College: Social Work
Degree: BSW (BS)
Specialized Admission: Yes
Address: C2412 University Center, Tallahassee, FL 32306
Phone: (850) 644-5713
Email: carol.edwards@fsu.edu
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available at BOTH the main campus in Tallahassee, FL and the Panama City, FL campus. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance the quality of life for people in a wide variety of circumstances. The majority of social workers work directly with individuals, groups, and families, providing counseling services and case management. Social workers can also serve as community organizers, social planners, and policymakers in helping to bring about social change. Career options include the field of family services, mental health care, child welfare, aging, health care, women’s services, chemical dependency, corrections, community organizing, and social policy.
The undergraduate curriculum is designed to prepare students for beginning professional practice and for graduate study in social work and other helping professions. Social work is also an excellent major for students interested in becoming a therapist, working for social change or going to law school. The undergraduate social work program includes human behavior, interviewing skills, assessment, social policy, research, and group work.
Prerequisite Coursework: (15 hours)
Prerequisite courses may also apply toward meeting General Education requirements. Students must complete one course in each of the following groups of courses with a final grade of 'C' or higher in two attempts or fewer (a C minus will NOT count).
POS X041 (3) American National Government (preferred) or PUP X002 (3)
BSC X005 (3) General Biology for non-majors (preferred) or BSC X010 (3) or BSC X085 (3) or PSB 2000 (3) or BSCX020 (3)
ECO X000 (3) Introduction to Economics or ECO X023 or ECO X013 (3)
PSY X012 (3) General Psychology (preferred) or SOP 3004 (3)
SYG X000 (3) Introductory Sociology or SYG X010 or SYO 3100 (3)
If you have any questions about prerequisite courses, please contact the BSW Office, 850.644.5713
Note: State-wide common prerequisites are always under review. For the most current information and for acceptable alternative courses, visit the “Common Prerequisites Manual.” This is available from the “Student Services” section of http://www.flvc.org .
Admission Requirements to the Upper-Division Major
This is a Specialized Admissions major. The following requirements apply to students entering FSU Spring 2013 and after:
1) an application, an updated resume, and a personal statement,
2) an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher,
3) at least 60 credits earned by the time of entry into the program to include all FSU General Education requirements or an AA degree from a Florida public college, and
4) all five of the common prerequisite courses with a final grade of 'C' or higher in no more than 2 attempts (a C minus will NOT count).
Prospective students will find the BSW application online at: https://csw.fsu.edu/academics/bsw-program
Applications are considered on a rolling admission basis with the following deadlines: Fall Term-June 1 and Spring Term-November 1.
Major Program of Studies at FSU: (50 hours)
In order to graduate, students must have a 3.0 GPA in all social work courses and successfully complete Field Instruction.
SOW 3203 (3) The Social Work Profession (satisfies the Formative Experience (FE) requirement)
SOW 3350 (3) Interviewing and Documentation (satisfies the Oral Communication Competency requirement)
SOW 4104 (3) Human Behavior and the Social Environment
SOW 4232 (3) Social Welfare Policy and Programs (satisfies the Upper-Division Writing competency requirement)
SOW 4323 (3) Social Work Practice with Groups
SOW 4341 (3) Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
SOW 4360 (3) Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations (satisfies the Formative Experience (FE) requirement)
SOW 4403 (3) Introduction to Social Work Research (satisfies the Digital Literacy requirement)
SOW 4414 (3) Statistics for Social Workers
SOW 4620 (3) Diversity and Social Justice (satisfies the Diversity requirement)
SOW 4XXX (3) Social Work Elective
SOW 4XXX (3) Social Work Elective
SOW 4522 (2) Integrative Field Seminar (satisfies the Scholarship in Practice (SIP) requirement)
SOW 4510 (12) Undergraduate Field Instruction
Digital Literacy:(0 hours beyond major coursework)
Met by SOW4403 Introduction to Social Work Research
Oral Communication Competency:(0 beyond major coursework)
Met by SOW 3350 Interviewing and Documentation
Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
General Education 36*
Prerequisite Courses 15*
Major Coursework 50
Minor Coursework 0
Digital Literacy 0 beyond major coursework
Oral Competency 0 beyond major coursework
Electives to bring total credits to 120
*NOTE: The General Education requirements must be completed prior to admission into the Social Work program. Students may use required prerequisite/cognate courses to satisfy up to 12 hours of General Education requirements.
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system. Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion. Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors. You may view the map for this major at www.academic-guide.fsu.edu/.
1. A minimum of 45 hours at the 3000 level or above, 30 of which must be taken at this University.
2. Half of the major course semester hours must be completed in residence at this University.
3. The final 30 hours must be completed in residence at this University.
Salary Information: For more information go to: National Association of Colleges and Employers (www.naceweb.org) or the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Representative Job Titles Related to this Major: Bachelor's degree- Counselor, Social Worker, Medical Social Worker, Youth Services Worker, Criminal Justice Worker, Child Welfare Worker, Family Violence Specialist, Geriatric Case Manager, Substance Abuse Counselor, Community Organizer, Policy Analyst, Social Services Coordinator, Rehabilitation Counselor Master's degree- Therapist, Psychotherapist, Clinical Social Worker
Representative Employers: Mental health centers, schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, domestic violence shelters, adolescent programs, psychiatric facilities, children’s agencies, correctional facilities, policy agencies and public and private agencies.
ACADEMIC MAP (Effective Summer 2025 and after)
*Please Note: Face-to-face/in-person instruction of this program is available at BOTH the main campus in Tallahassee, FL and the Panama City, FL campus. This program is NOT available via Online/Distance Learning.*
This map is a term-by-term sample course schedule. The milestones listed to the right of each term are designed to keep you on course to graduate in four years. The Sample Schedule serves as a general guideline to help you build a full schedule each term. The General Education and Elective courses must be selected to satisfy all area and diversity requirements unless your program meets these requirements with major courses. Milestones are courses and special requirements necessary for timely progress to complete a major. Missing milestones will result in one of two types of map registration stops. The first level (Degree Map Off-track) is placed following grade posting if the student has missed a milestone (course and/or GPA) for the first time in the major. If a student is in non-compliance with milestones for two (2) consecutive semesters (excluding summers), a Major Change Required stop is placed on the student's registration.
This is a Specialized Admissions major. The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance coping skills and quality of life for people in a wide variety of circumstances. The majority of social workers work directly with individuals and families, providing counseling services and case management. Social work courses include content in human behavior, counseling, assessment, social policy, family issues, and group work.
* Contact BSW advisor for other acceptable courses to meet Social Work prerequisites.
ALL Social Work prerequisite courses must be completed with a final grade of C or better ( a C minus will NOT count).
Mapping Coordinator: Zoey Zeitlin
Email: zzeitlin@fsu.edu
Sample Schedule and Required Milestones by Term
| Sample Schedule: Term 1 hrs |
| ENC1101 Freshman Composition3 |
| GE Core Mathematics3 |
| GE History3 |
| BSC1005* General Biology for Non-majors (requires final grade of C or better)3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 1 |
| Complete ENC1101 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Overall GPA ≥ 2.00 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 2 hrs |
| ENC2135 Research, Genre, and Context 3 |
| GE Mathematics or Statistics3 |
| GE Core Humanities/Cultural Practice or Ethics3 |
| E-series/”W” (State Mandated Writing)3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 2 |
| Complete ENC2135 ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Complete 1st GE Mathematics Course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Overall GPA ≥ 2.00 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 3 hrs |
| PSY2012* General Psychology (requires final grade of C or better)3 |
| GE Core Natural Science w/Lab4 |
| GE Humanities/Cultural Practice or Ethics3 |
| POS1041* American Government: National (requires final grade of C or better)3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 3 |
| Complete 2nd GE Mathematics or Statistics Course ( ≥ C minus ) |
| Overall GPA ≥ 2.50 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 4 hrs |
| SYG1000* Introductory Sociology (requires final grade of C or better)3 |
| ECO2000* Introduction to Economics (requires final grade of C or better)3 |
| E-series/”W” (State Mandated Writing)3 |
| Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 4 |
| Complete Biology, Psychology, Government, Sociology and Economics prerequisites, each with a C or better |
| Complete all General Education requirements |
| Complete and submit Social Work Specialized Admission application |
| Overall GPA ≥ 3.00 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 5 hrs |
| SOW3203 The Social Work Profession (Formative Experience)3 |
| SOW3350 Interviewing and Documentation (Oral Communication Competency)3 |
| SOW4104 Human Behavior and the Social Environment3 |
| SOW4620 Diversity and Social Justice (Diversity)3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 5 |
| All Social Work courses must be completed with a final grade of C minus or better |
| Civic Literacy requirement |
| Social Work GPA ≥ 2.60 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 6 hrs |
| SOW4341 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families3 |
| SOW4403 Introduction to Social Work Research (Digital Literacy)3 |
| SOW4232 Social Welfare Policy and Programs (Upper Division Writing Competency)3 |
| Social Work Elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 6 |
| All Social Work courses must be completed with a final grade of C minus or better |
| Social Work GPA ≥ 2.80 |
| Sample Schedule: Term 7 hrs |
| SOW4360 Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations (Formative Experience)3 |
| SOW4323 Social Work Practice with Groups3 |
| SOW4414 Statistics for Social Workers3 |
| Social Work elective3 |
| Elective3 |
| Required Milestones: Term 7 |
| All Social Work courses must be completed with a final grade of C minus or better |
| Students will NOT be eligible for field placement (SOW4510) unless they have earned a 3.00 GPA or higher in ALL Social Work courses completed |
| Complete Pre-Graduation checks |
| Sample Schedule: Term 8 hrs |
| SOW4510 Undergraduate Field Instruction 12 |
| SOW4522 Integrative Field Seminar (Scholarship in Practice)2 |
| Required Milestones: Term 8 |
| Apply with Registrar for Graduation in the 1st two weeks |
| Complete SOW4510 with a grade of “S” |
| Complete SOW4522 ( ≥ C minus ) |