Social Work Undergraduate
The BSW program at Southern will provide you with a rigorous yet supportive learning environment with small classes, collaborative research opportunities, and expert social work faculty who are committed to your success.
Beyond the classroom, you will gain 400 hours of social work experience in a supervised practicum during your senior year. With hundreds of practicum sites throughout Connecticut -- including public and private agencies, community-based programs, schools, hospitals, and more -- the Practicum Education Office will help you find a practicum that meets your educational and professional goals.
With your BSW degree, you will qualify for entry-level professional social work positions and for admission to the MSW Advanced Standing program, where you’ll be able complete your MSW degree in just one additional calendar year.
First Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| SWK 320 — Human Behavior & the Social Environment I | SWK 321W — Human Behavior & the Social Environment II |
| SWK 350 — Social Work Research Methods | SWK 390 — Social Work Interviewing Skill |
| SWK 376 — Introduction to Social Work Practice | SWK 380 — Child Welfare Practice, or SWK 381 — Mental Health & Addictions, or SWK 382 — Social Work with Elders |
Second Year
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
| SWK 330W — Social Welfare Institutions & Policies I | SWK 378 — Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations |
| SWK 377 — Social Work Practice with Groups | SWK 430 — Social Welfare Institutions & Policies II |
| SWK 490 (6cr.) — Social Work Practicum I | SWK 491 (6 cr.) — Social Work Practicum II |
Advising
Students who declare social work their major will be assigned a full-time faculty member as their adviser. Their advisor will provide support with course planning and guidance on career trajectory.
Career Options
BSW graduates qualify for professional positions in generalist social work, including:
- Youth: Adoption, Child Day Care, Foster Care, Family Service, Public and Private Child Welfare Agencies, and Elementary/Secondary Schools
- Substance Abuse: Head Start, Early Intervention, Outpatient and Residential Treatment, and Community Mental Health Centers, and Psychiatric Hospitals
- Older Adults: Senior Medical Centers, Hospice, Home Care Agencies, and Hospitals
- Government: Advocacy Organizations, Community Action Agencies, Community Centers, Local, State, and Federal Agencies and Courts
- Correctional System: Prisons, Youth Detention Centers, Parole Agencies
- Veterans: Military and Veteran Affairs