2018-2019

Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work

Department of Social Work

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

The social work profession is dedicated to enhancing human well-being and to help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. The intent of this program is to educate competent generalist social workers for practice with diverse populations and multi-level social systems, while developing skills for facilitating the planned change process.
 
This program at Northern Arizona University is focused on practice with rural and Indigenous populations of the Southwest; addressing poverty, structural racism, and oppression; providing leadership in promoting human rights and social and economic justice; and service with vulnerable and underserved populations.

This program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

  • 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.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least 75 units of major requirements
  • Up to 9 units of liberal studies can have the same prefix as the major. Contact the Social Work program for information about liberal studies courses that are specific to this major.

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 120
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 114
Additional Admission Requirements Required
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Required
Research Optional
University Honors Program Optional
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A Recommended
Progression Plan Link View Progression Plan

Purpose Statement

The mission of Northern Arizona University Social Work Program, grounded in the history, purpose, and values of the profession, is to educate competent generalist social workers for practice with diverse populations and multi-level social systems in local, regional and global contexts.

The generalist practice for which we educate is based on social work knowledge, values, and skills; geared to practice with rural and Indigenous populations of the Southwest; and, focused on addressing poverty, structural racism, and oppression; providing leadership in promoting human rights and social and economic justice; and service with vulnerable and underserved populations locally, regionally, and globally.

The mission of our social work program to educate competent generalist social workers is expressed in the following goals:

  • to prepare competent generalist social workers with the knowledge, values, and skills for engaging in individual, family, group, organization, and community planned change processes with diverse rural, vulnerable, and underserved populations locally, regionally, and globally;
  • to promote identification with the profession, continued professional development, and enhancement of knowledge, values, and skills for generalist social work practice; and
  • to provide service to the community and promote social and economic justice.

Student Learning Outcomes 

  • To prepare competent generalist social workers with the knowledge, values, and skills for engaging in individual, family, group, organization, and community planned change processes with diverse rural, vulnerable, disenfranchised, and underserved populations locally, regionally, and globally.
    • apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments;
    • apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice
    • respond to contexts that shape practice;
    • engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
    • apply ecosystems and strengths perspectives in practice across client systems;
    • apply knowledge of the biological-psychological-social-cultural-spiritual components of human behavior and the social environment;
    • differentially apply engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills and strategies in practice with diverse rural, vulnerable, disenfranchised, and underserved populations;
    • advance human rights and social and economic justice;
    • engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services;
    • employ scientific inquiry and research to inform and evaluate the effectiveness of practice; and
    • utilize the various forms of information technology for effective agency functioning and professional practice.
  • To promote identification with the profession, continued professional development, and development of knowledge and skills for generalist social work practice.
    • identify and articulate the evolution of social welfare as an institution and social work as a profession and their current structures and issues;
    • question and evaluate their own needs, values, strengths, and challenges, and how these affect their professional identity and use of self in practice; and
    • question and evaluate their professional performance and take responsibility for continuing educational and career development. 
  • To provide service to the community and promote social and economic justice. Social work program faculty, students, and graduates will:
    • advocate for social change to advance social and economic justice and access to services of social work for all people, with a focus on populations experiencing and vulnerable to discrimination and oppression, and
    • participate in community service activities and processes.

Additional Admission Requirements

  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

Major Requirements

  • Take the following 75 units:

    Professional Courses (60-61 units)

    • SW 220 (3 units)
    • Research (6-7 units):
      • SW 450 must be repeated, with different content, for at least 6 units
      • SW 418 may be used to fulfill one of the required Topics Courses.

    • Field Education: SW 408 (12 units)
    • Senior Seminar: SW 498C (3 units)

    Only one grade of "D" in the professional core courses is permitted.

    Behavioral Science Cognates (15 units)

    Select one course from each of the following areas:
    A Social Work advisor's approval is necessary for any courses not listed above.

General Electives

  • 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.

Additional Information

  • 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.