BSW intern at Workers Defense Project in Austin

BSW students have the opportunity to develop their professional skills by taking a field practicum during their final semester in the program, when they are placed in an agency that meets their goals, needs, and interests.

The field experience provides students with the opportunity to build, integrate, and apply knowledge while working with a client population within an agency setting. It also gives students the chance to build a repertoire of skills and enhance their sense of identification with the profession. Students often report that field is one of the most important and challenging parts of the curriculum.

Read about student experiences in field.

A generalist approach is the underlying foundation of the BSW field sequence. Students learn the importance of the interaction between the person and the environment, in order to understand and enhance the developmental and problem-solving capacities of clients, especially vulnerable populations. Students also learn to identify and prioritize a wide range of needs of their client systems and to link clients with appropriate resources when needed.

Within the generalist approach, students are also encouraged to consider the broader implications of client problems, work to contribute to the improvement of human service systems and policies, and identify needed resources for clients in order for them to reach their potential. Students learn to apply the problem-solving approach including the principles of data collection, problem identification, assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation to systems of various sizes. Students also learn the importance of research in the acquisition of practice knowledge, evaluation of systems, and evaluation of their own practice.

Find about field-related training programs that offer student funding.

A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) combines liberal arts with social work classes to prepare individuals for entry into direct human service professional positions.

BSW students learn to work collaboratively in a variety of settings, and learn skills including assessment, interviewing, service planning, case management, crisis intervention, problem solving, program evaluation, community outreach, community organizing, advocacy, research and networking. Students receive the training needed to seek an exciting professional career and land employment in many different public and private work settings.

All students begin the program in social work foundation sequence coursework and complete requirements in language arts, social and behavioral sciences, math and natural sciences, and the humanities.

After these requirements, eligible students may apply to the  major practice sequence. Admitted students take social work courses and complete a supervised field practicum in a social services agency in the last semester.

Learn more about degree requirements. Learn how to apply to the BSW program.

Social work students take advantage of all the university-wide and community activities, and at the same time enjoy the benefits of a small program which provides a great deal of personal attention. There are approximately 300 undergraduate students enrolled in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work (see quick facts, pdf). Class sizes are usually between 25-35 students.

The school enjoys one of the most diverse faculty, staff and student bodies at the university. The school also has an active student council that holds a variety of academic, social, and social services-related activities each year.

All classes are conducted at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work building. The Learning Resource Center (LRC) includes a reference library, study space, multimedia and audio-visual laboratories, and a computer lab. The student lounge has vending machines, kitchen facilities, and a spacious comfortable design for casual meetings and group work.