Undergraduate Social Work Minor

Undergraduate students at the University of South Carolina can now complete a minor in social work.  The minor provides students in other academic majors a background in social work.  This background will open the window to advanced academic study that leads to a professional career. 

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Students Making a Difference, Right Here, Right Now!

The social work minor is designed for undergraduate students who want to explore the field of human services and the issues that service providers address.  Social Justice, strengths perspective, risk and resilience, and empowerment in the social environment are the foci of the minor.  Some courses include a service-learning component that allows students to experience practice settings firsthand.

The practice of the profession of social work is to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities by involving them in setting and accomplishing goals, developing and managing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress.  Core values of the profession include service, social and economic justice, the dignity and worth of each person, and the importance of human relationships.

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Core Course Requirements for the Social Work Minor

There are two required courses in the social work minor: SOWK 302 Foundations of Social Welfare and SOWK 308 History and Philosophy of Social Welfare.  Other courses are listed in the recommended course sequence.

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Recommended Course Sequence

Students following the course sequence shown below usually complete the minor or cognate within a two-year period.

SOWK 302     Foundations of Social Welfare

SOWK 303     Social Welfare Services for Children and Youth

SOWK 304     Social Welfare Services for Families and the Aged

SOWK 305     Social Welfare Services for Women and Minorities (=WOST 306)

SOWK 306     Social Work in Other Nations

SOWK 307     International Social Work and Social Justice

SOWK 308     History and Philosophy of Social Welfare

SOWK 309     Life Transitions: Loss and Grief

SOWK 399     Independent Study

SOWK 402     Non-Professional Participation in Social Welfare agencies

SOWK 403     Social Welfare in Literature

SOWK 404     Current Issues in Social Welfare

SOWK 421     Social Work Practice Methods

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Other Social Work Minor Information:

Social Work Minor Flyer (in Adobe Acrobat)

USC's Listing of Social Work Undergraduate Credit Courses

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Contact Information:

If you are interested in more information about the social work minor and wish to talk with someone directly, please contact:

Susan Parlier, MSW
Social Work Minor Program
College of Social Work
University of South Carolina
phone: (803) 777-1384
e-mail: COSWAdmissions@gwm.sc.edu