The bachelor's degree in social work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Its primary objective is to prepare students for beginning generalist social work practice.
The program prepares students for potential employment in both public (federal, state, and county) and private social service agencies. Students are trained to work and affect change among individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. The program helps prepare students to engage in critical thinking and actively apply research to practice, policy, advocacy, education, and leadership. A sample of career possibilities includes caseworker, psychiatric social worker, youth counselor, and alcohol/drug counselor.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Curriculum Requirements | 36 | |
| Major Requirements | 55 | |
| General Electives | 29 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
General Curriculum Requirements
For courses that satisfy the distribution requirements in humanities, natural science, and social science, see the GER listing in the current Timetable. The UWM General Education Requirements apply to all students who were not enrolled in an accredited institution prior to 1986.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| English | ||
| Refer to Proficiency Requirements in General Education Requirements. Contact a school advisor for specific information. | ||
| Mathematics | ||
| Refer to Proficiency Requirements in General Education Requirements. Contact a school advisor for specific information. | ||
| Liberal Arts Foundation | ||
| Foreign Language | ||
| Completion of two years of high school-level instruction in a single foreign language, or satisfactory completion of at least two semesters of a single foreign language, or approved demonstration of foreign language ability | ||
| Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits of General Education-approved arts course in the history, philosophy, theory, or practice of the creative and interpretive arts | 3 | |
| Humanities | ||
| COMMUN 103 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| Select 3 credits of General Education-approved humanities courses | 3 | |
| Natural Science | ||
| Select 6 credits of General Education-approved natural science courses to include a lab or field course | 6 | |
| Social Science | ||
| Select 6 credits of General Education-approved social science courses | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Major Requirements
The undergraduate social work major includes a pre-professional component. Freshmen and sophomores may begin to take courses offered in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare.
Students must complete at least 120 credits to obtain the degree. The major in Social Work requires a minimum of 55 credits in Social Work or Helen Bader School of Social Welfare courses (students can take courses in criminal justice and have them count toward the major as elective credit). The Department requires that students attain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA, including transfer credits, in order to advance in the major. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 cumulative GPA in order to graduate from UWM.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SOC WRK 100 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
| SOC WRK 250 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment | 3 |
| SOC WRK 260 | Case Management in Social Work | 3 |
| SOC WRK 270 | Advocacy and Empowerment | 3 |
| SOC WRK 306 | Introduction to Social Welfare Policy | 3 |
| SOC WRK 308 | Social Work Values and Ethics | 3 |
| SOC WRK 310 | Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families 1 | 3 |
| SOC WRK 410 | Social Work Practice II: Groups 1, 2 | 3 |
| SOC WRK 421 | Field Education & Integrated Field Seminar I 1, 2 | 5 |
| SOC WRK 422 | Field Education & Integrated Seminar II 1, 3 | 5 |
| SOC WRK 427 | Social Work Practice III: Communities and Organizations 1, 3 | 3 |
| SOC WRK 604 | Social Systems and Social Work Practice | 3 |
| SOC WRK 662 | Methods of Social Welfare Research | 3 |
| SOC WRK 665 | Cultural Diversity and Social Work | 3 |
| Social Work Electives | ||
| Select 9 credits in SOC WRK or CRM JST courses | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 55 | |
- 1
Minimum grade of B or better required.
- 2
To be taken concurrently.
- 3
To be taken concurrently.
No academic credit for life experience and previous work experience is granted in lieu of field placement or course work.
All credit for required courses must have been earned within 10 years of graduation.
General Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits towards the degree not counted in other categories will apply to General Electives. Classes counting towards General Electives may include, but are not limited to: | ||
| ENGLISH 100 | Introduction to College Writing and Reading | 4 |
| ENGLISH 101 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| ENGLISH 102 | College Writing and Research | 3 |
| MATH 102 | Mathematical Literacy for College Students II | 3 |
| MATH 103 | Contemporary Applications of Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 105 | Introduction to College Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 108 | Algebraic Literacy II | 3 |
| Foreign Language credits | ||
| Total Credits | 44 | |
Credits earned in HONORS 687or HONORS 689 will not count towards the major.
Fieldwork
The field education sequence required for social work majors consists of two semesters of placement, beginning as early as the junior year. A total of 216 hours in the field is required each of the two semesters. The field courses are taken concurrently with the practice courses. Students are required to maintain a grade of B or better in each social work practice and field course. When a student does not, the student's academic progress is reviewed by the chair of the Social Work Department. In certain cases, the student may be referred to the Faculty Review Panel and may not be allowed to continue in the major.
For further information about fieldwork, consult the Field Staff Office, Enderis Hall, Room 1075, (414) 229-6526.
Degree Requirements
To receive the bachelor's degree with a social work major, the student must have an overall GPA (including non-UWM college work) of 2.0 and a total of 120 credits. At least 50% of the credits in the social work major must be earned at UWM. Social work students must complete at least one semester of field placement at UWM. Students must earn their last 30 credits at UWM.
Advancing to the Major
Social Work majors must be formally advanced to the major to begin field placement. This is an automated process that occurs through PAWS upon completion of the requirements listed below. Students who have not yet been advanced to the Social Work major are still able to take a sequence of Social Work courses. The requirements to be advanced to the Social Work major are:
- Completion of 48+ credits
- Completion of, or current enrollment in, SOC WRK 260, SOC WRK 270, and SOC WRK 306
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, including all transfer work
- If the student does not have a 2.5 GPA or higher, including transfer work, they must have a 2.5 GPA or higher in last 24 credits (of all coursework, not just Social Work courses)
All of these requirements must be satisfied to advance to the major, and students may appeal to be advanced if they fail to meet one or more of the requirements listed above. This should be done in consultation with an academic advisor in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare.
Social Work BS Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from the Bachelors of Science in Social Work Program will be able to:
- Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
- Engage diversity and difference in practice.
- Advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Undergraduate Academic Advising
The Office of Student Services in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, located in the , offers undergraduate student academic advising from professional advisors who are familiar with the Social Work and Criminal Justice & Criminology curriculum, College requirements, and university policies. Advisors can also provide information on scholarship opportunities, tutoring, and student organizations that align with a student's interests.
These advisors provide services such as new freshman orientation, course selection, assistance with registration, and review of transfer credit. Students are assigned to a permanent professional advisor upon admittance into the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare and are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor at least once each semester. Please call (414) 229-4852 to schedule an appointment or for more information.
Transfer Students
The Helen Bader School of Social Welfare welcomes students from other academic areas on the UWM campus and students transferring to UWM from other institutions. Students planning to transfer into either major from another institution should meet with an academic advisor as soon as they are admitted and the transfer credit evaluation process has been completed. During this meeting, the student and advisor will review transfer course equivalencies, discuss program requirements, and create an academic plan for coming semesters. Students may meet with their advisor in person or by phone. Please call (414) 229-4852 to schedule an appointment or for more information.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a GPA of 3.500 or above in all major courses taken in residence at UWM. A minimum of 28 Social Work credits or 24 Criminal Justice credits completed in residence are needed to be considered for Honors in the Major.
High Honors in the Major
High Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a GPA of 3.750 or above in all major courses taken in residence at UWM. A minimum of 28 Social Work credits or 24 Criminal Justice credits completed in residence are needed to be considered for Honors in the Major.
College of Community Engagement and Professions Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.