Program Mission
CSUSB’s Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program uses a generalist model to provide students with the knowledge, skills and values to promote human and community rights and well-being. Our program prepares students to challenge oppression in pursuit of social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. Our competency-based curriculum, guided by scientific inquiry, uses person-in-environment, advocacy, and anti-oppressive, strength-based frameworks to effect social change. We are grounded in the profession’s core values, including service, social justice, the dignity and worth of all people, the importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.
The BASW program’s San Bernardino and Palm Desert Campus options are located within two of the largest and most geographically and socio-economically diverse counties in the United States. We prepare students to serve culturally diverse individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations across urban, suburban, and rural settings of the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, and to engage ethically and inclusively in national and global practice.
About the Major
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) degree prepares students to work in entry level human services positions in a variety of agencies and settings. The BASW also serves as excellent preparation for graduate study, including for the Master’s in Social Work (MSW).
BASW Program Details
- Students can declare the pre-social work major at any time and work to complete lower division (1000-2000 level) courses.
- Students cannot "declare" the social work major for their junior or senior year. Students must apply and be accepted into the BASW program to change their major to social work. Interested applicants will apply during the fall of their sophomore year. For more information on the application, visit Apply to BASW webpage.
- The program takes two full years to complete.
- Students must achieve junior status by completing at least 60 semester units before beginning the BASW program
- During junior year, students take courses in human behavior, social welfare policy, and upper-division courses outside of social work.
- During senior year, students take social work practice, research, and upper-division courses outside of social work.
- Students participate in an in-person practicum experience in a social service agency; two times per week on non-class days, from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m.
- The BASW program is offered in-person at both the San Bernardino and Palm Desert Campuses. The program uses a cohort model in which students take their social work classes together with their classmates for both years.
- Students in San Bernardino take their social work classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 4:00-9:45 pm and are in practicum in their senior year on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Students in Palm Desert take their social work classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 4:00-9:45 pm and are in practicum in their senior year on Monday and Wednesday.