.

Field Sequence Requirements

The social work program requires that students complete 45 clock hours of supervised volunteer experience related to social work to be admitted to the major, to upper-division courses in social work, and to the field practicum. These volunteer hours may be used to meet course requirements in Social Work 312. Students must also complete 480 clock hours of fieldwork as part of the course requirements in Social Work 640 and 641. Students have the opportunity in the field practicum to develop the professional skills needed for entry-level social work positions as generalist practitioners. Adequate laboratory time through the field practicum is built into this professional program to provide students with an opportunity to test their developing skills in a real-life environment. At the same time, faculty members evaluate the student's professional development within the context of the educational objectives established for the experience. The goals are for the student to learn real-life practice, to develop skills, to relate concepts to skill development, to remain motivated to continue to learn, and to evaluate personal performance.

To enroll in the field practicum, students must meet the following requirements: (1) admission to the major in social work; (2) a University grade point average of at least 2.00; (3) completion of all Area A, B, C, and D requirements; and (4) both a grade point average of at least 2.50 for the following group of courses and a grade of at least C in each course in the group: Social Work 310, 312, 313, 318, 323K, 325, 327, 332, 333, and 334.

Following the student's admission to the field practicum, his or her work is reviewed periodically by the student, the field faculty, and the agency supervisor. Should the student have trouble meeting the professional or academic requirements of the program, the review process will bring the difficulty to the student's attention and assist the student in seeking appropriate resolution. The student may make use of counseling and advising services at any time. If difficulties cannot be resolved, the field director may conduct an administrative review, which may result in a decision to terminate the student's field placement. The student is notified of this decision in writing.

All social work students enrolling in the field practicum are required to show evidence of professional liability insurance coverage paid for the duration of the course. The effective date of the policy must be on or before the first regular class period of the field practicum course for which the student is enrolling. Failure to provide evidence of insurance may result in the student being dropped from the field practicum.

Special Requirements

Elective Requirements and Limitations

In addition to the area and major requirements given above, the student must take elective coursework to complete the 125 semester hours required for the Bachelor of Social Work. No more than five one-semester courses taken on the pass/fail basis, thirty-six hours in any one field of study other than social work, and fifty-four hours in social work may be counted toward the 125-hour requirement.

Minimum Scholastic Requirements

1. The student must fulfill the University-wide graduation requirements and the requirements of the School of Social Work.
2. To apply for admission to the social work major, a student must have earned a grade of at least C in each of the following courses: Social Work 310, 312, 313, 318, and Psychology 304 or Human Development and Family Sciences 313. The student must also have a University grade point average of at least 2.00 and a grade point average of at least 2.50 in all the courses he or she has completed that are part of the social work major requirements. Additional requirements are given in the section "Admission to the Major in Social Work."
3. Following the student's admission to the major, the student's coursework is reviewed periodically by the student and the academic adviser. Students must maintain a University grade point average of at least 2.00; they must also earn a grade of at least C in each course listed as a social work major requirement and must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.50 in these courses. If the student has trouble meeting the professional or academic requirements of the major, the review process delineated in Student Standards for Social Work Education will bring the difficulty to the student's attention and assist the student in making appropriate resolution. The student may make use of counseling and advising services at any time.
4. If the student's grade point average in social work courses falls below 2.50, the student is placed on academic probation in social work. If the grade point average remains below 2.50 for two consecutive semesters, including the summer session, the student is subject to academic dismissal from the School of Social Work.
5. All students who seek to reenter the School of Social Work after having been placed on enforced withdrawal or academic dismissal must have the approval of the dean.
6. Any student who has a grade of C or higher in a course may not repeat the course and use the second grade to improve his or her grade point average without special permission of the dean. If a student repeats a course, all grades received for the course are included in the grade point average.

Order and Choice of Work

A pre-social work major may fulfill the requirements for application to the major in four or five long-session semesters, depending on the number of hours completed each semester. After admission to the major, students complete a three-semester professional sequence and additional requirements needed for the BSW degree.

Suggested Schedule for Pre-Social Work Majors

First Year

• Thirty-one semester hours:
• Biology 301M, Ecology, Evolution, and Society
• Foreign language 506 and 507, or an equivalent sequence; or American Sign Language 506 and 507
• Psychology 301, Introduction to Psychology
• Rhetoric and Writing 306, Rhetoric and Writing
• Sociology 302, Introduction to the Study of Society
• A three-hour fine arts/humanities course with multicultural content, to be counted toward the Area D requirement
• A three-hour mathematics course to be counted toward the Area C requirement
• A three-hour elective course

Second Year

• Thirty semester hours:
• English 316K, Masterworks of Literature
• Psychology 304, Introduction to Child Psychology, or Human Development and Family Sciences 313, Child Development
• Social Work 310, Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare
• Social Work 312, Generalist Social Work Practice: Knowledge, Values, and Skills
• Social Work 313, Social Work Research Methods
• Social Work 318, Social Work Statistics
• Six hours of American government, including Texas government
• Six hours of American history

Suggested Schedule for Social Work Majors

Third Year

• Thirty-three semester hours:
• Social Work 325, Foundations of Social Justice
• Social Work 327, Human Behavior and Social Environment
• Social Work 334, Social Work Practice in Organizations and Communities
• A three-hour economics course
• A three-hour fine arts/humanities course to be counted toward the Area D requirement
• A three-hour course with a substantial writing component to be counted toward the Area A requirement
• Six hours of coursework in science to be counted toward the Area C requirement
• Six hours of upper-division social and behavioral science coursework
• A three-hour upper-division elective course

The student must also take any remaining courses needed to fulfill the Area A, B, C, and D requirements, since this coursework is prerequisite to the field practicum.

Fourth Year

• Thirty-one semester hours:
• Social Work 323K, Social Welfare Programs, Policies, and Issues
• Social Work 332, Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
• Social Work 333, Social Work Practice with Groups
• Social Work 640, Social Work Practicum I
• Social Work 641, Social Work Practicum II
• Social Work 444, Integrative Seminar
• Three hours of upper-division coursework in social and behavioral science
• A three-hour elective course

The student must also complete all other remaining required coursework before the field practicum, including electives needed to provide the total of 125 semester hours required for the degree. No other courses may be taken concurrently with the field practicum courses.