The BSW in Social Work, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, prepares students to enter beginning professional social work practice. 

Program Requirements

In addition to the University’s general requirements, students seeking the BSW in Social Work must meet the requirements listed below. Consult with your academic advisor for courses which may satisfy both the General Education requirements and common prerequisites.

The program requires 45 sh in social work courses and 3 sh of prescribed major-related courses and includes two field experiences. A practicum is part of the Introduction to Generalist Practice course, taken in the student’s second term. This course introduces the student to agency practice. A field placement is part of the senior Field Instruction course. Please contact the department for information on prerequisites and additional requirements.

All Social Work courses must be completed with at least a “C” to be counted toward completion of the degree requirements. No prior work or volunteer experience can be accepted for academic credit.

Because this is a professional preparation program, the department has an application for the Field Instruction courses SOW 4510 Social Work Field Instruction and SOW 4522 Senior Seminar. After declaring the Social Work major with the University, students must complete the following courses with a grade of “C” or better in both academic and practice components and complete and submit the Field Instruction application packet. 

Students must have a University minimum GPA of 2.0, and a minimum GPA of 2.5 in the major as a prerequisite to SOW 4510 Social Work Field Instruction and SOW 4522 Senior Seminar.

Social work majors who have been inactive for three years prior to field placement will be subject to faculty review and may be subject to repeating their practice courses. Students must complete courses required for graduation within five years of entry in the major (usually the junior year) with no less than nine credits completed in any one year.

General Education

In addition to the General Education requirements listed on this page, students must satisfy all additional University requirements, including the Gordon Rule, multicultural, and foreign language requirements. With appropriate planning and coordination with an academic advisor, students may satisfy some of the general University requirements through the General Education curriculum. For a complete listing of general degree requirements, refer to the "University Requirements" section of this catalog.

General Education Curriculum:

Multicultural Requirement

Civic Literacy Requirement

The 2017 Florida Legislature amended Section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, to require students initially entering a State University System (SUS) and/or Florida College System (FCS) institution in 2018-2019 and thereafter to demonstrate competency in civic literacy.  The 2021 Legislature further amended Florida Statutes, requiring students to complete both a civic literacy course and exam. As a result, there are three cohorts of students currently matriculating at Florida public institutions subject to varying requirements. As demonstrated in the table below, the exact civic literacy requirements are based on the academic term in which a student first enrolled in a Florida public institution.

Additionally, the 2021 Legislature made two additional exceptions: approving the use of accelerated mechanisms for meeting the course competency requirement and exempting high school students who pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam in high school from the postsecondary exam requirement. These two changes are in effect for Cohort 3.

There are multiple ways to satisfy this requirement. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which option is best for their degree requirements/degree plan. 

Additional information can be found on our Civic Literacy website.

*BOG 8.006; s.1007.25(4,a-b) 

Common Prerequisites

State-mandated common prerequisites must be completed prior to graduation, but are not required for admission to the program. See the Common Prerequisite Manual for course substitutions from Florida colleges and universities.

Lower Division Electives

Major

Major-Related

Upper Division Electives

Electronic Portfolio Requirement

 The University of West Florida Department of Social Work requires students to purchase a electronic portfolio. Key assessments, projects, work samples, applications for field experience, and other essential documents will be collected, processed or archived through the electronic portfolio.

It is the responsibility of each student pursuing a BSW or MSW to purchase an account to access and use the required electronic portfolio. The account activation fee is considered a professional expense incurred as part of participation in a professional program that uses data to meet accreditation requirements and make data-driven decisions on curricula. 

A grade of “C” or higher is required in all courses in the minor.

Aging Studies Interdisciplinary

The minor in Aging Studies provides a broad orientation to the field of gerontology and service to the elderly. This minor is available to all students.

A grade of “C” or higher is required in all courses in the minor.

Child Welfare

The purpose of this minor is to introduce and provide information to any interested person regarding the social problems of children and families and the availability of services to families in need. This minor is available to all students. Other electives may be approved by department chairperson.

A grade of “C” or higher is required in all courses in the minor.

Social Welfare

The Minor in Social Welfare includes the two beginning courses designed to orient students to social work philosophy, ethics, and practice areas and two social work electives. All courses must be taken at UWF. This minor is not available to Social Work Majors. Other electives may be approved by department chairperson.

A grade of “C” or higher is required in all courses in the minor.

Substance Abuse

The Minor in Substance Abuse fulfills some of the requirements for certification from the Certification Board for Addiction Professionals of Florida. This minor is available to all students. A substitute course may be approved by department chairperson.