BASW Program
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work (BASW) enables students to explore and develop values, knowledge and generalist skills essential to the practice of social work in a multi-ethnic environment. The degree prepares students for entry level positions in social work and for advanced study in graduate schools of social work or related human services. The BASW degree is designed to be completed in two years of upper division course work. Courses are offered during the day and in the evening. A total of 120 semester units is required for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work (BASW). This includes a minimum of 51 units for the Social Work major. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (http://www.cswe.org/).
Students who complete the B.A. degree in Social Work have numerous opportunities for professional advancement in child welfare, mental health, work with older adults, school-based settings and other health and mental health-related positions (http://careers.socialworkers.org/explore/choose.asp).
*SW 4951 & 4952 Directed Fieldwork - Internship Requirements
Students must have completed at least 90 units by the end of Spring before entering Fieldwork in the Fall. In the student’s senior year, completion of 420 hours of internship (SW4951 & 4952) in a social service agency is required; this generally means two full days (14 hours) per week. Students are also required to be concurrently enrolled in and attend Integrative Seminar class sessions. Students must attend the required fieldwork meeting in Spring Semester before beginning Field Internship in Fall – no exceptions! Internships begin in Fall Semester only and continue for two consecutive semesters (Fall and Spring of senior year). Please note that criminal background checks are required by certain social service agencies for Field Internship. Details regarding criminal background checks and field internship can be found in the current BASW Fieldwork Manual.
General Education (GE) Requirements
Every California State University, Los Angeles undergraduate social work major must complete 39 lower division units and nine (9) upper division units of General Education courses. Refer to the Degree Planner by visiting this webpage: /registrar/major-specific-declaration-requirements. All students, including transfer students, are required to complete three courses (9 semester units) in an Upper Division Course. Students are required to complete one course from each of the three discipline areas: Natural Sciences & Quantitative Reasoning, Arts & Humanities, and Social Sciences. (Students may not count a course from their major as an upper division theme course). If you have any questions regarding GE or other University requirements, please contact the Rongxiang Xu College of HHS Advising Center at (323) 343-5500, or make an appointment online at /hhs/ac
Note: These requirements remain in effect only if the student maintains continuous attendance. If, for any reason, the student drops out of school for more than two consecutive semesters, the student must apply for and be granted an official leave of absence. Otherwise, he or she will be responsible for requirements in effect at the time of return.