Program: Social Work, Child Welfare Concentration (B.A.) - University of Memphis

Jul 03, 2025

2025-2026 UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG

The B.A. program in Social Work is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for entrance into the profession of social work as beginning level generalist practitioners. Program objectives for a B.A. in Social Work are: a) apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice; (b) understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly; (c) practice without discrimination to needs of diverse clientele; (d) apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice. Many social work courses have service-learning requirements and an internship is required. This is the Child Welfare Concentration.

Concentrations

All social work majors are required to have a concentration. Admission to the University and completion of social work core courses do not guarantee placement in a concentration. Students must be competitively admitted into the concentration based on an application completed in SWRK 3011: Professionalism and Social Work Careers.

University General Education Program (41 hours)

See Graduation from the University for the University General Education Program requirements.

SOCI 3422 and ANTH 1200 are required for the social work major. It is recommended that students also use these courses to fulfill general education requirements.

College and Degree (B.A.) Requirements (6-9 hours)

The College and Bachelor of Arts requirements are in addition to the University General Education Program requirements.

The Major (57 hours in addition to University General Education Program requirements)

The Major Core (19 hours)

Completion of

SWRK 2010 - Introduction to Social Work** Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 2011 - Writing for Social Work Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 3010 - Soc Response to Human Need Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 3011 - Professionalism in Social Work Careers Credit Hours: 1
ANTH 1200 - Cultural Anthropology ** Credit Hours: (3)
may be counted toward the University General Education Program requirements
SOCI 3311 - Social Statistics ** Credit Hours: (3)
SOCI 3422 - Racial/Ethnc Minorities ** Credit Hours: (3)
may be counted toward the University General Education Program requirements

Child Welfare Concentration (38 hours)

The child welfare concentration prepares students for the Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) in the State of Tennessee and for Child Welfare Certification through the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Students wishing to practice in other states should check specific state requirements. To be eligible for Tennessee Child Welfare Certification, students must meet the following requirements in addition to the concentration requirements.

Obtain an overall GPA of 2.6
Undergo a background check and fingerprinting.
Be a US Citizen or eligible to work in the United States.
Possess a valid driver’s license.
Complete SWRK 4830 & SWRK 4831 at the TN Department of Children’s Services.
Earn a B- or higher in SWRK 4934 & SWRK 4935.

SWRK 3902 - Human Behavior/Soc Envrnmnt Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 3903 - Social Work Practice I Credit Hours: (4)
SWRK 3904 - Social Work Practice II Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 3906 - Social Work Practice III Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 3920 - Soc Welfare Policy/Programs Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 3930 - Intro Soc Work Research Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 4830 - Field Instruction Soc Work I Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 4831 - Field Instruction Soc Work II Credit Hours: (4)
SWRK 4840 - Integrative Field Seminar I Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 4841 - Integrative Field Seminar II Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 4934 - Child Welfare Policy/Services Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 4935 - Child Welfare II Credit Hours: (3)

Electives

Electives may be chosen to bring the total number of hours to 120.

Note

Successful student progression requires each student to earn a minimum grade of “C” in all required courses for social work majors. Students repeating two required classroom courses for the major or field instruction will have an academic review by department faculty in the term following the second course repetition.

Typical 4-Year Social Work Sequence

Freshman Year

First Semester

ENGL 1010 - English Composition** Credit Hours: (3)
MATH* (3)
ANTH 1200 - Cultural Anthropology ** Credit Hours: (3)
Fine Art* (3)
Elective - World Language 1010 (3)

Second Semester

ENGL 1020 - English Comp/Analysis** Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 2010 - Introduction to Social Work** Credit Hours: (3)
Social/Behavioral Science (3)
Humanities* (3)
Elective - World Language 1020 (3)

Semester Totals 30-31 hrs

Sophomore Year

First Semester

ENGL 2201 - Literary Heritage ** Credit Hours: (3)
or
ENGL 2202 - Lit Heritage: African-American ** Credit Hours: (3)
World Languages 2010 (3)
BIOL 1010 - Biology of Cells** Credit Hours: (3)
BIOL 1011 - Biology of Cells Lab ** Credit Hours: (1)
SWRK 2011 - Writing for Social Work Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 3010 - Soc Response to Human Need Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 3011 - Professionalism in Social Work Careers Credit Hours: 1

Second Semester

COMM 2381 - Oral Communication Credit Hours: (3)
World Language 2020 (3)
BIOL 1020 - Biology of Organisms** Credit Hours: (3)
BIOL 1021 - Biology of Organisms Lab ** Credit Hours: (1)
SWRK 3902 - Human Behavior/Soc Envrnmnt Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 3920 - Soc Welfare Policy/Programs Credit Hours: (3)

Semester Totals 33 hrs

Junior Year

First Semester

SWRK 3903 - Social Work Practice I Credit Hours: (4)
SWRK 3930 - Intro Soc Work Research Credit Hours: (3)
SOCI 3311 - Social Statistics ** Credit Hours: (3)
History* (3)
SWRK 4934 - Child Welfare Policy/Services Credit Hours: (3)

Second Semester

SWRK 3904 - Social Work Practice II Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 3906 - Social Work Practice III Credit Hours: (3)
Social/Behavioral Science (3)
SOCI 3422 - Racial/Ethnc Minorities ** Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 4935 - Child Welfare II Credit Hours: (3)

Semester Totals 31 hrs

Senior Year

First Semester

SWRK 4830 - Field Instruction Soc Work I Credit Hours: (3)
SWRK 4840 - Integrative Field Seminar I Credit Hours: (3)
PHED Course (2)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)

Second Semester

SWRK 4831 - Field Instruction Soc Work II Credit Hours: (4)
SWRK 4841 - Integrative Field Seminar II Credit Hours: (3)
Elective (3)
Elective (3)

Semester Totals 27 hrs

Total Hours: 120-121

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement

For the General Education Social/Behavioral Science and Additional Social Science - Complete 2 of the following: SOCI 1010 , POLS 1030 and ECON 2020 .