Social Work

BSW Program of Study

Mission & Goals

The mission of the University of North Florida (UNF) Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is to prepare students with the generalist knowledge, values, and skills to provide effective social work services to diverse client systems in a variety of practice settings. Our curriculum is designed to enhance students' understanding of and sensitivity to economic and social inequalities and foster commitment to serving and advocating for the well-being of those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed.

In accordance with our mission, the BSW program aims to:

offer a curriculum grounded in the liberal arts and informed by state of the art social work knowledge that prepares students for effective generalist social work practice with diverse clients systems in a variety of practice settings;
enhance students' understanding of and sensitivity to economic and social inequalities, fostering commitment to serve and advocate for those who are vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed;
prepare students to engage self-critically in practice evaluation as well as lifelong personal and professional growth through the development of research, critical thinking and problem-solving skills; and
socialize students to the values and ethics of the social work profession.

Program of Study

The UNF BSW Program is limited access program, admitting a cohort of 40 students on an annual basis for the fall semester of each academic year. Admitted students may opt for a two-year full-time or a three-year part-time Program of Study. All required social work courses are offered on campus during the day. Some diversity or major elective courses may be available at night or online. More information regarding the program academic requirements, policies, and procedures may be found in the BSW Student Handbook, which is available upon request.

Admissions Criteria

Students who wish to be admitted to the UNF BSW program must meet the following admission requirements:

Acceptance to UNF;
An AA from a public Florida college or university or successful completion of UNF general education requirements; students transferring to UNF without an AA must have 60 credit hours;
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5;
Completion of 15 hours of common prerequisites (listed below) with a C or better;
Successful participation in a panel interview conducted on campus by a committee of Social Work and Sociology faculty and community partners; and,
Acceptable performance on a writing assessment administered on campus and reviewed by a committee of Social Work and Sociology faculty.

Prior to being admitted to the BSW program, students must successfully complete 15 hours of state-mandated common pre-requisites with a C or better. Select one course in each of the following disciplines (UNF course offerings are listed; equivalent courses from other institutions are also acceptable):

POS 2041 Introduction to American Government
- Political Science (3 credit hours)
Human Biology (3 credit hours)
- BSC 1005C Principles of Biology
- BSC 2085C Anatomy & Physiology I BSC 1010C General Biology I
Psychology (3 credit hours)
- PSY 2012 Introduction to Psychology
Sociology (3 credit hours)
- SYG 2000 Introduction to Sociology
Economics (3 credit hours)
- ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics
- ECO 2023 Principles of Microeconomics

Application Process

Applications will soon be accepted for the BSW program for the 2024-2025 academic year, and applications are due February 7, 2025. The following steps outline the application process and important dates and deadlines.

Step 1: Apply (Deadline: February 7, 2025)
Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA, 60 hours of college/university credit, (junior standing), and the required prerequisites completed by the beginning of fall 2025.
- If you are a current UNF student who meets these requirements, you will need to meet with your academic advisor to ensure that you have both declared Social Work as your major and that you have been referred for consideration by the BSW Admissions Committee by February 7, 2025. Declaring your major as Social Work does not guarantee admittance; this will generate a referral that the BSW Admissions Committee will review.
- If you are a transfer student and will meet these requirements, you should declare Social Work as your intended major when you apply to UNF. Your completed application, including all transcripts, is due no later than February 7, 2025. Upon completing your application, a referral will be forwarded by UNF Enrollment Services to the BSW Admissions Committee for consideration.
Step 2: Initial Review of Applications
The BSW Admissions Committee will review applications with an eye to completion of the program prerequisites and the strength of students' academic records (as indicated by GPA). Students who meet the minimum requirements and prerequisites (or will have met them by fall 2025) and whose academic records show sufficient merit will be given the opportunity to continue through the application process. All applicants will be emailed their application status by March 7, 2025.
Step 3: Admission Interview and Writing Assessment
The second step of the application process is a mandatory interview and writing assessment conducted on the UNF campus. These allow us to gain insight into students' preparation and suitability for social work as a profession and their oral and written communication skills. The session will include a group interview with up to six applicants and at least two faculty and/or professional social workers, and a writing assessment conducted in a computer lab. Applicants who require reasonable accommodation due to a documented disability must let us know in advance. All interviews and writing assessments will be conducted on Friday, March 28, 2025. No make-up interviews will be scheduled.
Step 4: Notification of Admission
Applicants who interviewed for BSW program admission will be notified of decisions via email by April 18, 2025. Applicants will be admitted, declined, or placed on a wait list and informed of their wait list rank. Admitted students must confirm their intent to enroll in the BSW program for fall 2025 by submitting their Enrollment Form by April 25, 2025, and must commit to attend the BSW New Student Orientation in August 2025 (TBA). Failure to do either may result in forfeiture of one's place in the program.
Step 5: Wait List Admissions
Wait-listed applicants will be admitted as space becomes available. Applicants who are wait-listed and do not wish to be considered for admission should let us know that as soon as possible.
Step 6: Mandatory BSW New Student Orientation
All students admitted to the UNF BSW program must attend a half-day orientation. This is an important opportunity to learn about courses, discuss program expectations and policies, and meet faculty and fellow students. Orientation is typically held one morning the week prior to the start of the fall semester. BSW New Student Orientation in August 2025 (TBA).

Field Education

All BSW students are required to complete 450 hours of field education during Year 2 of their program of study in an approved social services organization. Students must complete all required pre-requisites (SOW 3203, SOW 4101, SOW 3293, SOW 3403, SOW 4302, SOW 4102, SOW 4323, and one of the two approved diversity courses) with a "C" or better and have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher in their major in order to enroll in Field Education and Seminar courses. In addition to meeting these academic requirements, it is incumbent upon students to meet the eligibility criteria specified by placement agencies in order to secure a field education placement. Although criteria vary, agencies commonly require students to pass local, state, and federal background screenings as well as drug tests. Students who are not able to secure a placement due to a criminal history or the use of illicit substances will not be able to complete the BSW Program. More information about field policies and procedures may be found in the BSW Field Manual. Community social service agencies that are interested in hosting BSW students for fieldwork may complete the Field Education Host Agency Application and return it to the Field Education Director, Nikki Runion. Questions regarding Field Education should be directed to Professor Nikki Runion, MSW, LCSW, Field Education Director, at (904) 620-5296 or c.n.runion@unf.edu.

CSWE Accreditation & Assessment

The UNF BSW Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and revolves around the development of nine fundamental areas of practice competencies. These competencies are further defined by practice behaviors that students cultivate while in the BSW program as they prepare for future roles in the social work profession. The nine core competencies defined by the 2022 CSWE Educational Policies and Standards (EPAS) are:

Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
Engage in Policy Practice
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

The BSW Program utilizes multiple measures to assess the degree to which students master the core competencies of generalist social work practice as well as the quality of the learning environment in which the program of study is delivered.

For More BSW Program Information:

If you have any questions, email BSW@unf.edu, or call (904) 620-2867.