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)
Are you passionate about social justice and social change? Do you want a rewarding career working with the disenfranchised, vulnerable, and oppressed? Are you interested in providing assistance and support to diverse individuals, groups, and communities? A social work degree will help you accomplish these academic and professional goals. Our accredited BSW degree enables you to become a licensed generalist social worker in many states.
The social work degree will provide you with opportunities to learn the professional knowledge, values, and skills needed to help people experiencing overwhelming life challenges such as substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse, homelessness, and death, as well as mental, behavioral, and physical illness or disability. Social workers approach their work with people from the strengths perspective, while also looking at the individual within their environment.
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.
Students may transfer up to 75 units of credit from an accredited community college.
| 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 |
| Licensure | This program may lead to licensure. |
Purpose Statement
The mission of Northern Arizona University's 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 is expressed in the following goals:
Student Learning Outcomes
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Whether you are currently a Northern Arizona University student or an incoming transfer student wishing to apply to the BSW degree plan, we encourage you to contact a Social Work Academic Advisor as early in your college career as possible.
Given the nature and scope of professional social work practice, academic performance standards, as defined in the program’s Academic Performance Standards for Admission, Retention, and Graduation are more rigorous than the minimum academic performance expectations of the university.
Students may transfer up to 75 units of credit from an accredited community college.
This major requires 75-76 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 75 units:
Professional Courses (60 units)
*SW 220 and SW 321 must be completed with grades of B or better. Students who earn a grade of “C” in either of the above courses may petition to retake each course one time for grade replacement. Student degree progression may be impacted if students have to retake SW 220 and/or SW 321.
** Students must successfully complete SW 408 the first time it is taken.
Only one grade of "D" in the professional core courses is permitted.
Students are required to maintain a 2.25 overall GPA for retention in the major.
Behavioral Science Cognates (15-16 units)
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.