Social Work

College of Liberal Arts
Department of Social Work
(907) 474-7240
Chukchi Campus (907) 442-3400
Kuskokwim Campus (907) 543-4500
Northwest Campus (907) 443-2201
www.uaf.edu/socwork/

B.A. Degree

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 123 creditscredits

Downloadable PDF (PDF 122K)

Graduates in social work qualify for beginning practice positions in child welfare, mental health, services for the aged, family agencies, youth programs, health services, Native corporations and other social agencies. Social work applies knowledge in the behavioral sciences to deal with the emotional and social problems of individuals, families and communities.
The curriculum includes a liberal arts base, foundation requirements in the behavioral sciences, and sequences in social policy and services, practice methods and field instruction. A major emphasis is the preparation of the student for beginning social work practice with rural and Alaska Native populations.

Students learn to work with people on a personal level and are placed in a social agency as part of their course work during the senior year. A Title IV-E entitlement grant provides stipends to senior students doing practicums in child protection.

Students wishing to focus on understanding the aging process from a social work perspective and working with older adults may specialize in gerontology. Majors will take SWK 342--Human Behavior in the Social Environment II, SWK 370--Social Work and The Aging Society, and an approved elective with gerontology content. Students minoring in social work can choose either the general social work minor or a social work minor with a specialization in gerontology.

The UAF baccalaureate social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. This degree program is delivered collaboratively within the UA system.

Major--B.A. Degree

1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete SOC 100X or ANTH 100X.) (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete BIOL 100X, 103X, 105X, 106X, 111X, or 112X.)
2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements. (As part of the B.A. degree requirements, complete ANS/ANTH 242 and PSY 101.)
3. Compete the following program (major) requirements:*
   
   1. Complete the following:
      SWK 103--Introduction to Social Work--3 credits
      SWK 220--Ethics, Values and Social Work Practice--3 credits
      SWK 305O--Social Welfare History--3 credits
      SWK 306W--Social Welfare: Policies and Issues--3 credits
      SWK 320W--Rural Social Work--3 credits
      SWK 341--Human Behavior in the Social Environment I--3 credits
      SWK 342O--Human Behavior in the Social Environment II--3 credits
      SWK 375W--Research Methods in Social Work--3 credits
      SWK 460--Social Work Practice I--3 credits
      SWK 461--Practicum in Social Work I**--3 or 6 credits
      SWK 463--Social Work Practice II--3 credits
      SWK 464--Practicum in Social Work II**--3 or 6 credits
      SWK 466--Practicum in Social Work III**--3 or 6 credits
   2. Complete two courses from the following special problems areas:
      HUMS 205--Basic Principles of Group Counseling--3 credits
      HUMS 305--Substance Abuse Counseling--3 credits
      SWK 310--Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder--3 credits
      SWK 330--Seminar in International Social Work--3 credits
      SWK 350W--Women’s Issues in Social Welfare and Social Work Practice--3 credits
      SWK 360--Child Abuse and Neglect--3 credits
      SWK 370--Social Work and the Aging Society--3 credits
      SWK 470--Theories of Chemical Dependency and Social Work Practice--3 credits
      SWK 484--Seminar in Social Work Practice Areas--3 credits
4. Minimum credits required--123 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
**Students must complete a total of 12 credits of practicum, and students must take SWK 461 (Practicum I) and SWK 464 (Practicum II) for at least 6 of these credits. SWK 466 (Practicum III) is an option for students who have completed SWK 461 and SWK 464 for less than 12 credits.
***Students wishing to specialize in gerontology should take SWK 342, SWK 370 and an approved elective from the following list:
ANS 401--Cultural Knowledge of Native Elders
ANTH 315--Human Biology
ANTH 317--Human Growth and Development
COMM 462 --Communications in Health Contexts
SOC 310--Sociology of Aging

Minor

1. Complete the following:
   SWK 103--Introduction to Social Work--3 credits
   SWK 220--Ethics, Values and Social Work Practice--3 credits
2. Complete three SWK designated courses, excluding SWK 460, 461, 463 and 464--9 credits
3. Minimum credits required--15 credits

Minor with Specialization in Gerontology

1. Complete the following:
   SWK 103--Introduction to Social Work--3 credits
   SWK 220--Ethics, Values and Social Work Practice--3 credits
   SWK 342--Human Behavior in the Social Environment II--3 credits
   SWK 370--Social Work and the Aging Society--3 credits
2. Choose one course from the list of courses with aging content:
   ANS 401--Cultural Knowledge of Native Elders--3 credits
   ANTH 315--Human Biology--3 credits
   ANTH 317--Human Growth and Development--3 credits
   COMM 462--Communication in Health Contexts--3 credits
   SOC 310-- Sociology of Aging--3 credits
3. Minimum credits required--15 credits