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; Minor

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 123 credits

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 F342—Human Behavior in the Social Environment II, SWK F370—Services and Support for an 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 F100X or ANTH F100X.) (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete BIOL F100X, F103X, F115X, F116X, F111X, or F112X.)
  2. Complete the B.A. degree requirements. (As part of the B.A. degree requirements, complete ANS/ANTH F242 and PSY F101.)
  3. Compete the following program (major) requirements:*
    1. Complete the following:
      SWK F103—Introduction to Social Work—3 credits
      SWK F220—Ethics, Values and Social Work Practice—3 credits
      SWK F305O—Social Welfare History—3 credits
      SWK F306—Social Welfare: Policies and Issues—3 credits
      SWK F320W—Rural Social Work—3 credits
      SWK F341—Human Behavior in the Social Environment I—3 credits
      SWK F342—Human Behavior in the Social Environment II—3 credits
      SWK F375W—Research Methods in Social Work—3 credits
      SWK F460—Social Work Practice I—3 credits
      SWK F461—Practicum in Social Work I** 3 or 6
      SWK F463—Social Work Practice II—3 credits
      SWK F464—Practicum in Social Work II** 3 or 6
      SWK F466—Practicum in Social Work III** 3 or 6
    2. Complete two courses from the following special problems areas:
      HUMS F205—Basic Principles of Group Counseling—3 credits
      HUMS F305—Substance Abuse Counseling—3 credits
      SWK F310—Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder—3 credits
      SWK F330—Seminar in International Social Work—3 credits
      SWK F350W—Women's Issues in Social Welfare and Social Work Practice—3 credits
      SWK F360—Child Abuse and Neglect—3 credits
      SWK F370—Services and Support for an Aging Society—3 credits
      SWK F470—Substance Abuse Theories and Treatment—3 credits
      SWK F484—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 F461 (Practicum I) and SWK F464 (Practicum II) for at least 6 of these credits. SWK F466 (Practicum III) is an option for students who have completed SWK F461 and SWK F464 for less than 12 credits.

*** Students wishing to specialize in gerontology should take SWK F342, SWK F370 and an approved elective from the following list:
ANS F401—Cultural Knowledge of Native Elders
ANTH F315—Human Biology
ANTH F317—Human Growth and Development
COMM F462 —Communications in Health Contexts
SOC F310—Sociology of Aging

Minor

  1. Complete the following:
    SWK F103—Introduction to Social Work—3 credits
    SWK F220—Ethics, Values and Social Work Practice—3 credits
  2. Complete three SWK designated courses, excluding SWK F460, F461, F463 and F464—9 credits
  3. Minimum credits required—15 credits

Minor with Specialization in Gerontology

  1. Complete the following:
    SWK F103—Introduction to Social Work—3 credits
    SWK F220—Ethics, Values and Social Work Practice—3 credits
    SWK F342—Human Behavior in the Social Environment II—3 credits
    SWK F370—Services and Support for an Aging Society—3 credits
  2. Choose one course from the list of courses with aging content:
    ANS F401—Cultural Knowledge of Native Elders—3 credits
    ANTH F315—Human Biology—3 credits
    ANTH F317—Human Growth and Development—3 credits
    COMM F462—Communication in Health Contexts—3 credits
    SOC F310— Sociology of Aging—3 credits
  3. Minimum credits required—15 credits