Close-up of the School of Social Work building

The Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work core mission 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. Cultural humility, anti-oppressive practice, and social justice are values central to the profession of social work and our school. Social work seeks to actively confront racism.

Undergraduates in the Sandra Rosenbaum 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 majoring in social welfare leverage their understanding of the historical context of social work and the systems and policies that underlie our society and learn strategies to address social, racial, economic, and environmental justice and political contexts. Students take courses in a variety of social sciences to enable them to view social welfare in its broad social, economic, and political contexts. The social welfare major offers an overview of current social problems and prepares students for further academic study or for employment in selected human service arenas.

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. Social work courses offer a theoretical understanding of social problems and an introduction to practice methods used by social workers. The curriculum covers areas such as aging, family and child welfare, poverty, mental health, developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, diversity, race and ethnicity, criminal justice, oppression and social, economic and environmental justice, and at-risk populations.

Graduates of the Social Welfare major go on to work at non-profit organizations and federal, state, and local governments. Many alums go on to complete graduate degrees in Social Work, Counseling, Sociology, Psychology, Gender and Women’s Studies, and Law, among other degrees in the social sciences and beyond.

The School's main undergraduate Guide page provides a broader overview of the School and its mission.

Certificate Programs

Students in the social welfare major and BSW program often choose from a variety of certificate programs available. Common certificates include African American Studies, American Indian Studies, Business, Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies, Criminal Justice Certificate, Gender & Women Studies, Global Health, LGBTQ Studies, South Asian Studies, and South East Asian Studies, among others.

How to Get in

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. 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
  • Breadth—Humanities/Literature/Arts: 6 credits
  • Breadth—Natural Science: 4 to 6 credits, consisting of one 4- or 5-credit course with a laboratory component; or two courses providing a total of 6 credits
  • Breadth—Social Studies: 3 credits
  • Communication Part A Part B *
  • Ethnic Studies *
  • Quantitative Reasoning Part A Part B *

* 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 Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)

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.

Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements

Mathematics Complete the University General Education Requirements for Quantitative Reasoning A (QR-A) and Quantitative Reasoning B (QR-B) coursework.
Language
  • Complete the fourth unit of a language other than English; OR
  • Complete the third unit of a language and the second unit of an additional language other than English.
LS Breadth
  • 12 credits of Humanities, which must include 6 credits of literature; and
  • 12 credits of Social Science; and
  • 12 credits of Natural Science, which must include one 3+ credit Biological Science course and one 3+ credit Physical Science course.
Liberal Arts and Science Coursework Complete at least 108 credits.
Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work Complete at least 60 credits at the intermediate or advanced level.
Major Declare and complete at least one major.
Total Credits Complete at least 120 credits.
UW-Madison Experience
  • 30 credits in residence, overall; and
  • 30 credits in residence after the 86th credit.
Quality of Work
  • 2.000 in all coursework at UW–Madison
  • 2.000 in Intermediate/Advanced level 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. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.

Requirements for the Major

Complete a minimum of 32 credits, to be attained via the requirements detailed below.

Social Welfare Policy & Services

Complete both:
SOC WORK 205 Introduction to the Field of Social Work4
SOC WORK 206 Introduction to Social Policy4

Social Science Concentration1

Complete two Intermediate or Advanced level courses from one of the following social science concentration areas available from ten departments:

African American Studies

AFROAMER 303 Blacks, Film, and Society3
AFROAMER/​HISTORY  321 Afro-American History Since 19003-4
AFROAMER/​GEN&WS  323 Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History3
AFROAMER/​GEN&WS  333 Black Feminisms3
AFROAMER/​HISTORY  347 The Caribbean and its Diasporas3
AFROAMER/​HISTORY  393 Slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction, 1848-18773-4
AFROAMER/​HIST SCI/​MED HIST  523 Race, American Medicine and Public Health3
AFROAMER/​ED POL  567 History of African American Education3
AFROAMER 631 Colloquium in Afro-American History3
AFROAMER 671 Selected Topics in Afro-American History3

American Indian and Indigenous Studies

AMER IND/​ENVIR ST  306 Indigenous Peoples and the Environment3
AMER IND/​ANTHRO  314 Indians of North America3
AMER IND/​ENVIR ST/​GEOG  345 Caring for Nature in Native North America3
AMER IND/​GEOG  410 Critical Indigenous Ecological Knowledges3
AMER IND 450 Issues in American Indian Studies3
AMER IND/​C&E SOC/​SOC  578 Poverty and Place3

Anthropology

ANTHRO 300 Cultural Anthropology: Theory and Ethnography3
ANTHRO/​AMER IND  314 Indians of North America3
ANTHRO 321 The Emergence of Human Culture3
ANTHRO/​RELIG ST  343 Anthropology of Religion3-4
ANTHRO 345 Family, Kin and Community in Anthropological Perspective3
ANTHRO 348 Economic Anthropology3-4
ANTHRO 350 Political Anthropology3-4
ANTHRO/​GEN&WS  443 Anthropology by Women3
ANTHRO 477 Anthropology, Environment, and Development3
ANTHRO 545 Psychological Anthropology3
ANTHRO/​ED POL  570 Anthropology and Education3

Asian American Studies

ASIAN AM/​SOC  220 Ethnic Movements in the United States3-4
ASIAN AM 240 Topics in Asian American Studies3
ASIAN AM 441 Hmong American Social Movements in the 20th and 21st Centuries3

Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies

CHICLA/​POLI SCI  231 Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies3-4
CHICLA 301 Chicana/o and Latina/o History3
CHICLA/​POLI SCI  302 Mexican-American Politics3-4
CHICLA 315 Racial Formation and Whiteness3
CHICLA/​CURRIC  321 Chicano/Latino Educational Justice3
CHICLA 330 Topics in Chicano/a Studies3-4
CHICLA/​GEN&WS  332 Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change3
CHICLA/​HISTORY/​LACIS/​POLI SCI  355 Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective3
CHICLA/​LEGAL ST/​SOC  440 Ethnicity, Race, and Justice3-4
CHICLA/​LEGAL ST/​SOC  443 Immigration, Crime, and Enforcement3-4
CHICLA/​SOC  470 Sociodemographic Analysis of Mexican Migration3
CHICLA 501 Chican@ and Latin@ Social Movements in the U.S.3
CHICLA/​COUN PSY  525 Dimensions of Latin@ Mental Health Services3

Economics

ECON/​FINANCE  300 Introduction to Finance3
ECON 301 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory4
ECON 302 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory4
ECON/​HIST SCI  305 Development of Economic Thought3-4
ECON/​A A E/​REAL EST/​URB R PL  306 The Real Estate Process3
ECON 311 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory - Advanced Treatment3
ECON 312 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory - Advanced Treatment3
ECON 330 Money and Banking4
ECON/​A A E/​ENVIR ST  343 Environmental Economics3-4
ECON 355 The Economics of Growing-up and Getting Old3-4
ECON 370 Economics of Poverty and Inequality3
ECON 390 Contemporary Economic Issues3
ECON/​REAL EST/​URB R PL  420 Urban and Regional Economics3
ECON 441 Analytical Public Finance3-4
ECON/​ENVIR ST/​POLI SCI/​URB R PL  449 Government and Natural Resources3-4
ECON 450 Wages and the Labor Market3-4
ECON 461 International Macroeconomics3-4
ECON/​A A E/​INTL BUS  462 Latin American Economic Development3
ECON 464 International Trade3-4
ECON/​HISTORY  466 The American Economy Since 18653-4
ECON 467 International Industrial Organizations3-4
ECON/​A A E  474 Economic Problems of Developing Areas3
ECON 475 Economics of Growth3-4
ECON 521 Game Theory and Economic Analysis3-4
ECON 522 Law and Economics3-4
ECON/​PHILOS  524 Philosophy and Economics3
ECON/​A A E/​F&W ECOL  531 Natural Resource Economics3
ECON/​POP HLTH/​PUB AFFR  548 The Economics of Health Care3-4
ECON 623 Population Economics3-4
ECON/​SOC  663 Population and Society3
ECON/​A A E/​ENVIR ST/​URB R PL  671 Energy Economics3

Gender and Women's Studies

GEN&WS/​CHICLA/​GEOG  308 Latinx Feminisms: Women's Lives, Work, and Activism3
GEN&WS 320 Special Topics in Gender, Women and Society3
GEN&WS/​AFROAMER  323 Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History3
GEN&WS 331 Topics in Gender/Class/Race/Ethnicity (Social Sciences)3
GEN&WS/​CHICLA  332 Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change3
GEN&WS/​AFROAMER  333 Black Feminisms3
GEN&WS 340 Topics in LGBTQ Sexuality3
GEN&WS 342 Transgender Studies3-4
GEN&WS 344 Bi/Pan/Asexuality: Community & Representation3
GEN&WS/​HISTORY  353 Women and Gender in the U.S. to 18703-4
GEN&WS/​HISTORY  354 Women and Gender in the U.S. Since 18703-4
GEN&WS/​COM ARTS  418 Gender, Sexuality, and the Media3
GEN&WS 420 Women in Cross-Societal Perspective3
GEN&WS/​LEGAL ST  422 Women and the Law3
GEN&WS 423 The Female Body in the World: Gender and Contemporary Body Politics in Cross Cultural Perspective3
GEN&WS/​LEGAL ST/​SOC  425 Crime, Gender and Justice3
GEN&WS/​POLI SCI  429 Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective3-4
GEN&WS 441 Contemporary Feminist Theories3
GEN&WS/​ANTHRO  443 Anthropology by Women3
GEN&WS 446 Queer of Color Critique3
GEN&WS/​POLI SCI  469 Women and Politics3-4
GEN&WS/​HISTORY  519 Sexuality, Modernity and Social Change3
GEN&WS/​PSYCH  522 Psychology of Women and Gender3
GEN&WS 523 Framing Fatness: Gender, Size, Constructing Health3
GEN&WS 534 Gender, Sexuality, and Reproduction: Public Health Perspectives3
GEN&WS/​INTL ST  535 Women's Global Health and Human Rights3
GEN&WS 536 Queering Sexuality Education3
GEN&WS/​HIST SCI  537 Childbirth in the United States3
GEN&WS 539 Special Topics in Gender and Health3
GEN&WS 546 Feminist Theories and Masculinities3
GEN&WS 547 Theorizing Intersectionality3
GEN&WS/​ED POL  560 Gender and Education3
GEN&WS/​SOC  611 Gender, Science and Technology3

Political Science

POLI SCI 205 Introduction to State Government3-4
POLI SCI/​LEGAL ST  217 Law, Politics and Society3-4
POLI SCI/​CHICLA  231 Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies3-4
POLI SCI 272 Introduction to Public Policy3-4
POLI SCI/​CHICLA  302 Mexican-American Politics3-4
POLI SCI 304 The Political Economy of Race in the United States3-4
POLI SCI 305 Elections and Voting Behavior3-4
POLI SCI 311 United States Congress3-4
POLI SCI 314 Criminal Law and Justice3-4
POLI SCI 330 Political Economy of Development3
POLI SCI 335 Social Identities3
POLI SCI 338 The Civil-Military Paradox in U.S. Politics and Society3
POLI SCI 343 Theories of International Security3-4
POLI SCI 345 Conflict Resolution3-4
POLI SCI 347 Terrorism3
POLI SCI 348 Analysis of International Relations3-4
POLI SCI 350 International Political Economy3-4
POLI SCI 354 International Institutions and World Order3-4
POLI SCI/​CHICLA/​HISTORY/​LACIS  355 Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective3
POLI SCI 356 Principles of International Law3-4
POLI SCI 359 American Foreign Policy3-4
POLI SCI 405 State Government and Public Policy3-4
POLI SCI 408 The American Presidency3-4
POLI SCI 411 The American Constitution : Powers and Structures of Government4
POLI SCI 412 The American Constitution: Rights and Civil Liberties4
POLI SCI 414 The Supreme Court as a Political Institution3
POLI SCI 416 Community Power and Grass Roots Politics3
POLI SCI 417 The American Judicial System3-4
POLI SCI/​PUB AFFR  419 Administrative Law3-4
POLI SCI/​GEN&WS  429 Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective3-4
POLI SCI/​INTL ST  431 Contentious Politics3-4
POLI SCI/​INTL ST  434 The Politics of Human Rights3-4
POLI SCI/​INTL ST  439 The Comparative Study of Genocide3-4
POLI SCI/​ECON/​ENVIR ST/​URB R PL  449 Government and Natural Resources3-4
POLI SCI 461 Interdisciplinary Seminar in Political Economy, Philosophy, & Politics3
POLI SCI 463 Deception and Politics4
POLI SCI/​GEN&WS  469 Women and Politics3-4
POLI SCI 470 The First Amendment3-4
POLI SCI 511 Campaign Finance3-4
POLI SCI 515 Public Opinion3-4
POLI SCI 601 Proseminar: Topics in Political Science3

Psychology

PSYCH 311 Issues in Psychology3-4
PSYCH 401 Psychology, Law, and Social Policy3
PSYCH 403 Psychology of Personality3
PSYCH 405 Adult Psychopathology3-4
PSYCH 413 Language, Mind, and Brain3
PSYCH 414 Cognitive Psychology3
PSYCH/​SOC  453 Human Sexuality4
PSYCH 456 Social Psychology3-4
PSYCH 460 Child Development3-4
PSYCH 464 Adult Development and Aging3
PSYCH 502 Cognitive Development4
PSYCH 503 Social Development4
PSYCH 508 Psychology of Human Emotions: From Biology to Culture4
PSYCH 510 Critical Issues in Child Psychopathology4
PSYCH 513 Hormones, Brain, and Behavior4
PSYCH 521 The Structure of Human Thought: Concepts, Language and Culture4
PSYCH/​GEN&WS  522 Psychology of Women and Gender3
PSYCH 525 Cognition in Health and Society4
PSYCH 526 The Criminal Mind: Forensic and Psychobiological Perspectives4
PSYCH 528 Cultural Psychology4
PSYCH 532 Psychological Effects of the Internet4
PSYCH 607 Introduction to Psychotherapy3

Sociology

SOC 181 Honors Introductory Seminar-The Sociological Enterprise3-4
SOC/​C&E SOC  210 Survey of Sociology3-4
SOC/​C&E SOC  211 The Sociological Enterprise3
SOC/​ASIAN AM  220 Ethnic Movements in the United States3-4
SOC/​A A E/​C&E SOC  340 Issues in Food Systems3-4
SOC/​C&E SOC  341 Labor in Global Food Systems3
SOC/​C&E SOC  343 Sociology of Health and Medicine3
SOC 421 Processes of Deviant Behavior3-4
SOC/​SOC WORK  422 Social Issues in Aging3
SOC/​ILS/​JEWISH  423 Modern Jewish Thought3
SOC/​GEN&WS/​LEGAL ST  425 Crime, Gender and Justice3
SOC/​CHICLA/​LEGAL ST  440 Ethnicity, Race, and Justice3-4
SOC 441 Criminology3-4
SOC/​CHICLA/​LEGAL ST  443 Immigration, Crime, and Enforcement3-4
SOC 444 Social Psychology: A Sociological Perspective3-4
SOC 446 Juvenile Delinquency3-4
SOC/​PSYCH  453 Human Sexuality4
SOC/​CHICLA  470 Sociodemographic Analysis of Mexican Migration3
SOC/​C&E SOC  475 Classical Sociological Theory3
SOC 476 Contemporary Sociological Theory3
SOC/​C&E SOC  532 Health Care Issues for Individuals, Families and Society3
SOC/​C&E SOC  533 Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities3
SOC 535 Talk and Social Interaction3
SOC/​C&E SOC/​ENVIR ST  540 Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability3
SOC/​C&E SOC  541 Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice3
SOC 543 Collective Behavior3
SOC/​C&E SOC  573 Community Organization and Change3
SOC 575 Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging3
SOC/​AMER IND/​C&E SOC  578 Poverty and Place3
SOC/​GEN&WS  611 Gender, Science and Technology3
SOC/​C&E SOC/​URB R PL  617 Community Development3
SOC 621 Class, State and Ideology: an Introduction to Marxist Social Science3
SOC 624 Political Sociology3
SOC 626 Social Movements3
SOC/​C&E SOC  630 Sociology of Developing Societies/Third World3
SOC 632 Sociology of Organizations3-4
SOC 633 Social Stratification3
SOC 640 Sociology of the Family3
SOC/​LAW/​LEGAL ST  641 Sociology of Law3-4
SOC/​C&E SOC/​URB R PL  645 Modern American Communities3
SOC/​ED POL  648 Sociology of Education3
SOC/​C&E SOC  650 Sociology of Agriculture3
SOC/​C&E SOC  652 Sociology of Economic Institutions3
SOC/​ECON  663 Population and Society3
SOC/​HISTORY  670 Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy in America Since 18903-4
SOC/​C&E SOC  676 Applied Demography: Planning and Policy3

Human Behavior & the Social Environment

Complete both:
SOC WORK 457 Human Behavior and the Environment3
SOC WORK 640 Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice in Social Work3

Statistics & Research

Statistics
Complete one course from:3-4
Introduction to Statistical Methods (recommended)
Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences
Basic Statistics for Psychology
Statistics for Sociologists I
Research
Complete one course from:3-4
Methods of Social Work Research
Research Methods
Methods of Sociological Inquiry
Total Credits6-8

Electives in Social Welfare

Complete two Intermediate or Advanced level SOC WORK courses and at least 6 total credits of Social Work electives. Not all courses in the list below are offered in each semester or year.

List of Elective Soc Work Courses

SOC WORK 375 Contemporary Issues in Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 420 Poverty and Social Welfare3
SOC WORK/​SOC  422 Social Issues in Aging3
SOC WORK 453 Substance Use Disorders3
SOC WORK 454 Small Groups in Social Work Practice3
SOC WORK 462 Child Welfare3
SOC WORK 575 Community Development in Social Welfare3
SOC WORK 578 Homelessness: A Service Learning Course4
SOC WORK 623 Interpersonal Violence3
SOC WORK 624 Social Work with the Small Group3
SOC WORK 626 Social Work with the Community3
SOC WORK 627 Sex Trafficking and Sex Trading2
SOC WORK/​AMER IND  636 Social Work in American Indian Communities: The Indian Child Welfare Act3
SOC WORK 639 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Individuals and Social Welfare3
SOC WORK 642 Social Work and Adolescents3
SOC WORK 643 Social Work and Delinquency3
SOC WORK 644 Issues in Developmental Disabilities3
SOC WORK 646 Child Abuse and Neglect2
SOC WORK 656 Family Practice in Foster and Kinship Care3
SOC WORK 659 International Aspects of Social Work3
SOC WORK 661 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 662 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 663 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 664 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare3
SOC WORK 665 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 672 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 673 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 674 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 675 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 676 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 679 Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare2-3
SOC WORK 691 Senior Thesis 22
SOC WORK 692 Senior Thesis 22
SOC WORK 699 Directed Study 2,32-3

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 residence4
  • 15 credits in SOC WORK, taken on the UW–Madison campus

Footnotes

1

Social Science Concentration courses listed are a selected list of eligible courses. Consult with a Social Work advisor for other exceptions or additions to the list.

2

Students with an interest in a particular area of study may develop a plan of independent work with the assistance of an interested Social Work faculty member. They may obtain information about instructors and their areas of interest from the School of Social Work website. Consent of instructor is required for the noted course offerings in independent work.

3

No more than 3 credits of SOC WORK 699 may be used to meet this requirement.

4

PSYCH 225SOC/​C&E SOC  357, STAT 301, STAT 371, PSYCH 210, and SOC/​C&E SOC  360, and all SOC WORK courses designated as Intermediate or Advanced level count as upper-level in the major.

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.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify the historical foundations of the US social welfare system and the social work profession
  2. Recognize human differences and how social welfare systems interact with these differences to shape opportunities and outcomes for individuals, groups, and communities.
  3. Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate research with respect to its relevance, quality, and utility for addressing social welfare issues.
  4. Synthesize and communicate knowledge relevant to social welfare issues.
  5. Practice self-awareness of one’s values, beliefs, and biases regarding the causes and consequences of social welfare issues.
  6. Connect awareness of self, systems and social welfare knowledge to promote human dignity and justice.

Four-Year Plan

This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.

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.

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Communication A3Communication B3
Quantitative Reasoning A3-4Elective3
SOC WORK 10013Natural Science Breadth (or Physical Science if BS)3
Foreign Language (if needed)4Foreign Language (if needed)4
Elective3Elective (Intermediate/Advanced-level)3
 16 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC WORK 205 (can be taken Freshman or Sophomore year)4SOC WORK 206 (can be taken Freshman or Sophomore year)4
Foreign Language (if needed)4Foreign Language (if needed; or Intermediate/Advanced level Comp Sci, Math, Stats if BS)3-4
Biological Sciences Breadth3Physical Science Breadth3-4
Humanities Breadth3-4Literature Breadth3-4
 14 14
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC WORK 6403SOC WORK 4573
STAT 301, 371, PSYCH 210, or SOC 360 (Take STAT 301 or STAT 371 if BS)3-4SOC WORK 650, PSYCH 225, or SOC 35733
Social Science Concentration course23-4Literature Breadth3
Humanities Breadth3SOC WORK elective (Intermediate/Advanced level)2-4
Electives (I/A-level)3Social Science Concentration course23-4
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SOC WORK elective (Intermediate/Advanced level)2-4SOC WORK elective (Intermediate/Advanced level)2-4
Natural Science Breadth (or Biological Science if BS)3Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level)3-4
Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level)3-4Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level)3-4
Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level)3-4Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level)3-4
Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level)3-4Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level)3-4
 15 15
Total Credits 120
1

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.

2

Take two Intermediate or Advanced level courses from one of the following social science departments: African American Studies, American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, Asian American Studies, Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, Economics, Gender and Women's Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology.

3

SOC WORK 650 is often available in the summer. Check with an Advisor for course availability and how summer courses might fit into your schedule.

Advising and Careers

Students interested in either the social welfare major or bachelor of social work meet with the social work advisors to discuss degree requirements; explore career paths; declare the major; 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. Social work faculty members are available for advice about coursework, research, and the social work profession in general.

L&S Career Resources

Every L&S major opens a world of possibilities.  SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps students turn the academic skills learned in their major, certificates, and other coursework into fulfilling lives after graduation, whether that means jobs, public service, graduate school or other career pursuits.

In addition to providing basic support like resume reviews and interview practice, SuccessWorks offers ways to explore interests and build career skills from their very first semester/term at UW all the way through graduation and beyond.

Students can explore careers in one-on-one advising, try out different career paths, complete internships, prepare for the job search and/or graduate school applications, and connect with supportive alumni and even employers in the fields that inspire them.

People

Professors: Lawrence M. Berger, MSW, PhD; Marah H. Curtis, MSW, PhD; Katherine Magnuson, PhD; Stephanie A. Robert, MSW, PhD; Marci Ybarra, MSW, PhD (School Director)

Associate Professors: Lauren Bishop, PhD; Tally Moses, MSW, PhD; Tova Walsh, MSW, PhD

Assistant Professors: Pajarita Charles, MPA, MSW, PhD; Lara Gerassi, MSW, PhD; LB Klein, MSW, PhD; Jooyoung Kong, MSW, PhD; Jessica Pac, PhD; Alejandra Ros Pilarz, PhD; Tawandra Rowell-Cunsolo, PhD

Clinical Professors: Audrey Conn, MSSW, APSW; Ellen Smith, MSSW

Clinical Associate Professors: Laura Dresser, MSW, PhD; Alice Egan, MSSW, APSW; Lynette Studer, MSSW, PhD; Angela Willits, MSW, LCSW

Clinical Assistant Professors: Jaime Goldberg, MSW, LCSW, PhD; Amanda Zuehlke, MSW, LCSW

A complete list of all faculty and staff in the school is available on the School of Social Work Directory.