Social Work - Bachelor of Social Work

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Lesley University promotes human rights and social justice by preparing students to engage in generalist social work practice with cultural humility through an anti-oppressive lens. Social work graduates are prepared to advocate alongside and practice with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations in the local community of Cambridge, MA, the Greater Boston area, and across the United States. As social workers, our graduates are prepared to engage in evidence-informed practice through a person-in-environment framework while upholding and promoting the core social work values of service, social justice, dignity and worth of the individual, importance and centrality of human relationships, integrity, competence, human rights and scientific inquiry.

Degree Requirements

Pre-Requisites for Application to the BSW Program (9 Credits):

CANTH 1101	Cultural Anthropology	3
CSWRK 2101	Introduction to Social Work	3
CSOCL 1404	Social Problems	3

Required Courses (30 credits)

CHMSR 2301	Power, Privilege & Practice	3
CSWRK 3201	Case Management in Social Work and Counseling	3
CSWRK 3301	Challenging Racism	3
CSOCS 3444	Research Methods in the Social Sciences	3
CSWRK 3550	Human Behavior in the Social Environment	3
CPLCY 3552	Social Policy	3
CSWRK 4101	Principles of Practice: Individuals, Families, and Groups	3
CSWRK 4102	Principles of Practice: Organizations, Communities, & Systems	3
CSWRK 4200	Social Work Practice with Groups	3
CSWRK 4551	Senior Capstone	3

Electives (6 Credits- Chose 2):

Choose two of the following courses from two different prefixes (6 credits):

CSOCL 2115	Politicizing Sex, Gender & Race: Transnational Perspectives	3
CPSYC 2402	Child Homelessness	3
CPSYC 2437	Equity & Inclusion for Children with Disabilities	3
CPSYC 2453	Mindfulness and Mental Health	3
CSOCL 3016	Social Issues in Aging	3
CSOCS 3050	Parenting Resilience	3
CSWRK 3350	Forensic Social Work	3
CSOCL 3445	Sociological Lens on Systemic Inequities	3
CSWRK 3450	Child Welfare: Challenges and Solutions	3
CSOCL 3551	Activism and Change in Communities	3
CHMSR 4300	Design and Management of Human Services Organizations	3
CPLCY 4441	Global Child and Family Policy	3

Experiential Component (16 Credits):

Students must be accepted into the BSW program prior to beginning their experiential component.

CHMSR 2551	Concepts and Skills in Professional Practice	4
CSWRK 4702	Practicum Seminar I	3
CSWRK 4704	Practicum Experience	3
CSWRK 4703	Practicum Seminar II	6

BSW Course Sequencing

Year 1: Introduction to Social Work; Cultural Anthropology; Social Problems

Year 2: Case Management; Concepts and Skills in Professional Practice; Power, Privilege and Practice; Challenging Racism; SW elective

Year 3: Semester 1: Social Policy; Research Methods; HBSE; SW Elective

Semester 2: Social Work Practice w/ Individuals & Families; Social Work Practice with Groups; Social Work Practice with Organizations, Communities and Systems

Year 4: Semester 1: Practicum Seminar I; Practicum Experience

Semester 2: Practicum Seminar II; Senior Capstone