Advising for Social Work Majors
The Department of Social Work requires all incoming Social Work Majors to complete university advising with the Academic Advising Center and to attend a Social Work Major Advising/Information Session. Please contact the Academic Advising Center by calling 303-556-3680 or sending an email to advising@msudenver.edu. The Social Work Advising/Information Sessions are held once per month and you may register for one of the next sessions by returning to our Home page.
Upcoming Social Work Major BSW Advising/Information Session Dates:
November 14th 2:00pm - 4:00pm Tivoli 322
December 5th 5:30 - 7:30pm Tivoli 642
December 12th 2:00pm - 4:00pm Tivoli 322
If you are declaring Social Work as your Major, please complete a Declaration or Change of Major Form.
If you are a Junior or Senior student who has been accepted into the Social Work Department, or if you are seeking career advising, please make an appointment with your assigned faculty advisor by calling 303-556-3474.
If you are a Transfer Student with Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing, please make an appointment with a Transfer Student Advisor by calling 303-556-3474.
If you have just completed advising, please complete our Advising Survey.
Advising Handouts
The following information reflects department curriculum implemented in the Fall 2011-12 academic year, and General Studies requirements implemented in the 2012-13 academic year. If you are under a previous Social Work curriculum or General Studies catalog year, please be certain to inform your department advisor.
Information Packet (
152 KB)
Advising Chart ( 132 KB)
Social Work Profession General Fact Sheet ( 78 KB)
About Social Workers ( 65 KB)
SWK Department Prerequisites
Mandatory completion required of all prerequisites before the Fall semester in which the student starts the program.
| 1. | ENG1010 | Freshman Composition: The Essay | 3 |
| 2. | ENG1020 | Freshman Composition: Research, Analysis and Documentation | 3 |
| 3. | SPE1010 | Public Speaking OR SPE1710 Interpersonal Communications | 3 |
| 4. | BIO1000 | Human Biology OR BIO2310 Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| 5. | ANT1310 | Intro to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| 6. | PSY1001 | Intro to Psychology (must take PSY101 AND PSY102 at community college to be equivalent) |
3 |
| 7. | SOC1010 | Intro to Sociology | 3 |
| 8. | PSC1010 | Intro to American National Government | 3 |
| 9. | SWK2010* | Quantitative Thinking** | 2 |
| 10. | SWK1010 | Intro to Social Work and Social Welfare | 3 |
| 11. | SWK1020 | Intro to Agency Experience | 1 |
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**Prior to Fall 2011, the Social Work Department allowed students to take PSY2310 or MTH1210 to meet the Statistics requirement. If you have already taken one of these courses, the department will waive SWK2010 for you. However, you will need to take an additional 2 credits of Social Work courses to meet major requirements. |
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TOTAL Departmental Prerequisites
|
30 |
General Studies
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General studies must be completed prior to graduation. Visit the current Catalog to choose courses that meet these requirements. |
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Global Diversity |
3 credits |
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History |
3 credits |
|
Natural Science |
3 credits |
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Arts and Letters |
6 credits |
| Math | 3 credits |
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TOTAL General Studies |
18 credits |
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Multicultural Courses
Social work majors are required to take two multicultural classes outside the Social Work Department. Student should consider focus on one specific ethnic minority when possible (African American, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian American). One must be upper division. Students should make sure that at least one of the two multicultural courses they chose counts towards the multicultural credit for the University. Approved courses to meet the Social Work requirement are as follows:
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Take one of the following lower division multicultural courses: AAS1010 Intro to African American Studies |
3 credits |
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Take one of the following upper division multicultural courses: AAS3300 The Black Community |
3 credits |
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TOTAL |
6 credits |
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Any other substitutions requests must be approved by the BSW Director or the Chair of the Social Work Department. Substitution requests must include the course description of the class and should be requested in writing. |
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Credit Summary
| TOTAL General Studies | 18 credits |
| TOTAL Prerequisites | 30 credits |
| TOTAL Social Work | 48 credits (Listed Below, to be completed after acceptance into SWK Program) |
| TOTAL Multicultural | 6 credits |
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TOTAL |
102 credits |
| All students must have 120 credits for graduation. Most students need to take approximately 21 credits of general electives to reach this. Social Work does not require a minor. | |
Social Work Foundation Coursework
The following courses must be completed in the correct sequence. Sequence ONLY begins in the Fall semester and students MUST have written acceptance from the Social Work Department to begin.
JUNIOR YEAR
SWK Major Fall Semester
| SWK3050 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | 3 credits |
| SWK3790 Research in Social Work | 3 credits |
| SWK Electives based on Area of Emphasis | 5/6 credits |
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TOTAL |
11/12 credits |
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SWK Major Spring Semester |
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| SWK3060 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | 3 credits |
| SWK3780 Social Welfare Policy | 3 credits |
| SWK3410 Generalist Practice I | 4 credits |
| SWK Electives based on Area of Emphasis | 3/4 credits |
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TOTAL |
13/14 credits |
SENIOR YEAR |
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SWK Major Fall Semester |
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| SWK4010 Generalist Practice II | 4 credits |
| SWK4250 Exploring Current Social Work Issues | 3 credits |
| SWK4780 Applied Research I | 2 credits |
| SWK4790 Professional Field Experience I | 4 credits |
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TOTAL |
13 credits |
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SWK Major Spring Semester |
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| SWK4410 Advanced Cross Cultural Issues | 4 credits |
| SWK4810 Professional Field Experience II | 4 credits |
| SWK4820 Applied Research II | 2 credits |
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TOTAL |
10 credits |
Areas of Emphasis
Child Welfare
Social workers assume primary roles in providing intake and ongoing services in all areas of child welfare. The child welfare emphasis is designed for students choosing a career as a caseworker and/or supervisor in child welfare services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3100 Child Welfare and the Law 3
SWK3150 Child Maltreatment 3
SWK3200 Urban Families 3
Developmental Disabilities
Families with children and/or parents with developmental disabilities are often in need of ongoing family supports. Parents with developmental disabilities or who have children with developmental disabilities may come to the attention of social services because of a lack of ongoing supports. Family support, family-centered service planning and coordination are needed as families negotiate a complex and fragmented service delivery system. This emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in the area of developmental disabilities services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3250 Social Work and Developmental Disabilities 3
SWK3300 Parents with Developmental Disabilities 1
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
Early Intervention for Children: Birth - Five
This emphasis recognizes the importance of providing, safe, nurturing and stimulating environments during the early, crucial phases of child development and the key role social workers have in assisting families in achieving these goals. This emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in the area of infant stimulation, early intervention and early education services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3700 Early Intervention for Children: Birth - Five 4
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Social workers often support families and provide services to children and adolescents with an array of emotional and behavioral problems. Mental health policies and practices including assessment, diagnosis, intervention and evaluation of mental health services for children and their families will be presented from a social work perspective. This emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in the area of mental health services for children and adolescents.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3010 Social Work Services for Children and Adolescents 4
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
Gay and Lesbian
There are many challenges facing gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, questioning and inter-sex individuals, families and groups in today's society. The strengths, stresses and life style choices of this population at risk and the role of social workers with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities are the major themes of this area. The gay and lesbian emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in GLBTQI health, mental health and community services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3500 Social Work with Contemporary Gender and Sexuality Issues 4
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
Women
In today's society, there is an increasing awareness of the need for specialized generalist social work training and commitment to assisting women in overcoming barriers, identifying strengths and supporting goal attainment in a patriarchal society. Social policies and common issues facing women today are explored. Current social work strategies are evaluated from a feminist social work perspective. This emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in the area of women's mental health and welfare services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3600 Social Work with Women 4
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
Aging
Social workers provide a variety of supports and services to elderly individuals and their families. Individual needs, strengths, family supports, use of community resources and knowledge of social policies that impact this population are the major themes. This emphasis is designed for students choosing a career in aging, health, mental health, home health, and long term care services.
Required Elective Courses:
SWK3000 Applied Legal Issues** 1
SWK3020 Case Management,** SWK3400 Macro Practice**, OR SWK3450 Mutual Aid Groups** 4
SWK3030 Social Work w the Aging 4
** Major papers and/or assignments will reflect area of emphasis.
No Area
Students who cannot decide on an Area of Emphasis, or choose to design their own, have the option to choose a No Area of Emphasis. These students may select any upper-division Social Work electives to total at least nine credit hours.
