Social Work BSW
The Social Work major combines theory and practical application of social work practices to real- world scenarios. Students gain the professional skills necessary to succeed in a career in social work by applying skills and demonstration of the social work core competencies and practice behaviors throughout their courses.
Social work competence is the ability to integrate and apply social work knowledge, values, and skills to practice situations in a purposeful, intentional, and professional manner to promote human and community well-being. Emphasis is on competency-based practice, immediate application within the field, and supporting and preparing students for the workplace. The Social Work major courses explore the theory and applications of human behavior and development, practice across micro-mezzo- macro systems, social welfare policies and services settings, social justice advocacy and program evaluation.
Students gain knowledge and experience in social work processes, collaborative problem-solving, direct practice, advocacy and community organizing that leverages the strengths and capacities of individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Social Work professionals support multiple levels of human and community well-being through providing direct services, and engaging in policy advocacy, social justice activism, community and organizational development, administration, and evaluation.
The growing profession of Social Work provides numerous opportunities for meaningful employment and graduate education pathways after completion of the degree. Graduates will be prepared to join the workforce or continue on to a graduate degree in Social Work, Public Health, Public Policy, Public Administration, Law, or other related fields. The intention is to prepare students for generalist social work while providing opportunities to concentrate in inter-disciplinary practice areas (community organizing, trauma prevention and intervention, community mental health, etc.) as a value-add to the students.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
The Social Work program learning outcomes (PLOs) are taken directly from CSWE’s Core Competencies and Practice Behaviors within the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) and are listed below.
At the completion of Bachelor in Social Work, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
- Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
- Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice PLO-4. Engage in Practice- informed Research and Research-informed Practice PLO-5. Engage in Policy Practice
- Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Admissions Requirements:
Admission to the Bachelor of Social Work program is a two-step process. In the first step, students are admitted to National Louis University with a preliminary status in the Bachelor of Social Work program. In the second step, students must complete the below requirements to be formally admitted to the program which updates the admission to full status in the Bachelor of Social Work. Students must be fully admitted to the program before beginning their Social Work Field Practicum I course (SWK 491).
Full Admission requirements:
- Successful completion of all general education courses, including GEN 103 and MTH 102
- Successful completion of SOC 101, PSY 101, HIS 102, and MTH 102 with a grade of "C" or better
- Successful completion of SWK 200 with a grade of "C" or better
- Achieve a GPA of 2.0 or better on all previous coursework
Program Details:
- Requires 180 QH including 60 QH of General Education for completion
- Credit for Prior Learning is accepted for general education and elective credit
- Transfer credit of upper-level courses is permitted with the stipulation that Social Work core courses must be taken at a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited Social Work degree program; upper-level courses from an unaccredited Social Work or related degree program would otherwise count as electives
- Students may complete any minor or concentration that is not in the same area of study as their program major. Students must consult with their Academic Advisor to select a minor or concentration that best fits their career and personal goals.
Required Courses
General Education Requirements
Communications
The following courses are recommended:
| ENG 101 | Beginning English Composition | 5 |
| ENG 201 | Intermediate English | 5 |
| ENG 203 | Effective Speaking for the Undergraduate | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any three general education courses in the following disciplines: academic writing, oral communications, and any course in the area of communications.
Humanities and Fine Arts
Choose two courses from the list below:
| ART 105 | Race, Identity and Experience in American Art | 5 |
| ART 106 | Race, Identity and Experience in American Art I | 2 |
| ART 107 | Race, Identity and Experience in American Art II | 3 |
| HIS 103 | History Across the Globe | 5 |
| PHI 107 | Ethics, Logic and Critical Inquiry | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any two general education courses in the following disciplines:
- Humanities: foreign language, history, literature, philosophy, religious studies, interdisciplinary humanities and fine arts, interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences
- Fine Arts: visual arts (including art history, art appreciation, and studio arts, such as drawing, painting, digital art, or film), film and cinema studies, and performing arts (including music appreciation, music theory, and music performance, theatre appreciation and performance, and dance)
Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Choose three courses from the list below (one must be math and one must be a natural science):
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any three general education courses in the following disciplines:
- Mathematics: college-level and not developmental in nature
- Natural Sciences: physics, chemistry, earth science, astronomy, geology, physical geography, biology, human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, genetics, botany and zoology; and interdisciplinary fields such as environmental science, and ecology and conservation
- Mathematics or Natural Sciences
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Choose two courses from the list below:
| ECO 200 | Macroeconomics for Today’s Professional | 5 |
| HIS 102 | Civics and American Government | 5 |
| HIS 212 | Think Global: Movements in US History and its Impact on Society and School | 5 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 5 |
| SOC 101 | Foundational Sociology | 5 |
| SOC 204 | Contemporary Chicago | 5 |
| SOC 222 | Culture and Identity | 5 |
| SOC 250 | Cultural and Ethnic Movements in the United States | 5 |
Note: Students transferring credit from other institutions or applying coursework previously completed at NLU may use any two general education courses in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the following disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, human geography, political science, psychology, sociology, interdisciplinary social/behavioral science, interdisciplinary humanities and social and behavioral science.
Program Specific General Education Requirements
Note: All of the above courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
Additional General Education Requirements
| GEN 103 | Student Success Seminar | 5 |
| or | |
| GEN 203 | NLU & You: Tools & Strategies for Student Success | 3 |
Note: GEN 103 is required for the first-time freshman students only. Students transferring in less than 90 QH are required to complete GEN 203.
Career Development Requirements
First-time Daytime Students - 15 QH
| CAR 214 | Creating and Communicating the Professional Brand | 5 |
| or | |
| BRV 200 | Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator | 5 |
| and | |
| CAR 295 | Career Service Learning | 5 |
| CAR 218 | Internship Application Workshop | 0 |
Note:
CAR 218 may be waived for students who have an internship accepted in Handshake prior to Winter term of the junior year.
Transfer Students - 5 QH
| BRV 200 | Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator | 5 |
| or | |
| CAR 214 | Creating and Communicating the Professional Brand | 5 |
| or | |
| CAR 202 | Creating Professional Identity | 0 TO 2 |
| and | |
| CAR 203 | You The Professional | 3 |
Major Requirements
Gateway Course - 5 QH
| SWK 200 | Introduction to Social Work and Social Justice | 5 |
Core Courses - 40 QH
| SWK 301 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment I | 5 |
| SWK 302 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment II | 5 |
| SWK 303 | Cultural Diversity and Social Justice | 5 |
| SWK 304 | Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families | 5 |
| SWK 305 | Social Work Practice II: Groups | 5 |
| SWK 306 | Social Work Practice III: Organizations and Communities | 5 |
| SWK 401 | Introduction to Social Work Research | 5 |
| SWK 402 | Social Policy Analysis | 5 |
Field Education - 15 QH
| SWK 491 | Field Seminar & Practicum I | 5 |
| SWK 492 | Field Seminar & Practicum II | 5 |
| SWK 493 | Field Seminar & Practicum III | 5 |
Electives
Choose additional courses to total 180 QH. These hours may be satisfied by completing any minor or concentration in consultation with your Academic Advisor.
Field Education Requirements
Admission to and continuance in field work are contingent on the following actions.
Candidates must:
- Be fully admitted into the Social Work Program (see above).
- File, by the designated deadline, the completed application form for field education.
- Submit to the Field Experience Director, or designee, required documentation based on field site (e.g., results of criminal background check, confidential disclosure statement, and acknowledgement of Mandated Reporter status form).
- Completion of Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families (SWK 304), and Social Work Practice II: Groups (SWK 305) courses with a grade of C or better.
- Registration in Social Work Practice III: Organizations and Communities (SWK 306) concurrently with Field Practicum & Seminar I (SWK 491).
- Successfully complete necessary program assessments, including the field competency review.
Graduation and Licensure Requirements:
Completion of the degree requires the following be met:
- Successful demonstration of the CSWE Core competencies in alignment with Social Work curriculum and Field Seminar and Practicum III (SWK 493).
- A grade of C or higher in all Social Work major courses.
- A grade of C or higher in the following general education courses: SOC 101, PSY 101, HIS 102, and MTH 102.
- Overall GPA of 2.0 or higher.
The Licensed Social Worker, awarded by Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), requires the above, as well as the following:
- Must have a certification of graduation from a baccalaureate degree program of social work approved by IDFPR.
- Verification of completion of 3 years of supervised professional experience.
- Must file an application for licensure with IDFPR on forms provided by IDFPR.
- Must successfully pass License Social Work (LSW) Exam.