Overview
The College of Social Work offers a four-year undergraduate program on the Columbia campus leading to a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). This BSW program has been fully accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) since 2012.
The Mission of the BSW Program
The mission of the BSW program is to prepare graduates to become competent and ethical generalist practitioners who promote social and economic justice, social well-being, and an appreciation of diversity among vulnerable populations across South Carolina and beyond. This is accomplished through the program's emphasis on teaching, research, creative activity, and community engagement.
- Graduates will engage individuals families groups organizations and communities. Graduates will be able to: Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment and other multidisciplinary frameworks to engage with Use empathy & reflection and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients.
- Graduates will intervene with individuals families groups organizations and communities. Graduates will be able to critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment and other multidisciplinary frameworks in interventions.
- Graduates will assess individuals families groups organizations and communities. Graduates will be able to: Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment and other multidisciplinary frameworks in the analysis of assessment data. Develop mutually agreed upon goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths needs and challenges. Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment.
- Graduates will demonstrate ethical and professional behavior. Graduates will able to: Make ethical decisions by using the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics and other models for ethical decision making. Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism. Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior appearance and communication. Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.
- Graduates will engage diversity and difference in practice. Graduates will be able to: Apply and communicate the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences. Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences. Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influences of personal biases.
- Graduates will engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research. Graduates will be able to: Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry. Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice.
- Graduates will engage in policy practice. Graduates will be able to: Identify social policy that impacts social well-being service delivery and access to social services. Apply critical thinking to analyze and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social and economic justice.
- Graduates will advance human rights and social economic and environmental justice. Graduates will be able to: Apply their understanding of social economic and environmental justice to advocate for human rights. Engage in practices that advance social economic and environmental justice.
- Graduates will apply critical thinking to evaluate social work practice. Graduates will be able to: Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment and other multidisciplinary frameworks to evaluate outcomes. Critically analyze monitor and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes. Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness.
Attendance Requirements
Students are subject to attendance regulations of the University as described in the University of South Carolina Undergraduate Bulletin. In addition, students are expected to attend all required orientations and advisement sessions so they are prepared for all social work courses, including field education courses. Concerns related to attendance are addressed in BSW course syllabi and the field education manual.
Readmission
A student who has been suspended or who has withdrawn from the BSW Program and subsequently readmitted will be subject to the current academic standards of the University and the BSW Program.
Credit for Life Experience
In accordance with the mandates of the Council on Social Work Education, no credit is given for life experiences. Students will not receive academic credit for life experience or previous volunteer, service learning activities or assignments, or work experience in social work.
Academic credit will not be granted for life experience or previous work experience, and such experience will not be substituted for any of the courses in the professional foundation areas or the field practicum.
Transfer of Credit
Although the USC Office of Admission may grant students semester hours for transfer credit for completed work in another social work program, the BSW Program will determine whether the course meet the requirements of the BSW degree in the College of Social Work. Any student wishing to transfer credit must submit a course syllabus that includes learning objectives, assignments, and the titles and authors of textbooks to the BSW Program Coordinator. If it appears that the requisite competencies, knowledge, and skills have been acquired, the student will be exempted from the BSW course.

