Study the social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities.
Saint Louis University's graduate social work program is among the top 20 percent in the nation, as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. If you want a career in social work, our programs are designed to get you there.
Field Education Policy and Procedures Manual
A degree in social work gives students the skills to improve the quality of life for individuals or communities faced with difficulties such as poverty, serious illness or disability.
Social workers seek to help individuals, families, groups and communities address challenges in their lives. As a part of the College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University’s social work degree prepares students for generalist social work practice that integrates knowledge and skills with field experience.
Additional degree options include:
The social work curriculum contains 42 credits of major courses covering topics such as human behavior and the social environment, and three practice courses that address social work with individuals, families and groups, and organizations and communities. During the senior year, students spend two semesters in a social service agency, supervised by an experienced social worker. Science, math and humanities courses and electives fill out the remainder of the 120 credits required for the major.
For students interested in a global education, there are a wide variety of study abroad programs available at SLU, including a campus located in Madrid, Spain. Students majoring in social work at SLU can also enroll in a two-week experiential course in Belize, Ghana, Ireland, Cuba or India, which features concentrated study, lectures and interactions with the people of the respective country.
From strong service-learning components, students embody the University’s Jesuit mission by using the knowledge they gain in the classroom to serve others. In addition to volunteer work, students can explore different types of social work with guidance from seasoned professionals through partnerships with more than 250 social service agencies around the St. Louis area.
Social work graduates from Saint Louis University can look forward to careers in a wide variety of settings. U.S. Labor Department projections indicate a steady demand in social work jobs in the years ahead. Most social workers specialize in an area of practice, including but not limited to:
Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply. Saint Louis University also accepts the Common App.
All applications are thoroughly reviewed with the highest degree of individual care and consideration to all credentials that are submitted. Solid academic performance in college preparatory course work is a primary concern in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file.
To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, the applicant must be graduating from an accredited high school, have an acceptable HiSET exam score or take the General Education Development (GED) test. Beginning with the 2021-22 academic year, undergraduate applicants will not be required to submit standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) in order to be considered for admission. Applicants will be evaluated equally, with or without submitted test scores.
Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply.
Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED. An official high school transcript and official test scores are required only of those students who have attempted fewer than 24 transferable semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit. Those having completed 24 or more of college credit need only submit a transcript from previously attended college(s). In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the office of admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University.
Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply.
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit the student financial services office online at https://www.slu.edu/financial-aid.
The baccalaureate social work program at Saint Louis University has been continuously accredited since 1974.
The master’s social work program at Saint Louis University has been continuously accredited since 1930.
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
1701 Duke Street, Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314-3457
Phone: 703-683-8080
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Requirements | 57 | |
Required Social Work Courses | ||
SWRK 1000 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
SWRK 2300 | Human Behavior Social Envrnmnt | 3 |
SWRK 3100 | Social Policy for Social Justice | 3 |
SWRK 3200 | Diversity & Anti-Oppression Practice | 3 |
SWRK 3300 | Social Work Practice with Individuals | 3 |
SWRK 3400 | Social Work Practice with Families & Groups | 3 |
SWRK 3500 | Social Work Practice with Organizations & Communities | 3 |
SWRK 3600 | Financial Capability and Asset Building Practice | 3 |
or ECON 1900 | Principles of Economics | |
SWRK 3700 | Introduction to Social Work Research | 3 |
SWRK 4100 | Social Work Practicum I | 5 |
SWRK 4150 | Integrative Practice Seminar I | 1 |
SWRK 4200 | Social Work Practicum II | 5 |
SWRK 4250 | Integrative Practice Seminar II | 1 |
Electives | ||
Select 24 credits. Electives that enhance the social work major are recommended. | 24 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
English & Communications | ||
ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research | 3 |
ENGL 2020-2900 | Literary Studies | 3 |
ENGL 4000 | Business and Professional Writing | 3 |
CMM 1200 | Public Speaking | 3 |
History | ||
HIST 1110 | Origins of the Modern World to 1500 | 3 |
or HIST 1120 | Origins of the Modern World (1500 to Present) | |
HIST 1600 | History of the United States of America to 1865 | 3 |
or HIST 1610 | History of the United States Since 1865 | |
Philosophy & Theology | ||
PHIL 1050 | Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality | 3 |
THEO 1000 | Theological Foundations | 3 |
THEO 2xxx | 2000 level or higher Theology course | 3 |
Mathematics/Statistics | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Statistics in Criminology and Criminal Justice | ||
Statistics Including Sports and Politics | ||
Elementary Statistics with Computers | ||
Introduction to Business Statistics | ||
Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics | ||
Introduction to Statistics | ||
Natural Science | ||
Select three credits of the following: | 3 | |
Preferred: Human biology-related | ||
2nd choice: Environmental science | ||
3rd choice: non-biology science course (e.g. chemistry, physics) | ||
Fine Arts | ||
Select from ART, ARTH, DANC, MUSC, or THR | 3 | |
Foreign Language | ||
Students select two foreign language courses to total up to six credits. At minimum, courses can be Level I for two different languages or through Level II for one language. | 6 | |
Social Science | ||
POLS 1100 | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
SOC 1100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
PSY 1010 | General Psychology | 3 |
PSY 4390 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
Global Health | ||
PUBH 2100 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
Total Credits | 57 |
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
SWRK 1000 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research | 3 |
PHIL 1050 | Introduction to Philosophy: Self and Reality | 3 |
SOC 1100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
PSY 1010 | General Psychology | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
CMM 1200 | Public Speaking | 3 |
HIST 1120 or HIST 1110 |
Origins of the Modern World (1500 to Present) or Origins of the Modern World to 1500 |
3 |
THEO 1000 | Theological Foundations | 3 |
PUBH 2100 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
PSY 4390 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
SWRK 2300 | Human Behavior Social Envrnmnt | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Introduction to Statistics | ||
Statistics Including Sports and Politics | ||
Elementary Statistics with Computers | ||
Introduction to Business Statistics | ||
Foundations of Research Methods and Statistics | ||
Statistics in Criminology and Criminal Justice | ||
Science Elective † | 3 | |
Foreign Language I ‡ | 3 | |
POLS 1100 | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
ENGL 2000+ Elective | 3 | |
Fine Arts Elective § | 3 | |
Foreign Language II * | 3 | |
General Elective I | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
SWRK 3200 | Diversity & Anti-Oppression Practice | 3 |
SWRK 3300 | Social Work Practice with Individuals | 3 |
SWRK 3600 or ECON 1900 |
Financial Capability and Asset Building Practice or Principles of Economics |
3 |
General Elective | 3 | |
HIST 1600 | History of the United States of America to 1865 (or HIST 1610) | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
SWRK 3100 | Social Policy for Social Justice | 3 |
SWRK 3400 | Social Work Practice with Families & Groups | 3 |
ENGL 4000 | Business and Professional Writing | 3 |
PHIL 2050 | Ethics | 3 |
General Elective III | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
SWRK 3700 | Introduction to Social Work Research | 3 |
SWRK 4100 | Social Work Practicum I | 5 |
SWRK 4150 | Integrative Practice Seminar I | 1 |
THEO 2000+ Elective | 3 | |
General Elective IV | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
SWRK 3500 | Social Work Practice with Organizations & Communities | 3 |
SWRK 4200 | Social Work Practicum II | 5 |
SWRK 4250 | Integrative Practice Seminar II | 1 |
General Elective V | 3 | |
General Elective VI | 3 | |
Credits | 15 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
† | Any BIOL, EAS, CHEM, or PHYS |
‡ | Level 1 of any language |
§ | Any ART, ARTH, DANC, FPA, MUSC, THR |
* | Level 1 or 2 of any language |