BA in Social Work at California State University Sacramento

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work is a 48-unit program that prepares students for beginning, generalist Social Work practice. All lower division general education courses must be completed prior to beginning the Social Work major. The curriculum consists of 42 units in professional foundation/beginning generalist requirement, 6 units of Social Work electives. Grades of "C" or better are required in all 48 units of the major. The student must agree to abide by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers and engage in ethical practice in conformity with the Professional Code of Ethics.

Undergraduate students enroll in one academic year of field instruction (internship) during their senior year after successfully completing all prerequisites in their junior year. Field instruction is 16 hours per week for 32 weeks during two semesters for a total of 512 hours. Field instruction takes place between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on either Mondays/Wednesdays or Wednesdays/Fridays. Placements only begin in the fall semester and are arranged by the Director of Field Education during the preceding spring semester through an application and interview process. Students are placed in a social services agency and practice under the supervision of an experienced MSW Social Worker. Since Social Work is an applied profession, the student is expected to be able to put into practice the knowledge gained in the classroom in order to receive the BA degree in Social Work.

Students must be capable of meeting field site/organization eligibility requirements which normally include obtaining a Department of Justice clearance (passing a criminal background), being free of communicable diseases, having a valid driver's license, and automobile insurance. In addition to the prerequisites and corequisites noted below, other eligibility requirements are delineated in the Field Curriculum and Policy Guide which is accessible from the Division's field website. Declaration of Social Work as the student's major does not guarantee enrollment in field instruction.