Overview

The UNC Charlotte BSW Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting body for social work education programs.  The BSW degree prepares graduates for generalist social work practice.  Generalist practice relates to utilizing multiple types of intervention that would be useful for different types of social systems and client populations.  Emphases are placed on the following:  development of therapeutic working relationships with clients; assessment of client systems from a diversity-affirming, ecological systems perspective; establishment of accurate and appropriate problem definitions and goals for intervention; utilization of varying intervention approaches, depending on the unique characteristics and needs of diverse client systems; linkage with resources; empowerment through identifying client strengths and enhancing client problem-solving, coping, and developmental capacities; and, application of baccalaureate-level research and evaluation methods.  All of these emphases related to generalist practice are centered in professional social work values and ethics within an increasingly global environment and are designed to affirm the human rights of diverse groups of people, especially populations-at-risk and groups which have historically been oppressed  due to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic  status, gender, sexual orientation, age, and ability.

UNC Charlotte BSW graduates are employed in areas such as child protective services, substance abuse treatment, hospitals, youth and children services, criminal justice, adoptions/foster care, hospice, and long term care.  They work from the coast to the mountains of North Carolina as well as all across the United States.
 

BSW Academic Plan of Study

The printable BSW Academic Plan of Study contains a program summary, program requirements, minimum criteria for admission, a summary of credit hours, and suggested plan of study. Please click this link to download the BSW Academic Plan of Study (Word document).

BSW Academic Plan of Study
 

BSW Student Program Handbook

Comprehensive information about the BSW Program curriculum and policies can be found in the BSW Student Program Handbook located on the web at Student Services Handbook web page.  All BSW students are responsible for adhering to the policies and requirements of the Program as delineated in the Handbook.
 

Program Mission

The mission of the UNC Charlotte BSW Program is to provide a learning environment conducive to preparing generalist social work professionals to serve the diverse populations of the Charlotte metropolitan region.
 

Program Goals

The goals of the UNC Charlotte BSW Program are as follows:

1. To prepare students for entry level generalist social work practice involving work with diverse individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.
2. To prepare students with a broad social work knowledge base that will enable them to utilize sound ethical principles and critical thinking skills in providing generalist practice services.
3. To prepare students interested in pursuing graduate studies in social work with a generalist practice foundation of knowledge.
    

Program Objectives

In order to achieve its mission and goals, the UNC Charlotte BSW Program pursues a range of objectives congruent with CSWE educational standards.  BSW graduates are expected to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
2. Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly.
3. Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
4. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
5. Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues.
6. Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with systems of all sizes
7. Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities.
8. Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.
9. Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions
10. Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities.
11. Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.
12. Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change.
     

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Social Work Major

The BSW major is designed as a full-time academic program.  There are two levels of admission to the BSW major: Lower Division Admission and Upper Division Admission.  This section will describe each of those levels.
 

Lower Division Admission

Students who are in good academic standing at the University are eligible to declare Social Work as their major.  In so doing, they enter into Lower Division admission status in the major.  Lower Division students are eligible to enroll in General Education courses as well the following courses required for the  Social Work major:

• SOCY 1101: Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)
• PSYC 1101: General Psychology (3 cr.)
• BIOL 1110: Principles of Biology I (3 cr.)
• BIOL 110L: Principles of Biology I Lab (3 cr.)
• POLS 1110: Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.)
• Foreign Language through the 2200 or 2201 Level
• SOWK 1101: The Field of Social Work
• SOWK 2182: Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
• SOWK 2183: Human Behavior and the Social Environment II
• Social Work Elective Courses

All Lower Division students are assigned an Academic Advisor in the College of Heath and Human Services Student Services office.  Lower Division students are required to meet with their academic advisor to develop a plan for successfully navigating the social work curriculum.
 

Upper Division Admission

Admission to Upper Division must be granted before students are permitted to take Upper Division courses in the BSW major.  Admission to Upper Division is predicated upon students agreeing to full-time enrollment in Upper Division courses.  Upper Division Admission is a selective process.  Applications for Admission to Upper Division are accepted twice per year—January and July—in order to fill an Upper Division cohort will begin classes in the Fall.  January applications are due on the first day of Spring semester, and July applications are due on the first day of Second Summer Session.  Students ordinarily apply for Upper Division in conjunction with taking SOWK 2182: Human Behavior in the Social Environment I.  Upper Division applications are reviewed in relation to the following criteria:

1. Completion of a majority of the University General Education requirements and Social Work Lower Division courses.
2. A minimum overall GPA of 2.25 or higher.
3. A minimum of a grade of C or higher in the following courses: SOWK 1101: The Field of Social Work; and SOWK 2182: Human Behavior in the Social Environment.
4. A completed Admission to Upper Division Application (located in Appendix A of this Handbook), a University transcript (and transfer transcripts if applicable), a statement of prior human services-related experience (paid or voluntary), and a written narrative statement (see Application) where students have an opportunity to demonstrate their writing skills and their understanding of professional social work values.

Students accepted into Upper Division will be eligible to progress into Upper Division coursework in the major.  Students not accepted into Upper Division are encouraged to meet with their Lower Division CHHS academic advisor for further academic planning.  Students not accepted into Upper Division may reapply once.  Those declined admission a second time are not eligible to apply again.  Those who do not continue in the BSW major have the option of declaring another major.
 

Due Dates for Upper Division Applications

Please see the Upper Division application below for current Due Dates.
 

Upper Division Progression

In order to promote the progression of competent students through the Upper Division component of the social work major and eventually into the social work profession:

1. Grade Point Average.  Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.25 in the social work major.  Failure to maintain minimum GPA requirements will result in dismissal from the major.
2. Course Grades.  Students must receive a grade of C or better in every Upper Division SOWK course and a grade of P in every field practicum course. Students who receive two grades of D or F during matriculation in Upper Division will be dismissed from the major.
3. Course Repeat.  Students who earn a grade of D or F are permitted one course repeat (i.e., students may pursue a course repeat on one occasion only during matriculation in Upper Division).   Students who repeat a course and achieve a grade of C or higher may continue to progress in Upper Division.  Students who receive a grade of D or F for a course repeat will be dismissed from the major.
4. Field Repeat. Students are permitted to apply to repeat a field practicum course only once.  The Field Committee will review the student’s application to repeat field, as well as their overall performance in the Program, and then render a decision as to whether the student will be permitted to repeat the field practicum course.  Field Committee denial decisions for repeating a field practicum course will result in a student’s dismissal from the major.  In addition, a student who is permitted to repeat a field practicum course and does not achieve a grade of P will be dismissed from the major.
    

Graduation Requirements

BSW Degree Requirements

The major in Social Work is based on a liberal arts foundation, augmented by social work and social work-related courses.  In addition to completing all University general education requirements, the BSW major requires that students complete 76 credits made up of 53 credits in required SOWK courses and 23 credits in required courses from other disciplines.  The core SOWK courses for the social work major are: SOWK 1101, 2182, 2183, 3100, 3120, 3181, 3182, 3184, 3201, 3202, 3482, 3484, 3683, and 3685, one social work elective and one other social work or gerontology elective, Other required courses for the social work major are SOCY 1101, BIOL 1110, BIOL 1110L; PSYC 1101, POLS 1110, PSYC 3151, SOCY 4156 & Lab, and Foreign Language at the 2200 or 2201 level.  Students must acquire a minimum of 120 total credits in order to graduate from UNC Charlotte.
 

BSW Course Descriptions

SOWK course descriptions are listed here.  Descriptions for required related-discipline courses may be found in the University Undergraduate Catalog.

SOWK 1101. The Field of Social Work. (3) Historical development and philosophy of social work as a profession: personal and societal needs; methods and organizational arrangements; and roles and tasks of social workers. (Fall, Spring, Summer)

SOWK 2182. Human Behavior and the Social Environment I. (3). Prerequisite: BIOL 1110, BIOL 1110 Lab, SOCY 1101, and PSYC 1101. Prerequisite or corequisite: SOWK 1101.  Human behavior in the social environment in relation to developmental theory and transitions across the life span. (Fall, Summer)

SOWK 2183. Human Behavior and the Social Environment II (3). Prerequisite: SOWK 2182. Human behavior in the social environment in relation to interactions among individuals, families, communities, and larger social systems. (Fall, Summer)

SOWK 3090. Topics in Social Work. (1-3). Specialized topics in social work. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. (A list of specific courses offered each term is available through campus course listings.) (Fall, Spring, Summer)

SOWK 3100. Social Work Research. (3). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. Introduction to research methods and skills used in social work. (Fall)

SOWK 3120. Diversity and Populations-at-Risk. (3). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. Issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, age, and ability in social work practice. (Fall)

SOWK 3181. Practice Methods I. (3). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. Corequisite: SOWK 3482, SOWK 3683. Generalist social work practice methods with an emphasis on working with individuals. (Fall)

SOWK 3182. Practice Methods II. (3). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing, SOWK 3181. Corequisite: SOWK 3484, SOWK 3685. Generalist social work practice methods with an emphasis on working with families and groups. (Spring)

SOWK 3184. Practice Methods III. (3). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing and SOWK 3181. Corequisite: SOWK 3484, SOWK 3685. Generalist social work practice methods with an emphasis on working with communities and large systems. (Spring)

SOWK 3201. Foundations of Social Welfare. (3) (W). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. History of and current trends in social welfare; values and conflicts that influence social welfare programming. (Fall)

SOWK 3202. Social Welfare Policy. (3). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing and SOWK 3201. Nature and development of social welfare policy; implications of policy for program design and service delivery. (Spring)

SOWK 3482. Field Placement I. (6). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. Corequisite: SOWK 3181. Directed field experience two days per week under supervision in selected community agencies. (Fall)

SOWK 3484. Field Placement II (9). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing, SOWK 3181, SOWK 3482,  SOWK 3683. A continuation of SOWK 3482, directed field experience three days per week under supervision in selected community agencies. (Spring).

SOWK 3683. Field Seminar I (1). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. Corequisite: SOWK 3181. Classroom analysis and discussion of the student field placement experience. (Fall)

SOWK 3685. Field Seminar II (1). Prerequisite: Upper Division standing, SOWK 3181, SOWK 3482, SOWK 3683. Corequisite: SOWK 3182, SOWK 3184. A continuation of SOWK 3683, classroom analysis and discussion of the student field placement experience. (Spring)

SOWK 3895. Directed Individual Study. (1-4). Prerequisite: Consent of the Department. Supervised investigation of a special problem or area of practice.  May be repeated for credit. (Fall Spring, Summer)

SOWK 4101. Social Work Practice with Older Adults. Prerequisite: Consent of the Department.  Social work practice with older adults with an emphasis on assessment,  intervention planning, and implementation. (On demand)
 

Curriculum

BSW Curriculum Plan

Year 1: Fall/Spring

SOCY 1101 Intro Soc (3)                                             PSYC 1101 Gen Psyc (3)

BIOL 1110 Prin Bio I (3)                                               POLS 1110 Intro Amer Pol (3)

BIOL 1110L Prin Bio I Lab (1)                                      ENGL 1102 English Comp II (3)

ENGL 1101 English Comp I (3)                                   Math or Stat or PHIL 2105 (3)

Math (3)                                                                       LBST 2101 (3)

LBST 1100 Series (3)

Year 2: Fall/Spring Apply to Upper Division

SOWK 1101 Field of SW (3)                                       SOWK 2183 HBSE II (3)

SOWK 2182 HBSE I (3)                                             Foreign Language 1102 or 1202 (3)

Writing Intensive (3)                                                   LBST 2200 Series (3)

LBST 2102 (3)                                                            Elective (3)

Foreign Language 1101 or 1102 (3)                           Elective (3)

Junior Level Transfer Students - Summer Entry
Summer 1/Summer 2
Apply to Upper Division

SOWK 1101 Field of SW (3)                                       SOWK 2183 HBSE II

Year 3: Fall/Spring

SOWK 3120 Div & Pop at Risk (3)                             SOWK 3202 Soc. Wel. Policy (3)

SOWK 3201 Found. Social Welfare (3)                      SOWK or GRNT Elective (3)

SOWK Elective (3)                                                      SOCY 4156 Quan Analy 3)

PSYC 3151 Abn Psyc (3)                                           SOCY 4156L Quan Anay Lab (1)

Foreign Lang 2050 or 2201 (3)                                   Elective (3)

Elective (3)

Year 4: Fall/Spring

SOWK 3482 Field Placement I (6)                              SOWK 3484 Field Placement II (9)

SOWK 3683 Field Seminar I (1)                                  SOWK 3685 Field Seminar II (1)

SOWK 3181 Practice Methods I (3)                            SOWK 3182 Practice Methods II (3)

SOWK 3100 Res Methods (3)                                     SOWK 3184 Practice Methods III (3)

Open Slot (if needed) (3)

Total Hours in Social Work Major =   76

Total Hours in Curriculum Layout = 121

Field Placement

Field education is a critical component of the BSW major and occurs during the fall and spring semesters of the senior year.  Students are required to complete an application for field education during the semester prior to entering field placement. The Director of Field Education reviews all applications and meets with students to plan their field education experience.  To the extent feasible, efforts are made to place students in field settings that are congruent with their professional social work practice interests.  All field placement agencies must be located within a 50 mile radius of the University.  In addition, all field placement settings must provide generalist practice learning opportunities and meet the UNC Charlotte Department of Social Work requirements for BSW field instruction. Students are not permitted to make contacts with potential field agencies or potential field instructors without the approval of the Field Director.  All placement arrangements must be initiated by the Field Director.
 

Application Instructions

Instructions to complete the Application for Admission to Upper Division

Application for Admission to Upper Division

Field Education Application
 

Program Coordinator

BSW Program Coordinator:

Tips on Paying for College and Your Credit

Please click on the link below for tips from the College of Health and Human Services Tips on paying for College and Your Credit page.
 

Contact for Additional Information

For information about the BSW degree, academic advising, and pursuing the BSW major, Contact:

CHHS Academic Advising Center
College of Health and Human Services
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223-0001

CHHS 103 (Building and Room #)
Phone: 704-687-7922
Fax: 704-687-1785
Email: shmann@uncc.edu
 

For information about applying for admission to UNC Charlotte, contact:

Office of Admissions
Cato Hall
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 29223-0001|
Phone: 704-687-2213
Website