Bachelor of Social Work Program

The University of South Florida offers a program leading to a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree in the School of Social Work within the College of Arts and Sciences. This program has been developed in accordance with the guidelines set forth by 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. The BSW Program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

The primary objective of the BSW program is the preparation of the graduate for beginning level practice as a social work generalist.

The secondary objectives of the program are as follows:

In preparing the BSW graduate for beginning professional practice, the curriculum base provides the student with an opportunity to develop a knowledge and skill base as a "generalist" practitioner. The student will develop an understanding of various intervention methods and skill in their application to a variety of client systems. For example, interventive methods may take the form of individual and group intervention, resource development, case management, consultation, teaching, advocacy, etc. Client systems may be individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

The student will develop an understanding of the dynamics of human behavior in individual, group and organizational contexts; the influences of the sociocultural environment upon those behaviors; the development of social welfare systems and institutions; and the social, economic, and political processes affecting policy development and program implementation.

The student will develop an understanding of the utilization of basic social research skills, particularly related to the processes of problem solving, planning, and evaluation.