Social Work and Sociology, B.A./B.S.W.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
• apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
• apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
• engage diversity and difference in practice.
• advance human rights and social and economic justice.
• engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
• apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
• engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
• respond to contexts that shape practice.
• engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• assess with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• make a connection between their personal experiences and public issues and are able to analyze social behavior or specific social events in their societal context.
• apply various sociological perspectives to understand social issues and are able to contrast and compare different sociological perspectives.

Contact Information

School of Social Work
Building #058, room 209
BSWAdvising@unr.edu

College of Liberal Arts Student Center
Lincoln Hall 314
(775) 682-8745
http://www.unr.edu/liberal-arts/academic-advising

Department of Sociology
Lincoln Hall 210
(775) 784-6647
sociology@unr.edu

Transfer to the University of Nevada, Reno

Use the transfer agreement  and the degree planner (available by clicking Icon  at the top right of this page) to build your plan for graduation with your advisor. Course substitutions not identified on the transfer agreement require UNR advisor approval.

If a major-to-major transfer agreement is not available for your transfer institution, please check the General Core agreement  if available. If neither is available, access Transferology to assist in your planning.

Admission Requirements (Social Work)

Students may declare the social work major after completing 30 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 (or higher) and after completing SW 101  with a C (or higher). The social work curriculum is divided into two sequences: the pre-professional sequence and the professional sequence. The pre-professional sequence is comprised of those classes that may be taken prior to application to the professional sequence and field. These courses are designed to provide introductory knowledge, skills and values necessary for later practice as well as to provide students an opportunity to explore the social work major prior to applying to the professional sequence. The professional sequence encompasses a series of classes tied to a 450 hour internship at an approved site. These classes, in conjunction with the internship, are designed to provide the professional socialization, knowledge, values, and skills needed for entry level social work practice. An emphasis on professional practice distinguishes the professional sequence from the other required and elective social work classes.

Social work students are expected to submit a competitive application to the professional sequence. Students who meet the following requirements may apply for admission to the professional sequence:

• Declaration as a social work major
• Completion of Core Objectives CO1-CO8
• Completion of the Departmental Core requirements
• Completion of 90 earned credits or more prior to beginning professional sequence
• Cumulative GPA of 2.5 overall (or in the last 30 credits). Faculty may occasionally consider an exception for students who do not meet the 2.5 GPA requirement but who, in the professional judgment of the faculty, demonstrate a strong commitment to and potential for the social work profession as evidenced by extraordinary achievements and leadership
• Completion of SW 101 , SW 250 , SW 310 , SW 321  with a grade of “C” or higher

Admission to the professional sequence is competitive, selective and not guaranteed. Students accepted to the professional sequence are expected to be ready to engage with clients, to practice within the boundaries and scope of the profession and to behave in manners congruent with the profession’s values and ethics.

To apply to the professional sequence, students must complete an application packet. Admission materials are available online at http://www.unr.edu/social-work. Students interested in applying to the professional sequence who meet the aforementioned requirements should submit a completed application packet to the School of Social Work by 5:00 p.m. on or before January 15. If this date falls on a weekend or holiday, the complete application must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to January 15. Complete application packets include:

• BSW Application
• Essay responses
• Two completed BSW Recommendation forms
• Most recent Academic Advising Report

Graduation Requirements

• Total Units | 120
• Cumulative GPA | 2.0
• University GPA | 2.0
• Major GPA | 2.0
• Residency Requirement | 30 Upper-Division Units at UNR
• Major Residency Requirement | 15 Upper-Division Units in the major at UNR
• Upper-Division Requirement | 40 Upper-Division Units

I. Core General Education Requirements (21-24 units)

NOTE: Refer to the Core Curriculum chapter of this catalog for information regarding the “Core English and Math Completion Policy  .”

Students in this major must meet all Core Objectives (CO1 through CO14). Courses satisfying Core Objectives are designated (e.g., CO9) in General Catalog curricula and course descriptions.

II. Additional Core Requirements (0 units)

Students must take courses that satisfy the following Core Objectives. Some or all of these Core Objectives may be satisfied in the Major Requirements (Section IV).  Refer to the Core Curriculum  chapter in this catalog.

III. Additional College Requirements (0-14 units)

Units may vary depending on initial course placement in foreign language coursework.

IV. Major Requirements (81 units)

B. Sociology Requirements (24 units)

V. Minor Requirements (0 units)

The College of Liberal Arts minor requirement is waived per multiple-degree policy so long as students remain in this dual degree program; students who declare this dual major program and subsequently choose to withdraw and declare Sociology BA must at that point declare and complete a minor.

Students on the dual degree program may declare a minor or major in an additional field, but are advised that doing so may cause them to exceed 120 total units for the degree plan.

VI. Electives (1-18 units)

When students need to complete additional coursework to satisfy the minimum unit requirements for graduation, it is recommended to take additional electives in SOC or SW courses.

VII. Recommended Schedule

In order to complete the BSW degree requirements (120 credits) in four years, you must enroll in an average of 15 credits per semester.  The suggested sequence is outlined below.