St. Olaf students prepare for lives of service as responsible and knowledgeable people. Those who study social work are committed to enhancing human well-being and promoting social justice. Social work, a major in the Department of Social Work and Family Studies, builds on students’ liberal education by enabling them critically to examine need, illumine inherent human strengths, reflect on their ethical conduct, and explore policies and programs that address social problems. The social work mission is to prepare students ethically to serve diverse populations and to promote a lifelong commitment to a just global community. Completing a bachelor of arts degree in social work prepares students for beginning professional generalist practice with diverse clients, both rural and urban. The Council on Social Work Education has accredited the program since 1990. Graduates meet educational requirements for the national BSW licensure examination at the baccalaureate level and are eligible to apply for advanced standing in social work graduate programs.
Courses are appropriate for students who are interested in social welfare policy and practice and/or related areas like family studies/therapy, education, and human resources. Level III and some level II courses are reserved for majors only.
Overview of the Major
Social work education builds on the liberal arts with professional foundation courses. It prepares students for generalist practice, students who understand scientific approaches to knowledge building and practice, are reflective of and responsible for their own ethical conduct and are committed to lives of service and leadership in the global community. Courses are sequential, culminating with the 400-hour field practicum - SWRK 380 Field Practicum (3.0) and a capstone professional development course - SWRK 381 Social Worker as Professional. Students gain experience with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in settings as diverse as child welfare, health, and corrections. Practicum sites are in local communities; placement elsewhere can be arranged with advance preparation.
Special Programs
The St. Olaf social work program encourages student participation in study abroad and away programs. Majors can conveniently schedule a January term abroad, as there are no required social work courses during January. To participate in a semester program abroad or away and complete the major requirements in four years, students must plan in the first year with the help of social work faculty. St. Olaf co-sponsors Social Work in a Latin American Context (Mexico) for social work majors, which fulfills major requirements, in the spring semester of the junior year.
Students often count social work courses for other interdisciplinary majors and concentrations including family studies, race and ethnic studies, and gender and sexuality studies. Social work majors are eligible for student-rate membership in the National Association of Social Workers and to receive its publications.
Social work faculty occasionally supervise students doing independent study/research in social welfare and social service after the student has completed at least one social work course. Completing the social work major is possible only through regular coursework, however.
Recommendations for Graduate Study
Students considering social work graduate school are strongly encouraged to consult faculty about appropriate undergraduate courses. Human biology and statistics are usually required for admission to social work graduate programs. Department offerings provide preparation for graduate study in marriage and family therapy, non-profit management, public policy, ministry, special education, law, and related fields. Students who excel in the social work major are often eligible for advanced standing in Master of Social Work (MSW) programs.
Admission to and Retention in the Social Work Program
The program actively seeks and encourages students from diverse backgrounds to consider a social work major and provides one-to-one advising.
First- and second-year students interested in social work are encouraged to meet with a faculty member and consult the department website. The major application, admission requirements, requirements to remain in good standing in the program, processes for petitioning reinstatement, and grievance procedures for redress of any adverse decision are also there. The program does not discriminate against any student on the basis of age, class, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, geographic location, immigration status, physical or mental ability, political ideology, race, religion/spirituality, sex, or sexual orientation. Students are formally notified in writing of admission to the major by January of the junior year.
Students who transfer to St. Olaf at or before the beginning of the junior (third) year may be considered for admission to the major, provided they have completed equivalent prerequisite courses in sociology, psychology, and human biology. Field practicum and practice courses must be completed while enrolled at St. Olaf. No credit or waiver is given for previous internship, work, or life experience.
For approvals for courses other than SOAN 121 Introduction to Sociology or BIO 123 Human Biology or BIO 243 Human Anatomy and Physiology: Organs and Organ Systems please see the Social Work Program Director/Chair of Social Work and Family Studies.
Requirements for the Major
Those interested in the major should contact a department faculty member in their first year or as early as possible. Students in good standing at the college who have satisfactorily completed prerequisite courses and SWRK 221 are eligible to apply for admission to the major. Students are granted major status only after satisfactory completion of SWRK 221, SWRK 246, SWRK 254, and a program application. Students should achieve a passing grade for Psychology 125 and a grade of C- or better in all other prerequisite courses. Students must receive a C or better in required social work courses to progress in the major. Details are specified in the program manual available from faculty or the department website.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| SOAN 121 | Introduction to Sociology 1 | 1.00 |
| PSYCH 125 | Principles of Psychology | 1.00 |
| PSYCH 241 | Developmental Psychology | 1.00 |
| BIO 123 | Human Biology 2 | 1.00 |
| or BIO 243 | Human Anatomy and Physiology: Organs and Organ Systems |
| SWRK 221 | Social Work and Social Welfare | 1.00 |
| SWRK 246 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment | 1.00 |
| SWRK 254 | Inclusive Practice: Individuals and Families | 1.00 |
| SWRK 258 | Social Policy | 1.00 |
| SWRK 261 | Inclusive Practice: Groups, Organizations and Communities | 1.00 |
| SWRK 274 | Research Methods in Social Work | 1.00 |
| SWRK 373 | Just Practice 3 | 1.00 |
| SWRK 380 | Field Practicum (3.0) 3, 4 | 3.00 |
| SWRK 381 | Social Worker as Professional | 1.00 |
Students must be admitted to the social work major and in good academic standing to register for all level III courses. Field practicum experience may be completed while living on- or off-campus. Statistics is strongly recommended, especially for students who anticipate graduate study.
*By completing this major, the student also satisfies the OLE Core Writing in the Major requirement.
Social Work Major - Plan of Study
This is a sample first-year plan that meets the requirements for the Social Work major at St. Olaf. This tool is meant as a guide and does not replace working closely with the student's academic advisor.
Please see the planning guide on the Social Work department's website for additional information.
Courses in the Social Work major are sequential, culminating with the 400-hour field practicum - SWRK 380 Field Practicum (3.0) and a capstone professional development course - SWRK 381 Social Worker as Professional. Students gain experience with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in settings as diverse as child welfare, health, and corrections. Practicum sites are in local communities; placement elsewhere can be arranged with advance preparation
Plan of Study Grid
| First Year |
|---|
| Fall Semester |
|---|
FYS 120
|
First-Year Seminar ()
or Writing and Rhetoric |
1.00 |
| PSYCH 125 |
Principles of Psychology |
1.00 |
| SOAN 121 |
Introduction to Sociology |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
| | Credits | 4 |
| January Term |
|---|
SWRK 120
|
I Want to Help People
or Global Challenges |
1.00 |
| | Credits | 1 |
| Spring Semester |
|---|
WRIT 120
|
Writing and Rhetoric ()
or First-Year Seminar |
1.00 |
| PSYCH 241 |
Developmental Psychology |
1.00 |
|
1.00 |
| | Credits | 3 |
| Sophomore Year |
|---|
| Fall Semester |
|---|
| BIO 123 |
Human Biology |
1.00 |
| SWRK 221 |
Social Work and Social Welfare |
1.00 |
| | Credits | 2 |
| Spring Semester |
|---|
|
|
| | Credits | 0 |
| Junior Year |
|---|
| Fall Semester |
|---|
| SWRK 246 |
Human Behavior in the Social Environment |
1.00 |
| SWRK 254 |
Inclusive Practice: Individuals and Families |
1.00 |
| | Credits | 2 |
| Spring Semester |
|---|
| SWRK 258 |
Social Policy |
1.00 |
| SWRK 261 |
Inclusive Practice: Groups, Organizations and Communities |
1.00 |
SWRK 274
|
Research Methods in Social Work 1
or Augsburg CGEE: Social Work in a Latin American Context |
1.00 |
| | Credits | 3 |
| Senior Year |
|---|
| Fall Semester |
|---|
| SWRK 373 |
Just Practice |
1.00 |
| SWRK 380 |
Field Practicum (3.0) |
3.00 |
| | Credits | 4 |
| Spring Semester |
|---|
| SWRK 381 |
Social Worker as Professional |
1.00 |
| | Credits | 1 |
| | Total Credits | 20 |
Students must successfully complete the equivalent of 35 St. Olaf credits through a combination of full-credit and fractional-credit courses to earn the Bachelor of Arts.
Visit the Social Work department webpage for more information.
