Academic Catalog 2024-2025

Slippery Rock University

Social Work, Bachelor of Science (BS)

Program Director: Dr. Christopher Streidl

Social work is a profession that applies knowledge about people and society to help persons, groups, or communities meet a diversity of needs, solve a wide range of problems, promote social justice, and assist people in becoming empowered. The baccalaureate program in social work prepares students for generalist social work practice. As beginning professional social workers, graduates typically work in the areas of child welfare, juvenile and adult corrections, public assistance, health and mental health, aging domestic violence, and chemical dependency, among others.

The undergraduate program in social work awards a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work and is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting agency for social work. Accreditation standards require a solid core of courses on social welfare issues and policies, social work practice skills, basic social science research methods, and a broad background in the liberal arts with special emphasis on psychology, biology, economics, politics, sociology, organization, and diverse ethnic groups. In fulfilling the academic requirements for social work, students must also uphold the values of the profession of Social Work as expressed in the National Association of Social Work’s Code of Ethics.

Program Learning Outcomes

The six goals of the Social Work Program are as follows:

  1. To graduate students with a baccalaureate (B.S.) degree in Social Work who are competent to begin generalist social work practice.
  2. To graduate students who are well prepared to enter graduate schools of Social Work, either directly after receiving the undergraduate degree, or after a period of practice.
  3. To contribute to the intellectual, ethical, and emotional development of our students in order to enhance their awareness and involvement as citizens in the broad social welfare issues of our times.
  4. To sensitize students to the human condition in order that they might develop a respect for human dignity, diversity, and freedom.
  5. For students who are uncertain about a career choice, to provide a clear and honest introduction to the responsibilities and rewards of a Social Work career, so that they can make informed career choices.
  6. To help meet the human resource needs for baccalaureate level social workers in the diverse mix of rural, small town, and metropolitan areas from which our students come and to which many wish to return.

Related Links

Social Work, BS Program Page

Professional Licensure/Certification Page

Curriculum Guide

GPA Requirement

Major GPA: 2.0 or higher
Overall GPA: 2.0 or higher

Summary*

Rock Studies 2 Requirements42
Other Basic Requirements0-3
Major Requirements54
Electives24

* All undergraduate degree programs require a minimum of 120 credits.  Some courses meet multiple requirements, but are only counted once toward the 120 credit total required to graduate.

Rock Studies 2 Requirements

The Rock
SUBJ 139Foundations of Academic Discovery 13
ENGL 102Critical Writing3
ENGL 104Critical Reading3
MATH 117Quantitative Reasoning3
Select one of the following:3
Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice
Ethics and Civil Discourse
Civil Discourse and Democracy
Subtotal15
Integrated Inquiry
Creative and Aesthetic Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Humanities Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Social Science Inquiry
Select 3 Credits3
Natural Sciences Inquiry
SCI 101Science of Life3
Physical Sciences Inquiry
SCI 102Understanding the Physical World3
Subtotal15
Thematic Thread
Select 12 Credits 212
Total Hours42
1

Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject.

2

One course from each category; six credits must be 300-level or above; no more than 4 credits from one subject area; specific courses required in first major, regardless of prefix of course, cannot be used to satisfy thread requirements; any course with same prefix as first major cannot be used to satisfy thread requirements, even if it is not a course in the first major.

Basic Math Requirement

Check with your adviser or a current degree audit report to see if you have been exempted from this course. The credit earned in this course will not be counted toward the 120 credit hour minimum needed to earn a degree.

Complete one of the following:0-3
Meet required minimum SAT or ACT math score OR
Beginning Algebra
Total Hours0-3

DIVERSITY,  EQUITY,  AND INCLUSION REQUIREMENT

Students must take and pass a course with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) designation prior to graduation.  Students can meet this requirement by taking any DEI - designated course in any program at any time during their undergraduate career. 

Major Requirements

  • 27 major credits must be taken at SRU or PASSHE
  • 27 major credits must be taken at the 300 level or above
  • ACT 34 (Criminal History) and ACT 151 (Child Abuse) clearances are required for admission to the Social Work program.
  • Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 for admission to the Social Work program.
Core Course (Other Disciplines)
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Psychology 1,2
Principles of Sociology 1,2
Subtotal3
Required Core Courses – Social Work
SOWK 105Human Diversity 13
SOWK 251Introduction to Social Work 13
SOWK 328Human Behavior and the Social Environment 13
SOWK 340Social Welfare Institutions 13
SOWK 355Social Work Practice with Individuals 13
SOWK 356Social work Practice with Groups & Families 13
SOWK 357Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities 13
SOWK 407Social Policy Issues 13
SOWK 450SOWK Internship 112
SOWK 460Social Work Integrative Seminar 13
Subtotal39
Research Methods
SOWK 318Research Methods 13
SOWK 319Statistical Methods 13
Subtotal6
Social Work Electives
Select two of the following:6
Introduction to Child Welfare 1
Social Justice and Equality 1
Crisis Intervention 1
Animal Assisted Interventions
Clinical and Academic Documentation for Social Work
Forensic Social Work
Clinical Perspectives on DSM Diagnoses
Subtotal6
Total Hours54
1

Course counts for 50% of Major requirements and Major GPA

2

Course can be counted as a Rock Studies 2 Requirement, but earns credit only once toward your 120-credits total.

*

Some courses may require pre-requisites. Please see course descriptions to determine if there are any pre-requisites for that specific course.

Co-curricular and Experiential Learning

Students are encouraged to explore additional curricular and co-curricular opportunities. There is a strong correlation between long-term student success and participation in the following types of programs and activities:

  1. Field trips
  2. Career Education
  3. Internships/ Field Experience
  4. High-Impact Practice (HIP) designated classes
  5. Job shadowing
  6. Community Engaged Learning

Important Curriculum Guide Notes

This Curriculum Guide is provided to help SRU students and prospective students better understand their intended major curriculum. Enrolled SRU students should note that the My Rock Audit may place already-earned and/or in progress courses in different, yet valid, curriculum categories. Enrolled SRU students should use the My Rock Audit Report and materials and information provided by their faculty advisers to ensure accurate progress towards degree completion. The information on this guide is current as of the date listed. Students are responsible for curriculum requirements at the time of enrollment at the University.

PASSHE - Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Institutions

SOCIAL WORK - BS (6181)
This program is effective as of Fall 2019.
Revised 04.21.22
UCC 2.5.2019 

Recommended Four-Year Plan

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallHours
SOWK 105 Human Diversity 3
INDP 201
Principles of Sociology
or Introduction to Psychology
3
ENGL 102 Critical Writing 3
SUBJ 139Foundations of Academic Discovery 1 3
ESAP 101 FYRST Seminar * 1
Creative & Aesthetic Inquiry 3
 Hours16
Spring
SOWK 251 Introduction to Social Work 3
ENGL 104 Critical Reading 3
MATH 117 Quantitative Reasoning 3
Select one of the following: 3
Civil Discourse: Theory & Practice
Ethics and Civil Discourse
Civil Discourse and Democracy
Humanities Inquiry 3
 Hours15
Second Year
Fall
SOWK 328 Human Behavior and the Social Environment 3
SOWK 318 Research Methods 3
SOWK 355 Social Work Practice with Individuals 3
SCI 101 Science of Life 3
Social Science Inquiry 3
Declare a Thematic Thread 2
 Hours15
Spring
SOWK 319 Statistical Methods 3
SOWK 356 Social work Practice with Groups & Families 3
SCI 102 Understanding the Physical World 3
Elective 3
Thematic Thread Requirement 3
 Hours15
Third Year
Fall
SOWK 340 Social Welfare Institutions 3
SOWK 357 Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities 3
Thematic Thread OR Social Work Elective 3
Thematic Thread OR Elective 3
Rock Studies 2 Thread course OR Social Work Elective 3
 Hours15
Spring
SOWK 407 Social Policy Issues 3
Social Work Elective 3
Thematic Thread Requirement 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall
Thematic Thread OR Social Work Elective 3
Thematic Thread Requirement 3
Thematic Thread Requirement 3
Elective 3
Elective 3
 Hours15
Spring
SOWK 450 SOWK Internship (S or summer) 12
SOWK 460 Social Work Integrative Seminar (S or summer) 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours**121
1

Course offered in multiple subjects; cannot take course in first major subject.

2

Work with your Academic Adviser to declare a Thematic Thread by the end of your fall semester in your second year.

*

Students are encouraged to take ESAP 101​ as a Free Elective.

** This document is meant to serve as a guide. Some planners may show more than 120 credits because faculty have created flexibility in choosing courses.  However, only 120 credits are required to obtain a degree. Please consult with your academic adviser and refer to your curriculum guide prior to registering for courses. This plan should be reviewed, and verified, by you and your academic adviser at least once each academic year. 

Major Code: 6181
Reviewed: 04.21.2022