Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
California State University, Fresno
Key Information
Campus location
Fresno, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 16,089 / per year **
Application deadline
Request info *
Earliest start date
Request info
* students outside the U.S; August 1 - students in the U.S.
** with additional fees and living expenses, the overall annual cost is around $28,584
Scholarships
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Introduction
The profession of social work is dedicated to meeting the diverse social service needs of special populations of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. As a practice-oriented profession, social work deals with social concerns that range from societal oppression to people's emotional/behavioral problems.
The bachelor's degree program prepares students to enter supervised professional social work practice and/or pursue admission to a range of graduate study programs and professional schools. This includes graduate study in social work leading to a master's in social work.
Program Outcome
What You Can Learn
While the discipline of social work is deeply rooted in a rich, 100-year history of service, what social workers "do" is no longer traditionally defined. The role of the social worker is constantly expanding into innovative service fields wherever a compassionate response to human needs is indicated. The department educates beginning (B.A. in Social Work) and advanced practice (M.S.W) who can meet complex needs, perform a multiplicity of social work roles, promote institutional change, and enhance the problem-solving capacities of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Curriculum
The bachelor's degree program in social work is a sequenced program that requires four consecutive semesters to complete. All prerequisites must be completed prior to entry into the social work program. A cohort of social work students begins the program in the fall semester of an academic year. No social work students are permitted to begin the program in the spring semester. Students majoring in social work must complete the following prerequisites, including successful application/admission, before being permitted to enroll in restricted and sequenced 100-level social work courses. Students who begin at Fresno State as freshmen will enter the major after demonstrating competence and fit through success in the pre-health major. The application date for native students and transfer students will be available on the Department of Social Work Education website.
a. Complete all lower-division General Education courses.
b. Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7.
c. Formally apply for upper-division social work major status.
d. The following eight prerequisite courses must be completed:
- G.E. Area A1 (COMM 3, COMM 7, or COMM 8) (3 units)
- G.E. Area A2 (ENGL 10/ENGL 5B) (3 units)
- G.E. Area A3* Critical Thinking (3 units)
- G.E. Area B4* Quantitative Reasoning (3 units)
- G.E. Area D2 Social Science (ECON 25, ECON 40, or ECON 50) (3 units)
- G.E. Area E Life-long Understanding (PH 90) (3 units)
- American Government & Institutions (PLSI 2) (3 units)
- SWRK 20 (3 units)
Total (24 units)
* See the lower-division General Education list for university-approved courses. Each prerequisite must be completed with a minimum C grade CR/NC grades are not acceptable. A GPA of 2.7 or above is required in the eight prerequisite courses.
Students may enroll in upper-division social work major status in the Social Work Education Department office upon successful completion of the above prerequisite requirements. Eligibility for enrollment will be contingent upon the satisfactory fulfillment of these requirements.
1. Major requirements (42 units)
SWRK 20, SWRK 123, SWRK 135, SWRK 136, SWRK 160, SWRK 161 (or SWRK 161S), SWRK 170, SWRK 171, SWRK 180, SWRK 181i, SWRK 182I, SWRK 183
Note: Students must attain a minimum grade of C in each required course in the social work major Students who receive a grade of less than C in any of the above courses must meet with their Social Work Education academic advisor and develop a plan for repeating the course and continuing the major. Refer to the Undergraduate Advising Booklet for complete information on policies. See Advising Notes.
Additional requirements (18 units)
May also count toward General Education
Select one: GERON 100, GERON 103, PHIL 1, PHIL 20, ASAM 138 (3 units)
Select one: GERON 134, GERON 139, PHIL 120, PHIL 131, PHIL 150, ASAM 140 (3 units)
Approved upper-division electives (9 units)
Cultural Diversity Ethnic Studies including Africana Studies and American Indian Studies; Chicano and Latin American Studies, Asian American Studies, or Women's Studies (3 units)
Six units from two of the following areas: Anthropology, Criminology, Psychology, or Sociology (6 units)
Select three units from the following: SWRK 124, SWRK 125, SWRK 128, SWRK 129, SWRK 137, or SWRK 152 (3 units)
2. General Education requirements (48 units)
3. Other requirements (9 units)
American Government and Institutions (PLSI 2), Multicultural and International (MI), and Upper-division writing
4. Sufficient elective units to meet required total units (varies); may include a double major or minor
5. Total units (120)*
* G.E. and MI courses can be double-counted with major requirements. See advisor for details.
Career Opportunities
What You Can Do
The undergraduate social work program prepares students to enter supervised professional social work practice and/or pursue admission to a range of graduate studies programs.