Social work's special contribution rests on an established body of knowledge, values and skills pertinent to understanding human relationships and the interaction between people as individuals, in families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Undergraduates in the School of Social Work receive a liberal arts education in the social and behavioral sciences and their application to human problems that prepares them to be informed citizens involved in human services or social welfare problems and policies. Students take courses in a variety of social sciences to enable them to view social welfare in its broad social, economic, and political contexts.
Social work courses offer a theoretical understanding of social problems and an introduction to practice methods used by social workers. The curriculum covers such areas as aging, family and child welfare, poverty, mental health, developmental disabilities, alcohol and drug abuse, diversity, race and ethnicity, criminal justice, oppression and social, economic and environmental justice, and at-risk populations.
MISSION
The mission of the UW–Madison School of Social Work is to enhance human well-being and promote human rights and social and economic justice for people who are disadvantaged to achieve an equitable, healthy, and productive society. The school aims to:
- Create, advance, strengthen, and integrate interdisciplinary knowledge for students and the profession through research, scholarship, teaching and practice.
- Educate students to become highly skilled, culturally competent and ethical practitioners who will provide effective leadership for the profession of social work within the State of Wisconsin, nationally, and internationally.
- Promote change at levels ranging from the individual to national and international policy, including empowering communities and populations that are disadvantaged and developing humane service delivery systems.
- Create and disseminate knowledge regarding the prevention and amelioration of social problems.
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
The School of Social Work offers a bachelor of social work (BSW) degree or a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree with a major in social welfare. The BSW and the social welfare major prepare students for further academic study or for employment in selected human service arenas. The social welfare major offers an overview of current social problems.
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
BSW students and social welfare majors often choose the following certificate programs: American Indian studies, business, criminal justice, gender and women's studies, global health, LGBTQ+ studies, and religious studies. More details about certificates are available in this Guide.
Regardless of program of interest, students begin their course of study by taking SOC WORK 205 and SOC WORK 206 in either the freshman or sophomore year. Students can declare the social welfare major as early as the freshman year as long as they are enrolled in SOC WORK 205 and/or SOC WORK 206. More typically, students declare the major in the sophomore year while in or having competed SOC WORK 205 and/or SOC WORK 206. To declare the major, students should make an appointment and meet with one of the social welfare academic advisors at the School of Social Work.
University General Education Requirements
All undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are required to fulfill a minimum set of common university general education requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of an undergraduate education. This core establishes a foundation for living a productive life, being a citizen of the world, appreciating aesthetic values, and engaging in lifelong learning in a continually changing world. Various schools and colleges will have requirements in addition to the requirements listed below. Consult your advisor for assistance, as needed. For additional information, see the university Undergraduate General Education Requirements section of the Guide.
| General Education |
* The mortarboard symbol appears before the title of any course that fulfills one of the Communication Part A or Part B, Ethnic Studies, or Quantitative Reasoning Part A or Part B requirements. |
College of Letters & Science Breadth and Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. The College of Letters & Science allows this major to be paired with either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science curriculum. View a comparison of the degree requirements here.
Bachelor of Arts degree requirements
| Mathematics | Fulfilled with completion of University General Education requirements Quantitative Reasoning a (QR A) and Quantitative Reasoning b (QR B) coursework. Please note that some majors may require students to complete additional math coursework beyond the B.A. mathematics requirement. |
| Foreign Language |
Note: A unit is one year of high school work or one semester/term of college work. |
| L&S Breadth |
|
| Liberal Arts and Science Coursework | 108 credits |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work | 60 intermediate or advanced credits |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one (1) major |
| Total Credits | 120 credits |
| UW-Madison Experience | 30 credits in residence, overall 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit |
| Minimum GPAs | 2.000 in all coursework at UW–Madison 2.000 in intermediate/advanced coursework at UW–Madison |
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their school/college to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements and do not need to complete the L&S breadth and degree requirements above. Please note that the following special degree programs are not considered majors so are not available to non–L&S degree-seeking candidates:
- Applied Mathematics, Engineering and Physics (Bachelor of Science–Applied Mathematics, Engineering and Physics)
- Journalism (Bachelor of Arts–Journalism; Bachelor of Science–Journalism)
- Music (Bachelor of Music)
- Social Work (Bachelor of Social Work)
Requirements for the Major
Complete a minimum of 32 credits, to be attained via the requirements detailed below.
Social Welfare Policy & Services
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete both: | ||
| SOC WORK 205 | Introduction to the Field of Social Work | 4 |
| SOC WORK 206 | Introduction to Social Policy | 4 |
Social Science Concentration
Complete two Intermediate or Advanced level courses from one of the following social science concentration areas:1
Afro-American Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFROAMER 302 | Undergraduate Studies in Afro-American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 303 | Blacks, Film, and Society | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 321 | Afro-American History Since 1900 | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 323 | Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 333 | Black Feminisms | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 347 | The Caribbean and its Diasporas | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 393 | Slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction, 1848-1877 | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/ASIAN AM 443 | Mutual Perceptions of Racial Minorities | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HIST SCI/MED HIST 523 | Race, American Medicine and Public Health | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ED POL 567 | History of African American Education | 3 |
| AFROAMER 631 | Colloquium in Afro-American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 671 | Selected Topics in Afro-American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 673 | Selected Topics in Afro-American Society | 3 |
American Indian Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST 306 | Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | 3 |
| AMER IND/ANTHRO 314 | Indians of North America | 3 |
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST/GEOG 345 | Managing Nature in Native North America | 3 |
| AMER IND/ANTHRO 353 | Indians of the Western Great Lakes | 3 |
| AMER IND/LSC 444 | Native American Environmental Issues and the Media | 3 |
| AMER IND 450 | Issues in American Indian Studies | 3 |
| AMER IND/HISTORY 490 | American Indian History | 3-4 |
| AMER IND/HDFS 522 | American Indian Families | 3 |
| AMER IND/C&E SOC/SOC 578 | Poverty and Place | 3 |
Anthropology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 300 | Cultural Anthropology: Theory and Ethnography | 3 |
| ANTHRO/AMER IND 314 | Indians of North America | 3 |
| ANTHRO 321 | The Emergence of Human Culture | 3 |
| ANTHRO 330 | Topics in Ethnology | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO/RELIG ST 343 | Anthropology of Religion | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 345 | Family, Kin and Community in Anthropological Perspective | 3 |
| ANTHRO 348 | Economic Anthropology | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 350 | Political Anthropology | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO/AMER IND 353 | Indians of the Western Great Lakes | 3 |
| ANTHRO 365 | Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO/GEN&WS 443 | Anthropology by Women | 3 |
| ANTHRO 448 | Anthropology of Law | 3 |
| ANTHRO 477 | Anthropology, Environment, and Development | 3 |
| ANTHRO 545 | Psychological Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO/ED POL 570 | Anthropology and Education | 3 |
Asian American Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ASIAN AM/SOC 220 | Ethnic Movements in the United States | 3-4 |
| ASIAN AM 240 | Topics in Asian American Studies (when topic is appropriate) | 3 |
| ASIAN AM/ASIAN/HISTORY 246 | Southeast Asian Refugees of the "Cold" War | 4 |
| ASIAN AM/ASIAN/E A STDS/HISTORY 276 | Chinese Migrations since 1500 | 3-4 |
| ASIAN AM/AFROAMER 443 | Mutual Perceptions of Racial Minorities | 3 |
| ASIAN AM 540 | Special Topics | 3 |
Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHICLA/POLI SCI 231 | Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/GEN&WS/HISTORY 245 | Chicana and Latina History | 3 |
| CHICLA 301 | Chicana/o and Latina/o History | 3 |
| CHICLA/POLI SCI 302 | Mexican-American Politics | 3-4 |
| CHICLA 315 | Racial Formation and Whiteness | 3 |
| CHICLA/CURRIC 321 | Chicano/Latino Educational Justice | 3 |
| CHICLA 330 | Topics in Chicano/a Studies | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/COUN PSY 331 | Immigrant Health and Wellbeing | 3 |
| CHICLA/GEN&WS 332 | Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI 355 | Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY/POLI SCI 422 | Latino History and Politics | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY 435 | Colony, Nation, and Minority: The Puerto Ricans' World | 3 |
| CHICLA/LEGAL ST/SOC 443 | Immigration, Crime, and Enforcement | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/SOC 470 | Sociodemographic Analysis of Mexican Migration | 3 |
| CHICLA 501 | Chican@ and Latin@ Social Movements in the U.S. | 3 |
| CHICLA/COUN PSY 525 | Dimensions of Latin@ Mental Health Services | 3 |
Economics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON/FINANCE 300 | Introduction to Finance | 3 |
| ECON 301 | Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | 4 |
| ECON 302 | Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory | 4 |
| ECON/HIST SCI 305 | Development of Economic Thought | 3-4 |
| ECON/A A E/REAL EST/URB R PL 306 | The Real Estate Process | 3 |
| ECON 311 | Intermediate Microeconomic Theory - Advanced Treatment | 3 |
| ECON 312 | Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory - Advanced Treatment | 3 |
| ECON/A A E/ENVIR ST 343 | Environmental Economics | 3-4 |
| ECON 364 | Survey of International Economics | 3-4 |
| ECON 370 | Economics of Poverty and Inequality | 3 |
| ECON 390 | Contemporary Economic Issues | 3 |
| ECON/REAL EST/URB R PL 420 | Urban and Regional Economics | 3 |
| ECON 441 | Analytical Public Finance | 3-4 |
| ECON 448 | Human Resources and Economic Growth | 3-4 |
| ECON/ENVIR ST/POLI SCI/URB R PL 449 | Government and Natural Resources | 3-4 |
| ECON 450 | Wages and the Labor Market | 3-4 |
| ECON/HISTORY 466 | The American Economy Since 1865 | 3-4 |
| ECON 467 | International Industrial Organizations | 3-4 |
| ECON/A A E 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| ECON 475 | Economics of Growth | 3-4 |
| ECON 508 | Wealth and Income | 3 |
| ECON 521 | Game Theory and Economic Analysis | 3-4 |
| ECON 522 | Law and Economics | 3-4 |
| ECON/PHILOS 524 | Philosophy and Economics | 3 |
| ECON/A A E/F&W ECOL 531 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| ECON/POP HLTH/PUB AFFR 548 | The Economics of Health Care | 3-4 |
| ECON 623 | Population Economics | 3-4 |
| ECON/REAL EST/URB R PL 641 | Housing Economics and Policy | 3 |
| ECON/SOC 663 | Population and Society | 3 |
| ECON/A A E/ENVIR ST/URB R PL 671 | Energy Economics | 3 |
Gender and Women's Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEN&WS/C&E SOC/SOC 215 | Gender and Work in Rural America | 3 |
| GEN&WS 320 | Special Topics in Gender, Women and Society | 1-3 |
| GEN&WS/AFROAMER 323 | Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History | 3 |
| GEN&WS/AFROAMER 326 | Race and Gender in Post-World War II U.S. Society | 3 |
| GEN&WS 331 | Topics in Gender/Class/Race/Ethnicity (Social Sciences) | 3 |
| GEN&WS/CHICLA 332 | Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change | 3 |
| GEN&WS/AFROAMER 333 | Black Feminisms | 3 |
| GEN&WS 340 | Topics in LGBTQ Sexuality | 3 |
| GEN&WS 342 | Transgender Studies | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 353 | Women and Gender in the U.S. to 1870 | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 354 | Women and Gender in the U.S. Since 1870 | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS 420 | Women in Cross-Societal Perspective | 3 |
| GEN&WS/LEGAL ST 422 | Women and the Law | 3 |
| GEN&WS 424 | Women's International Human Rights | 3 |
| GEN&WS/LEGAL ST/SOC 425 | Crime, Gender and Justice | 3 |
| GEN&WS 426 | Women and Grassroots Politics Across the Globe | 3 |
| GEN&WS/POLI SCI 429 | Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS 441 | Contemporary Feminist Theories | 3 |
| GEN&WS/ANTHRO 443 | Anthropology by Women | 3 |
| GEN&WS 446 | Queer of Color Critique | 3 |
| GEN&WS/POLI SCI 469 | Women and Politics | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/SOC 477 | Feminism and Sociological Theory | 3 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 519 | Sexuality, Modernity and Social Change | 3 |
| GEN&WS/PSYCH 522 | Psychology of Women and Gender | 3 |
| GEN&WS 534 | Gender, Sexuality, and Reproduction: Public Health Perspectives | 3 |
| GEN&WS/INTL ST 535 | Women's Global Health and Human Rights | 3 |
| GEN&WS/HIST SCI 537 | Childbirth in the United States | 3 |
| GEN&WS 547 | Theorizing Intersectionality | 3 |
| GEN&WS/SOC 611 | Gender, Science and Technology | 3 |
Political Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI SCI/LEGAL ST 217 | Law, Politics and Society | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA 231 | Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 272 | Introduction to Public Policy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA 302 | Mexican-American Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 305 | Elections and Voting Behavior | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 309 | Civil Liberties in the United States | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 311 | United States Congress | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 314 | Criminal Law and Justice | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 330 | Political Economy of Development | 3 |
| POLI SCI 347 | Terrorism | 3 |
| POLI SCI 348 | Analysis of International Relations | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 350 | International Political Economy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 351 | Politics of the World Economy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 354 | International Institutions and World Order | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS 355 | Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective | 3 |
| POLI SCI 356 | Principles of International Law | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 408 | The American Presidency | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 410 | Citizenship, Democracy, and Difference | 4 |
| POLI SCI 411 | The American Constitution : Powers and Structures of Government | 4 |
| POLI SCI 412 | The American Constitution: Rights and Civil Liberties | 4 |
| POLI SCI 414 | The Supreme Court as a Political Institution | 3 |
| POLI SCI 415 | The Separation of Powers and Federal Courts | 3 |
| POLI SCI 417 | The American Judicial System | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 421 | The Challenge of Democratization | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA/HISTORY 422 | Latino History and Politics | 3 |
| POLI SCI/GEN&WS 429 | Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 431 | Contentious Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 432 | Comparative Legal Institutions | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 434 | The Politics of Human Rights | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 439 | The Comparative Study of Genocide | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/ECON/ENVIR ST/URB R PL 449 | Government and Natural Resources | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/GEN&WS 469 | Women and Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 470 | The First Amendment | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 510 | Politics of Government Regulation | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 511 | Campaign Finance | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 514 | Interest Group Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 516 | Political Communications | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 561 | Radical Political Theory | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 601 | Proseminar: Topics in Political Science (when topic is appropriate) | 3 |
Psychology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYCH 311 | Issues in Psychology (when topic is appropriate) | 1-4 |
| PSYCH 401 | Psychology, Law, and Social Policy | 3 |
| PSYCH 403 | Psychology of Personality | 3 |
| PSYCH 405 | Abnormal Psychology | 3-4 |
| PSYCH 413 | Language, Mind, and Brain | 3 |
| PSYCH 414 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH 428 | Introduction to Cultural Psychology | 3-4 |
| PSYCH/SOC 453 | Human Sexuality | 4 |
| PSYCH/SOC 456 | Introductory Social Psychology | 3-4 |
| PSYCH 460 | Child Development | 3-4 |
| PSYCH 464 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| PSYCH 501 | Depth Topic in Social Science (when topic is appropriate) | 4 |
| PSYCH 502 | Cognitive Development | 4 |
| PSYCH 503 | Social Development | 4 |
| PSYCH 508 | Psychology of Human Emotions: From Biology to Culture | 4 |
| PSYCH 510 | Critical Issues in Child Psychopathology | 4 |
| PSYCH 513 | Hormones, Brain, and Behavior | 4 |
| PSYCH/GEN&WS 522 | Psychology of Women and Gender | 3 |
| PSYCH 525 | Cognition in Health and Society | 4 |
| PSYCH 526 | The Criminal Mind: Forensic and Psychobiological Perspectives | 4 |
| PSYCH 532 | Psychological Effects of the Internet | 4 |
| PSYCH 607 | Introduction to Clinical Psychology | 3 |
Sociology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 181 | Honors Introductory Seminar-The Sociological Enterprise | 3-4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 210 | Survey of Sociology | 3-4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 211 | The Sociological Enterprise | 3 |
| SOC/ASIAN AM 220 | Ethnic Movements in the United States | 3-4 |
| SOC/A A E/C&E SOC 340 | Issues in Food Systems | 3-4 |
| SOC 421 | Processes of Deviant Behavior | 3-4 |
| SOC 441 | Criminology | 3-4 |
| SOC/CHICLA/LEGAL ST 443 | Immigration, Crime, and Enforcement | 3-4 |
| SOC 446 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3-4 |
| SOC/PSYCH 453 | Human Sexuality | 4 |
| SOC/PSYCH 456 | Introductory Social Psychology | 3-4 |
| SOC/CHICLA 470 | Sociodemographic Analysis of Mexican Migration | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 475 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOC 476 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOC/GEN&WS 477 | Feminism and Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 533 | Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities | 3 |
| SOC 535 | Talk and Social Interaction | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/ENVIR ST 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 541 | Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | 3 |
| SOC 543 | Collective Behavior | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 573 | Community Organization and Change | 3 |
| SOC 575 | Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging | 3 |
| SOC/AMER IND/C&E SOC 578 | Poverty and Place | 3 |
| SOC/GEN&WS 611 | Gender, Science and Technology | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/URB R PL 617 | Community Development | 3 |
| SOC 621 | Class, State and Ideology: an Introduction to Marxist Social Science | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 623 | Gender, Society, and Politics | 3 |
| SOC 624 | Political Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 626 | Social Movements | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 630 | Sociology of Developing Societies/Third World | 3 |
| SOC 632 | Sociology of Organizations | 3-4 |
| SOC 633 | Social Stratification | 3 |
| SOC 640 | Sociology of the Family | 3 |
| SOC/LAW/LEGAL ST 641 | Sociology of Law | 3-4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/URB R PL 645 | Modern American Communities | 3 |
| SOC/ED POL 648 | Sociology of Education | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 650 | Sociology of Agriculture | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 652 | Sociology of Economic Institutions | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 655 | Microfoundations of Economic Sociology | 3 |
| SOC/ECON 663 | Population and Society | 3 |
| SOC/HISTORY 670 | Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy in America Since 1890 | 3-4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 676 | Applied Demography: Planning and Policy | 3 |
| SOC 678 | Sociology of Persecution | 3 |
Human behavior & the social environment
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete both: | ||
| SOC WORK 457 | Human Behavior and the Environment (junior year, spring semester) | 3 |
| SOC WORK 640 | Social Work with Ethnic and Racial Groups (junior year, fall semester) | 3 |
Statistics & Research
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | ||
| Complete one course from: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Statistical Methods (recommended) | ||
or STAT 371 | Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | |
or PSYCH 210 | Basic Statistics for Psychology | |
| Statistics for Sociologists I | ||
| Research | ||
| Complete one course from: | 3-4 | |
| Methods of Social Work Research | ||
or PSYCH 225 | Research Methods | |
| Methods of Sociological Inquiry | ||
| Total Credits | 6-8 | |
Electives in social welfare
Complete two Intermediate or Advanced level SOC WORK courses. 2
| 1 | Courses must be selected from these approved lists. |
| 2 | No more than 3 credits of SOC WORK 699 may be used to meet this requirement. |
Residence and quality of work
- 2.000 GPA in all SOC WORK and all major courses
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level major credits taken in residence3
- 15 credits in SOC WORK, taken on the UW–Madison campus
| 3 | SOC WORK courses designated as Intermediate or Advanced level, PSYCH 225, and SOC/C&E SOC 357 count as upper-level in the major. |
Honors in the Major
Students may apply for admission to Honors in the Major in consultation with the social welfare undergraduate advisor before beginning the Senior Honors Thesis. Students must make arrangements with a faculty member to sponsor their research project before admission will be granted.
Honors in the Major Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
- Earn a 3.400 GPA for all SOC WORK and all major courses
- Complete SOC WORK 650
- Complete one SOC WORK elective related to Senior Honors Thesis research topic
- Complete SOC WORK 579 concurrently with SOC WORK 681
- Complete a two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in SOC WORK 681 and SOC WORK 682, for a total of 6 credits, with a grade of B or better
- Present thesis results at a department colloquium.
University Degree Requirements
| Total Degree | To receive a bachelor's degree from UW–Madison, students must earn a minimum of 120 degree credits. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 degree credits. Students should consult with their college or department advisor for information on specific credit requirements. |
| Residency | Degree candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits in residence at UW–Madison. "In residence" means on the UW–Madison campus with an undergraduate degree classification. “In residence” credit also includes UW–Madison courses offered in distance or online formats and credits earned in UW–Madison Study Abroad/Study Away programs. |
| Quality of Work | Undergraduate students must maintain the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, or academic program to remain in good academic standing. Students whose academic performance drops below these minimum thresholds will be placed on academic probation. |
- Identify foundational aspects of the US social welfare system and the history of the social work profession.
- Recognize human differences and how social welfare systems interact with these differences to shape opportunities and outcomes for individuals, groups, and communities.
- Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate research with respect to its relevance, quality, and utility for addressing social welfare issues.
- Synthesize and communicate knowledge relevant to social welfare issues.
- Practice self-awareness of one’s values, beliefs, and biases regarding the causes and consequences of social welfare issues.
- Connect awareness of self, systems and social welfare knowledge to promote human dignity and justice.
This sample plan is a tool to assist you and your advisor(s). Use it along with your DARS report and the Course Guide. You will make your own four year plan based on your placement scores, incoming credits, and individual interests.
As you become involved in athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, volunteer experiences, and/or work, you might adjust the order of your courses to make room for these experiences. Social welfare majors are encouraged to gain social service experience through volunteer work. See the social work advisors or contact the Morgridge Center for Public Service, 263-2432, for information on volunteering.
Students wishing to apply to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program must do so in Spring of Junior year.
You will likely revise your four year plan several times during college. While your credits per term may vary, they should add up to 120 in the end.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A | 3 | Ethnic Studies | 3-4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3-4 | Literature Breadth | 4 |
| Biological Science Breadth | 3 | Physical Science Breadth | 3 |
| Foreign Language (if needed) | 4 | Foreign Language (if needed) | 4 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC WORK 205 (can be taken Freshman or Sophomore year) | 4 | SOC WORK 206 (can be taken Freshman or Sophomore year) | 4 |
| Humanities Breadth | 4 | Communication B | 4 |
| Literature Breadth | 4 | Science Breadth | 3-4 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 4 |
| INTER-LS 2101 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC WORK 640 | 3 | SOC WORK 457 | 3 |
| STAT 301, 371, PSYCH 210, or SOC 360 | 3 | SOC WORK elective (I/A-level) | 3-4 |
| Social Science Concentration course2 | 3-4 | Social Science Concentration course2 | 3-4 |
| Electives (I/A-level) | 6 | I/A COMP SCI, MATH, or STAT (if B.S.) | 3-4 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC WORK elective (I/A-level) | 3-4 | SOC WORK 650 | 3 |
| Electives (I/A-level) | 12 | SOC WORK elective (I/A-level) | 3-4 |
| Electives (I/A-level) | 8 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Note: SOC WORK 100 is a pre-major elective course that can be taken in the first year, if offered; it is not required for the major.
| 1 | The College encourages students to take INTER-LS 210 in their second year (or anytime); it is recommended but not required. |
| 2 | Take two Intermediate or Advanced level courses from one of the following social science departments: Afro-American Studies, American Indian Studies, Anthropology, Asian American Studies, Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, Economics, Gender and Women's Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology. |
Advising
Students interested in either the social welfare major or bachelor of social work meet with the social work advisors to discuss degree requirements; career opportunities; complete the major declaration; and confer on student issues and concerns. Advisors are an excellent resource for information about campus and community services. Students should see an advisor at least once each semester to review academic progress. Advising appointments are made through the school's website or by calling 608-263-3660. Social work faculty members are available for advice about coursework, research, and the social work profession in general.
L&S career resources
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students leverage the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and liberal arts degree; explore and try out different career paths; participate in internships; prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications; and network with professionals in the field (alumni and employers). In short, SuccessWorks helps students in the College of Letters & Science discover themselves, find opportunities, and develop the skills they need for success after graduation.
SuccessWorks can also assist students in career advising, résumé and cover letter writing, networking opportunities, and interview skills, as well as course offerings for undergraduates to begin their career exploration early in their undergraduate career.
Students should set up their profiles in Handshake to take care of everything they need to explore career events, manage their campus interviews, and apply to jobs and internships from 200,000+ employers around the country.
- SuccessWorks
- Set up a career advising appointment
- INTER-LS 210 L&S Career Development: Taking Initiative (1 credit, targeted to first- and second-year students)—for more information, see Inter-LS 210: Career Development, Taking Initiative
- INTER-LS 215 Communicating About Careers (3 credits, fulfills Com B General Education Requirement)
- Handshake
- Learn how we’re transforming career preparation: L&S Career Initiative
Professors: Lawrence M. Berger, MSW, Ph.D.; Marah H. Curtis, MSW, Ph.D.; Betty J. Kramer, MSSW, Ph.D.; Katherine Magnuson, Ph.D.; Daniel R. Meyer, MSW, Ph.D.; Stephanie A. Robert, MSW, Ph.D.; Tracy Schroepfer, MSW, Ph.D., Kristen Slack, A.M., Ph.D.
Associate Professors: Tally Moses, MSW, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors: Lauren Bishop, Ph.D.; Pajarita Charles, MPA, MSW, Ph.D.; Lara Gerassi, MSW, Ph.D.; Jooyoung Kong, MSW, Ph.D.; Jessica Pac, Ph.D.; Alejandra Ros Pilarz, Ph.D.; Tova Walsh, MSW, Ph.D.; Yang Sao Xiong, Ph.D.
Clinical Associate Professor: Audrey Conn, MSSW, APSW; Alice Egan, MSSW, APSW; Ellen Smith, MSSW
Clinical Assistant Professors: Laura Dresser, MSW, Ph.D.; Amanda Ngola, MSW, LCSW; Lynette Studer, MSSW, Ph.D.; Angela Willits, MSW, LCSW