Whatcom Community College
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Social Work Pathway
Notes:
- The social work program has prerequisites that you must complete before you can be admitted to the program. They are listed in this pathway.
- Once you are admitted into the program, you must take the social work core courses in sequence. The program spans six full-time quarters beginning in the fall.
Social work, bachelor of applied science (180-211 credits)
This degree prepares students with the competencies and knowledge for generalist practice in social work. Students focus on engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation in practice. With an emphasis on an ecological systems model, social justice, and evidence-based practice, graduates will be prepared to promote the well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in a social work setting and to pursue further education in social work.
Click below to see the quarter-by-quarter class sequence and other recommendations.
A completed associate degree from a regionally-accredited community or technical college in behavioral health, human services, social services, or substance use disorder professional (SUDP), or a related field with the Dean's approval. (Minimum college-level GPA 2.0) (90 credits)
You must complete the following courses with a C or better before the program starts. Courses completed with a C or better as part of your associate degree may be used to satisfy these prerequisites.
MATH& 146 Introduction to statistics (0-5 credits)
PSYC& 100 General psychology (0-5 credits)
PSYC& 200 Lifespan psychology (0-5 credits)
PSYC& 220 Abnormal psychology (0-5 credits)
Action item: Attend a social work information session while completing your prerequisites. These sessions cover a lot of information and will likely answer most of your questions.
| Description | An introduction to the practice of social work, including the role of social workers in addressing poverty and economic disparity, human rights, and social and economic justice through evidence-based and ethical practice. Course is centered on consideration of these topics through the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
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| Description | Course introduces issues related to professional values, identity, and best practices in social work at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Emphasis on respect for diversity, difference, and person-in-context in application of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) code of ethics. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 10-15
| Description | Provides foundational knowledge of a multi-dimensional person-in-environment approach to exploring human behavior. Application of major conceptual and theoretical frameworks throughout lifespan with emphasis on diversity, anti-racism, anti-oppression, and systemic influences with a bio-psycho-social perspective. Historical and socio-political issues integrated with theory to prepare for generalist social work across practice areas. |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
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| Description | Introduction and exploration of diversity, marginalization, and oppression frameworks (theory, knowledge and values) for social justice in multicultural social work. Beginning skills in self-awareness and use of evidence-based practice models for generalist work with diverse populations at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Attention to intersectionality of identity dimensions. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. Formerly SW 400 |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
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| Description | Course provides an overview of current structures and history of social welfare policy. Students critically analyze social policy practices and major social legislation. Policy development, reform, and outcomes at micro, mezzo, and macro levels addressed. Students develop strategies to advocate social, economic, and environmental well-being of families, groups, and communities. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 15
| Description | This course introduces the logic of the scientific method in social work research and processes of evaluation. Introduces social work research methods - problem formulation, research design, measurement, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. Skill development in critical consumption and application of research using social work ethics and values. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
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| Description | This is an introductory course on trauma responsive practice in social work which focuses on understanding contemporary, historical, and racial trauma, coping with trauma, and learning how to facilitate trauma informed and responsive generalist practice across practice areas. |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
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| Description | Course provides practice in relationship building through interpersonal skills necessary for social work practice, as applied to assessment across practice areas. Emphasis on culturally competent, strengths- and empowerment-based, ecological systems-oriented assessment. Consideration of roles of ethics in the helping process. |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 15
Quarter 4 (summer)
General education course(s) (0-15 credits)
Total credits this quarter: 0-15
| Description | This course focuses on knowledge and skill development in generalist social work with individuals and families. Centered on research knowledge, values, and ethics. Emphasis placed on skills in engagement, assessment, planning, interviewing, intervening, and terminating. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. |
| Enrollment Requirements | None |
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| Description | Practicum provides 165 hours of supervised practice in a social work position. Application of course-based learning and competency development planned by students, agency supervisor, and faculty in individualized learning agreements. Concurrent enrollment in corresponding practicum seminar (1 credit) required. |
| Enrollment Requirements | Concurrent enrollment in SW 492 |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Seminar promotes integration of course-based learning with practicum field experiences through self-reflection, skill refinement, ethical consideration, and other supportive processes. Students integrate theory and practice, monitor competency progress, and process field experiences. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. Prerequisite: SW 303 with a minimum C grade and concurrent enrollment in SW 491. |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of SW 303 with a minimum C grade and concurrent enrollment in SW 491. |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 11-16
| Description | Course focuses on knowledge and skill development in generalist social work with groups in a variety of settings. Group methods and research explored with emphasis on evidence-based and culturally-informed practices. Includes overview of group process elements: stages of group development, guidelines for multicultural practice, group roles, ethical and professional issues. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. Prerequisite: SW 301 with a minimum C grade. |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of SW 410 with a minimum C grade. |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Practicum provides 132 hours of supervised practice in a social work Position. Application of course-based learning and competency development planned by students, agency supervisor, and faculty in individualized learning agreements, building on skills and experiences from SW 491. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. Prerequisite: SW 491 with an S grade and concurrent enrollment in SW 494. |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of SW 491 with an S grade and concurrent enrollment in SW 494. |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Seminar promotes integration of course-based learning with practicum field experiences through self-reflection, skill refinement, ethical consideration, and other supportive processes. Students integrate theory and practice, monitor competency progress, and process field experiences. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. Concurrent enrollment in SW 493. |
| Enrollment Requirements | Concurrent enrollment in SW 493. |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 10-15
Action item: Apply for graduation.
| Description | Course focuses on knowledge and skill development in generalist social work with organizations and communities. Methods, research, and theory continued with emphasis on evidence-based and culturally-informed practices at the macro level. Includes overview of ethical and professional issues.Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. Prerequisite: SW 302 with a minimum C grade. |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of SW 420 with a minimum C grade. |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Practicum provides 132 hours of supervised practice in a social work position. Application of course-based learning and competency development planned by students, agency supervisor, and faculty in individualized learning agreements, building on skills and experiences from SW 493. Admittance to BAS in Social Work program required. Prerequisite: SW 493 with an S grade and concurrent enrollment in SW 496. |
| Enrollment Requirements | Completion of SW 493 with an S grade and concurrent enrollment in SW 496. |
| Course Attributes |
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| Description | Seminar promotes integration of course-based learning with practicum field experiences through self-reflection, skill refinement, ethical consideration, and other supportive processes. Students integrate theory and practice, monitor competency progress, and process field experiences. Concurrent enrollment in Practicum Experience III (SW 495) required. |
| Enrollment Requirements | Concurrent enrollment in SW 495. |
| Course Attributes |
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Total credits this quarter: 10-15
*General education - program specific requirements (0-10 credits)
BIOL& 100 Survey of biology (0-5 credits)
or BIOL& 160 General biology with lab (0-5 credits)
or BIOL& 175 Human biology with lab (0-5 credits)
CMST 225 Intercultural communication (0-5 credits)
General education - basic requirements (0-10 credits)
CMST& 101 Introduction to communication (0-5 credits)
or CMST& 210 Interpersonal communication (0-5 credits)
or CMST& 220 Public speaking (0-5 credits)
or CMST& 230 Small group communication (0-5 credits)
ENGL& 101 English composition I (0-5 credits)
General education - distribution requirements (0-10 credits)
Additional credits in Humanities (H), Social Sciences (SS), Math/Science (MS or MSl) or Communication Skills (CC or OC) (0-10 credits)
Electives (0-19 credits)
This degree requires you to have at least 90 credits in courses that were not applied to your associate degree. If you took any of this degree's prerequisites or general education courses as part of your associate degree, you may need to take up to 19 additional elective credits with a C or better to meet the minimum of 180 credits for graduation. Your electives should come from these disciplines: anthropology, communication studies, English, health services, humanities, human development, interdisciplinary studies, philosophy, psychology, sociology, world languages, or other social sciences. See an advisor for planning. (0-19 credits)