Social Work B.S.W.

The University of South Florida offers a program of study leading to a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree in the School of Social Work, College of Behavioral & Community Sciences. The B.S.W. has been developed in accordance with the guidelines of the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting body for social work education programs, and in accordance with the recommendations of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). The B.S.W. program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.  The BSW program has as its primary objective to prepare and graduate professionals for entry level positions in areas such as mental health, aging services, or residential treatment.  The secondary objectives of the B.S.W. program are to:

Provide for the social work human resources needs of the university service district (the central Florida west coast area), the State of Florida, and the Southeast Region;
Provide an exposure to social work as a profession and to contemporary issues in the social welfare field;
Prepare graduates for additional professional training at the graduate level in social work or in related human service professions.
In preparing the BSW graduate for beginning professional practice, the curriculum provides students with an opportunity to develop a knowledge base and skill base as a “generalist” practitioner. Students will develop an understanding of various methods of intervention and skills and how to apply these to a variety of client systems. Intervention methods that students will learn may take the form of case management, individual and group counseling, resource development, consultation, teaching, advocacy, etc. Client systems in this context include individuals, families, groups, organizations, or communities. Students in the BSW program will develop an understanding of the dynamics of human behavior in individual, group and organizational contexts and the influences of the socio-cultural and spiritual environments / influences upon human behavior. Students in the BSW program will also learn about the development of social welfare systems and institutions and about the social, economic, and political processes, policy development and program implementation that impact client systems. Students will develop an understanding of the utilization of basic social research skills particularly related to the processes of problem-solving, planning, and evaluation. Students in the BSW program will also gain awareness of the social work profession’s value base, engage in self-examination and reflection to empower their ethical and effective application of social work values in professional practice. The BSW program places great emphasis on the development of a professionally responsible graduate in terms of one’s obligations to the client system served, the profession itself, the organization in which one works, and to the general public.

Certified Global Pathways Program
This Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) program is certified as a Global Pathway program. Global Pathway programs have significant global content that align with the goals of USF’s Quality Enhancement Plan, the Global Citizens Project.  USF fosters three primary qualities that global citizens possess, i.e., global awareness, global responsibility and global participation. These are consistent with social work values. Study abroad opportunities are available through the School of Social Work and have included travel to India, Spain, and Peru.  Students in Global Pathway programs are well positioned to earn the Global Citizen Award.  For more information, visit the Office of High-Impact Practices and Undergraduate Research website.