Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program

Why Be A Major?

The social work profession engages in advocating for clients, preventing social problems in communities, conducting research in various fields of study, and attempting to change social welfare and policy in our country. Beginning practitioners in Wyoming, a rural and sparsely populated state, must internalize social work values and ethics, develop skills, a sense of professional self, and knowledge basic to social work practice with all client system levels. They also enhance their ability to locate and create resources needed either by client or worker. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics guides ethical professional social work practice.

How to become a major, pre-requisites, beginning courses

To be a BSW major in the Division of Social Work a student must be admitted to the division through application for Advanced Major. This process includes completing SOWK 2000, SOWK 3530, and SOWK 3630 with a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. Additionally, students must have an overall post-secondary career GPA of 2.5. This GPA, both overall and in social work, must remain at 2.5 for the student's academic career in the major. Prior to admission to Advanced Major, students must complete the criminal background check required by the College of Health Sciences of all majors. Admission to advanced major is competitive and based on a number of factors outlined in the BSW Handbook.

The required courses for application for Advanced Major are offered in the fall semester of each year (SOWK 2000 is also offered in the spring semester on the Laramie Campus). Application for Advanced Major is submitted during advising week of fall semester. Acceptance or denial of Advanced Major is made after final grades are posted for fall semester.

Specific prerequisites and course work can be found in Appendix C of the BSW manual.