Social Work Major Curriculum

The social workers of the future will need to be highly skilled generalists who understand the social climate and the situations people find themselves in. Our Upside-Down Curriculum allows you to start taking your Social Work classes in your first semester, so you have more time to practice the work involved. 

By the spring semester of your first year, you'll be engaging with various members of the community through work with services such as family service agencies, after-school activities, the YMCA, justice programs, and the public library.

Social Work Major Curriculum 2020–2021

First Year

First Semester

Introduction to Social Work
(SWK 100)

Addiction Studies
(SWK 210)

Math elective
(MTH XXX)

Navigating Higher Education in a Global Context
(COR 101)

FYI: Reading, Writing, & ____
(COR 102)

Second Semester

Community Organizations
(SWK 140)

General elective

Program elective

Making Connections
(EHS 100)

Navigating Your Information Landscape
(COR 103)

FYI: Making, Doing, & ____
(COR 104)

Second Year

First Semester

Research Methods in Social Work
(SWK 280)

Human Life Span Development
(SWK 220)

Introduction to Human Biology
(SCI 115) or
Biology of Nutrition & Fitness
(SCI 140)

Choose a 200-level COR course
(COR 2XX)

Choose a 200-level COR course
(COR 2XX)

Second Semester

Human Behavior: Person-In-Environment
(SWK 235)

Policy Practice: Local to Global
(SWK 300)

Studies in Social Justice: Poverty
(SWK 255)

Social Justice Intensive
(EHS 210)

Choose a 200-level COR course
(COR 2XX)

Choose a 200-level COR course
(COR 2XX)

Talk to your advisor and/or the Office of International Education about possible curriculum adjustments in order to create a semester abroad in your 3rd year.

Third Year

In the third year, students must take COR 310, COR 320, and two COR 330 courses. COR 310 and COR 320 must be taken together, and the two COR 330 courses must be taken together. Either pair may be taken in either semester.

First Semester

Social Justice: Oppression & Empowerment
(SWK 305)

Generalist Practice I
(SWK 310)

Program elective

The Global Condition
(COR 310)

Human Rights & Responsibilities
(COR 320)

Second Semester

Global Social Action
(SWK 470)

General elective

General elective

Choose a Local Contexts, Global Connections course
(COR 330)

Choose a Local Contexts, Global Connections course
(COR 330)

Fourth Year

First Semester

Generalist Practice II
(SWK 315)

Social Work Field Practicum I
(SWK 490)

Integrated Social Work Field Practicum Seminar I
(SWK 490S)

Program elective

General elective

Second Semester

Social Work Capstone
(CCC 410 SWK)

Social Work Field Practicum II
(SWK 495)

Integrated Social Work Field Seminar II
(SWK 495S)

General elective

Program elective (1 credit)

Program elective (1 credit)