Social Work Curriculum

CompleteDegree@Simmons 

The online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) curriculum is designed to help you develop the knowledge, values, and skills you need to make a positive impact on individuals, families, and organizations. Through online courses and practicum education in or near your own community, you will study human behavior, gain vital social work competencies, and discover how you can make change happen.

Key Content Areas

A Simmons education will prepare you to think and lead within your area of focus and beyond. Our undergraduate experience includes courses in a variety of key content areas — such as science, culture, social history, and the arts — that represent different ways of thinking about the world and approaching complex topics. These learning opportunities within and across disciplines prepare our graduates to solve a wide range of challenges in their lives, careers, and communities.

Like many of our students who are continuing their academic journey with Simmons, you may have transferable credits that fulfill key content area requirements. Be sure to submit your academic transcripts for review — we accept up to 96 transfer credits.

Program Requirements

Below are the required BSW program courses and practicum experiences. experiences. Some courses in this program may have prerequisites.

BSW Courses

Course #TitleCredits
SW 101
Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare
4
SW 253
Human Behavior in the Social Environment
4
SW 200
Social Welfare Policy
4
SW 255
Interviewing & Documentation in Human Services
4
SW 345
Junior Practicum Education Seminar
4
SW 351
Social Work Practice I: Introduction to Generalist Practice
4
SW 352
Social Work Practice II: Work With Individuals & Families
4
SW 353
Social Work Practice III: Groups
4
SW 354
Social Work Practice IV: Macro Social Work
4
SOCI 239
Introduction to Social Research
4
SOCI 249
Inequalities
4

Practicum Education and Placements

Course #TitleCredits
SW 370
Social Work Practicum Placement I
8
SW 371
Social Work Practicum Placement & Seminar II
8

Additional Required Liberal Arts Courses

Course #TitleCredits
STAT 118
Introduction Statistics (or higher)
4
BIOL 109
Sex, Gender and Biology
4
BIO 113
General Biology
4

*Please note that both Biology courses are not required, students may choose one or the other.

Elective offerings will vary by semester and may include:

Course #TitleCredits
ECON 101
Principles of Macroeconomics
4
PH 101
Public Health
4
POLS 101
Introduction to American Politics
4
POLS 217
American Public Policy
4