Social Work (B.S.)

Departmental Requirements (45 hours)

Completion with C or better grade

• SOCW 200 - Field of Social Work
• SOCW 210 - Social Work Interactional Skills
• SOCW 310 - Individuals and Families
• SOCW 320 - Social Work Research Methods
• SOCW 321 - Statistical Applications in Social Work
• SOCW 330 - Communities and Organizations
• SOCW 340 - Human Behavior and the Social Environment across the Lifespan
• SOCW 350 - Social Work with Families and Groups
• SOCW 400 - Social Policy
• SOCW 496 - Field Experience (C) (9-12 credit hours required)

•  

• Select 2 elective courses from the following (6 credit hours):

• SOCW 480 - Social Work with Aging Populations and People with Disabilities
• SOCW 482 - Social Work and Child Welfare
• SOCW 484 - Social Work and Mental Health
• SOCW 486 - Social Work and Native Families and Children
• SOCW 488 - Trauma Practice with Children
• SOCW 491 - Independent Study (C) 3 credits required
• SOCW 492 - Topics (C)

Nondepartmental Requirements (15-16 hours)

Completion with C or better.

• Elective (students continuing on to graduate degrees are encouraged to select a course content with human body or human biology [Recommended courses BIOL 103L, BIOL 153/L, BIOL 104/L, BIOL 105, MICR 230, ANAT 142, or HSC 280/L. Some may satisfy this elective as well as SGR #6 Natural Sciences course with lab] 3-4cr
• POLS 100 - American Government (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]
• PSYC 101 - General Psychology (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]

•  

• SOC 100 - Introduction to Sociology (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]

• Or

• SOC 150 - Social Problems (C) [SGR #3, HSDC]

•  

• Select one of the following courses for 3 credit hours:

• ASC 140 - Introduction to Multicultural Studies
• ACP 412 - Substance Use and Addiction in Diverse Populations
• REL 250 - World Religions (C) [SGR #4, HSDC]
• PHIL 220 - Introduction to Ethics (C) [SGR #4, HSDC]

Optional Specialization: Child Welfare (9 hours)

• Select three courses from the list below:

• SOCW 482 - Social Work and Child Welfare
• SOCW 484 - Social Work and Mental Health
• SOCW 486 - Social Work and Native Families and Children
• SOCW 488 - Trauma Practice with Children

Note:

Social Work majors are required to complete a Minor in a discipline of their choosing. Associate Degree accepted as substitution for minor.Add For students pursuing graduate study a Natural Science plus Lab with human content is recommended

Students are encouraged to pursue a minor or double major in Addiction Counseling and Prevention if appropriate to their career plans.

• Students may double count up to 12 hours for their Certificate, Specialization, Minor, or Double Major.
• Minimum of 30 credit hours must be taken from USD
• Maximum of 90 transfer credit hours may be applied to the degree

Four-Year Program Guides and Costs

USD encourages students to take 15 credits per semester or 30 credits within the year in order to graduate in 4 years. To help students complete their academic degree program in four years, we provide a sample academic plan. Please work with your academic advisor to confirm your plan. 

• Social Work, B.S. 4-year plan guide  

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to systematically explore issues, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments, and break down complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
2. Students will be able to assess their own ethical values and the social context of problems, recognize ethical issues in a variety of settings, think about how different ethical perspectives might be applied to ethical dilemmas and consider the ramifications of alternative actions.
3. Students will design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal.
4. Students will interact with other students and evaluate the effort put into team tasks, interactions with others, and the quantity and quality made to team discussions.
5. Competency 1-Students will demonstrate ethical and professional behavior 
6. Competency 2 Students will engage diversity and difference in practice. 
7. Competency 3 Students will advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice 
8. Competency 4 Students will engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research. 
9. Competency 5 Students will engage in policy practice 
10. Competencies 6-9 Students will engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 
11. Students will connect ideas and experiences in order to synthesize and transfer learning to new, complex situations within and beyond the campus. 
12. Students will intentionally engage with diversity in ways that increase awareness, content knowledge, cognitive sophistication, and empathic understanding of the complex ways individuals interact within systems and institutions leading to opportunities for equal access to participation in educational and community programs for all members of society.

Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification

The University of South Dakota as of July 1, 2020, cannot confirm whether any particular course or program meets educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, contact the academic department offering your major or CDE at 605.658.6152 or by email at cde@usd.edu. USD is working to comply with these requirements and will provide up-to-date information as it becomes available.

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the State Authorization webpage below.

Information about State Authorization & Professional Licensure