Bachelor in Social Work (BSW)
Admission Requirements
The specific requirements for acceptance into the Social Work major are:
- A cumulative GPA of 2.0
- At least a C in PSY100, SOC101 and SOC207
- Demonstration of a commitment to social work values by sending a letter to the program director that describes the reasons for choosing the Social Work major and the student's commitment to applying the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Degree Requirements (40 credits)
Required Courses (40 credits)
| SW301 | Social Research Methods | 4 |
| SW303 | Human Behavior and Social Environment 1 | 4 |
| SW305 | Social Welfare Policies, Programs & Issues | 4 |
| SW307 | Methods in Social Work 1:Individuals & Families | 4 |
| SW331 | Race, Class and Gender | 4 |
| SW403 | Human Behavior and Social Environment 2 | 4 |
| SW407 | Social Work Methods 2: Organizations & Communities | 4 |
| SW489 | Field Experience I | 6 |
| SW491 | Field Experience II | 6 |
Preset Freshmen and Sophomore Pathways
To ensure that students begin and remain on track in terms of graduation and degree requirements, and to maximize student opportunities to add minors or second majors, and therefore increase their options after graduation, the College has designed the Preset Freshmen and Sophomore Pathways.
This curricular sequencing model, which outlines all the courses taken in the first two years, will allow students to complete 75% to 90% of their General Education requirements during just their freshman and sophomore years, as well as all foundational gateway and milestone courses, both in their intended major, and in other complementary majors and minors that they may want to consider.
Students will then be able to focus their junior and senior years almost entirely on their major, as well as on potential minors or second majors.
Simply put, this curricular sequencing model allows students to get the most out of their undergraduate education at CSE.
The Social Work program strongly encourages students to complete all 100 and 200-level General Education courses by the end of their sophomore year. Taking General Education courses as well as the three prerequisite courses for the major will provide students with a strong liberal arts background. Having a strong liberal arts foundation prepares social workers to take a creative approach to problem-solving and to strengthen communication skills. Where possible, students are also encouraged to complete CSE 300 and the service-learning component before their junior year.
The Social Work program also supports students having a strong liberal arts foundation and encourages double majors. As of January 2019, the Social Work program has developed a course plan for students who want to double major in either Criminal Justice, Psychology, or Sociology. Students interested in pursuing a double major in other disciplines are encouraged to talk with the Social Work faculty.
Another viable option is to minor in a liberal arts discipline. In particular, students who are bilingual in Spanish and English are encouraged to minor in Spanish in order to develop expertise in writing Spanish for professional communication.
Students who want to pursue a Master's in Social Work (MSW) should consider taking MATH119 Elementary Statistics because most MSW programs in New Jersey require successful completion of a statistics course. Many institutions accept a grade of P rather than a letter grade. To date, some students prefer taking a statistics course after completing their junior year courses where they take a formal course in Research Methods and other courses that analyze research.
First Year
Fall Semester (14-18 Credits)
| Element I Core Classes | 6 |
| Pre-Major Gateway Class | 1-4 |
| Preset General Education Elective | 1-4 |
| Outside General Education Elective | 1-4 |
| Developmental Math (if needed) | 0-1.5 |
| EOF or CAPs (if needed) | P/F |
Spring Semester (14-18 Credits)
| Element I Core Classes | 6 |
| Pre-Major Gateway Class | 1-4 |
| Preset General Education Elective | 1-4 |
| Outside General Education Elective | 1-4 |
| Developmental Math (if needed) | 0-1.5 |
Second Year
Fall Semester (14-18 Credits)
| Element I or II Core Classes | 4-8 |
| Pre-Major Milestone Class | 1-4 |
| Preset General Education Elective | 1-4 |
| Outside General Education Elective | 1-4 |
| Developmental Math (if needed) | 0-1.5 |
| EOF or CAPs (if needed) | P/F |
Spring Semester (14-18 Credits)
| Element II or III Core Classes | 4-8 |
| Pre-Major Milestone Class | 1-4 |
| Preset General Education Elective | 1-4 |
| Outside General Education Elective | 1-4 |
| Developmental Math (if needed) | 0-1.5 |
| EOF or CAPs (if needed) | P/F |
Course Sequence for BSW
Third Year
Fall Semester (12 Credits)
| SW301 | Social Research Methods | 4 |
| SW305 | Social Welfare Policies, Programs & Issues | 4 |
| SW307 | Methods in Social Work 1:Individuals & Families | 4 |
Spring Semester (12 Credits)
| SW303 | Human Behavior and Social Environment 1 | 4 |
| SW331 | Race, Class and Gender | 4 |
| SW407 | Social Work Methods 2: Organizations & Communities | 4 |
Fourth Year
Fall Semester (10 Credits)
| SW403 | Human Behavior and Social Environment 2 | 4 |
| SW489 | Field Experience I | 6 |
Spring Semester (6 Credits)
| SW491 | Field Experience II | 6 |