The social work major at NAU Yuma will provide you with the core competencies required to help border populations experiencing overwhelming life challenges such as poverty, under and unemployment, substandard housing, homelessness, hunger, and problems associated with PTSD. Social workers approach their work with people from the strengths perspective, while also examining the individual within their environment.
This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
More Information
Are you passionate about social and economic justice along the U.S. Mexico border? Do you want a rewarding career working with those populations along the U.S. Mexico border that are disenfranchised, vulnerable, and oppressed? Is your passion to provide service to diverse individuals, groups, and communities? A social work major at NAU Yuma will help you accomplish these academic and professional goals.
Please review the list of Specialized Accredited Programs for information on the program's accreditation status.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | C |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 114 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Fieldwork Experience/Internship is required. |
| Research | Required |
| Some online/blended coursework | Required |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
| Licensure | This program may lead to licensure. |
Purpose Statement
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program provides students with the knowledge, values, and skills required to practice generalist social work along the US Mexico border. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work program is guided by a person and environment construct, a global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry. This perspective is an excellent preparation for a wide variety of occupations along the US Mexico border. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work’s program purpose is actualized through its quest for social and economic justice, the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the quality of life for all persons living along the US Mexico border.
Our curriculum is designed for students to master the CSWE core competencies: professional identity, ethical practice, critical thinking, diversity in practice, human rights and justice, research based practice, human behavior, policy practice, practice contexts, and the planned change process. This curriculum is provided to the students through traditional classroom lecture and discussion, service-learning experiences, community change projects, and community engaged research. Students will leave this program with a sense of leadership and service in the provision of social welfare to people, families, and communities, globally, regionally, and locally. Our students also leave this program as globally engaged stewards of US Mexico border issues and committed to Hispanic populations, the Defense, Customs and Border Patrol and Military communities.
Student Learning Outcomes
Outcomes linked to CSWE Core Competencies
Professional Identity
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
This major requires 57 to 58 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 57 - 58 units:
Please note, you must earn a grade of "C" or better in all required Social Work core courses.
Professional Identity (15 units):
Please note that approval from an NAU Yuma/Extended Campus Advisor for the Social Work program is necessary for any courses not listed above.
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.