Social work is a profession that includes helping vulnerable individuals, families,
and communities from all backgrounds work through challenges and enhance their well-being
and everyday lives.
About This Program
Through this program, students will gain an understanding of and a sensitivity to
human diversity, engage in collaborative problem-solving procedures with individuals,
organizations, and communities, and advocate for and promote social and economic justice
for disadvantaged people.
The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W) Program is to provide generalist
social work education to students that reflects the history, knowledge, values, ethics
and skills of the social work profession and prepare students for entry level generalist
practice.
Program graduates will be eligible for beginning social work practice and advanced
standing upon entry into a graduate program of study.
The social work curriculum does not formally begin until the student's junior year
because it is considered an upper-division professional program.
Students will begin taking the required general education courses for the major as
freshmen (aka Pre-Social Work Majors).
The Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W) requires 120 semester hours to complete.
The Pre-Social Work Major phase (Freshman and Sophomore semesters) will consist of
60 credit hours of general education and prerequisite courses, while the upper-division
phase (Junior and Senior semesters) will consist of 60 credit hours of professional
social work courses. This equals a total of 120 semester credit hours.
Students must meet the following requirements in order to qualify for progression
from the lower-division (pre-social work) status into the upper-division (social work)
status:
The student must complete the general education curriculum (60 credit hours).
The student must complete the BSW Application Process.
The student must have at least a 2.0 GPA overall.
Certain courses in the curriculum are open to non-majors and offer exposure to current
issues in service delivery. Program graduates may be eligible for advanced standing
in many schools offering the Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree.
All students— lower-division and upper-division — must have at least a 2.0 GPA overall
All courses — lower-division and upper-division — must be passed with a grade of “C” or better.
FAMU’s BSW Program does not grant academic credit for previous paid employment, volunteer
work, or life experience.
Social workers advocate for social and economic justice, provide support to vulnerable
populations, and connect people with resources that empower them to lead healthier,
more stable lives. The field combines compassion with problem-solving, communication,
and advocacy skills, making it both a service-oriented and impactful career path.
.
Social Work Careers
With a degree in social work, you can turn your passion for helping others into a
rewarding career. Our graduates are prepared to make an impact and excel in a variety
of fields, including:
Child welfare
Entry-level hospital social work
VA supported housing social work
Entry-level school social work
Entry-level family court social work
Social welfare provider outreach
Entry-level clinical social work
Entry-level government agency social work
.
Social Work Employment Expectations
The states with the highest employment rates for Social Workers are:
California
New York
Texas
Florida
Illinois
Social work is projected to grow by 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with approximately
74,000 job openings annually due to retirements and transfers according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
.
Social Work Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q's)
Q: What kind of person makes a good fit for social work? A: Students who are compassionate, good listeners, and motivated to help others thrive
in social work. Strong communication skills and a passion for social good are also
important.
Q: Can this program prepare me for careers outside of traditional social work? A: Yes. A social work degree opens doors to a wide range of careers. Graduates can work
in traditional social work roles, as well as in positions such as Program Director/Manager,
Policy Analyst, Paralegal, or Disaster Relief and Support Specialist. In addition
to social services, the skills gained are valuable in fields like education, public
policy, community development, nonprofit management, and healthcare.
Q: Is it beneficial to pursue an MSW after earning my BSW? A: Yes. Earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) can expand your career opportunities,
allow you to specialize in areas like clinical practice or policy, and increase your
earning potential. It also provides eligibility for advanced roles and leadership
positions in the field. Learn more about the Social Work, M.S.W. Degree Program.
Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W) Degree Requirements
Lower Division (Pre-Social Work Majors)
The lower-division 60 hours that are taken in the freshmen and sophomore years include:
Social Work Practice (12 credit hours)
Research (6 hours)
Human Behavior (6 credit hours)
Policy (6 credit hours),
Diversity (3 credit hours),
Ethics (3 credit hours) and
Field Education (15 credit hours),
Introduction to areas of social work practice that are of special interest to the
student (9 credit hours)
Upper Division (Social Work Majors)
The upper-division 60 hours that taken in the junior and senior years include:
14 required social work courses (42 credithours)
2 social work electives (6 credit hours)
And a field practicum (12 credit hours)
Your Map to the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W)
The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W) Program is to provide generalist
social work education to students that reflects the history, knowledge, values, ethics
and skills of the social work profession and prepares students for entry level generalist
practice. Program graduates will be eligible for beginning social work practice and
advanced standing upon entry into a graduate program of study.
Goal 1: Prepare students for entry-level generalist social work practice with individuals,
families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Goal 2: Prepare students to practice social work with an understanding of the importance
of respect for diverse people's inherent dignity and worth, particularly members of
vulnerable populations.
The BSW Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Our accreditation status is important as many states, programs and graduate schools
have policies which require or prefer BSW graduates from accredited social work programs.
This handbook is intended to orient you to the FAMU – Department of Social Work (BSW
program).
All students must complete the BSW Admissions Packet (see BSW Student Handbook). The BSW program requires that:
Students have been admitted to the University.
Students must complete at least 60 hours of lower division coursework.
Students must submit an unofficial copy of transcript.
Transfer students with an AA degree from a Florida state college or university, transcript
must include evidence of AA degree completion.
Should you have any questions regarding the admission's process or the BSW Program
in general, you may contact Ms. Larae Lauray, the BSW Program Director at (850) 561-2254 or via email at larae.lauray@famu.edu.
All BSW students must complete a field placement/internship. Field placement consists
of a full-time work week over a period of one semester as a requirement for graduation.
For more information contact the BSW Field Director-Ms. Aprell Merritt(Visiting Faculty)ataprell.merritt@famu.edu.
The BSW Program curriculum consists of a semester course sequence including research,
policy, human behavior and the social environment, research methods, and electives,
which align with Generalist Practice and CSWE Core Competencies. The curriculum is
designed to build knowledge, skills, and values drawing on cognitive and affective
processes that culminate in students’ ability to demonstrate multidimensional competency.
Lower Division (Pre-Social Work)
Subject
Course
Course
Credit Hours
English:
ENC
1101
Communicative Skills I
3
ENC
1102
Communicative Skills II
3
ENC
2300/3243/3320
Advanced Writing Course*
3
* Students with C in ENC 1101 or ENC 1102 must take ENC 2300; other students may select
any one of these writing courses.
Math:
MAC/MGF
Math class 1105 or above
3
MAC/MGF
Math class 1105 or above
3
Science:
BSC
1005/1010
Biology
3
GLY/BOT/PSC/AST/CHM
Science course
3
SocialSciences & Humanities:
AMH
2010/2020
American History
3
AMH
2091/AFA 3104
African-American History or Experience
3
ECO
2013
Principles of Economics
3
POS
2041
American National Government
3
PSY
2012
Introduction to Psychology
3
SYG
2000
Introduction to Sociology
3
SYG/SYA/SYD/SYO/SYP
Sociology course
3
HUM/REL/MUH/ARH
Humanities course
3
SPC
2608
Public Speaking
3
Miscellaneous:
SOW
3203
Introduction toSocialwork
3
HSC
1100
Health
3
CGS
2060
Introduction to Computers (or more advanced comp. class)
All students are assessed using a minimum of two measures on their mastery of the
nine competencies that comprise the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards
of the Council on Social Work Education.
