BSSW Online Courses

Note: all Vol Core classes are waived with a awarded AA or AS degree from an accredited institution.

• ENGL 101 – English Composition I
• ENGL 102 – English Composition II
• Communication Elective (e.g., CMST 210, CMST 217, CMST 240, CMST 247, PHIL 244)
• Quantitative Reasoning Elective (e.g., MATH 115, STAT 201)
• Natural Science Elective (with lab)
• Natural Science Elective (with or without lab)
• Arts & Humanities Elective
• Social Sciences Elective (outside SW)
• Global Citizenship (International) Elective
• Global Citizenship (US) Elective
• Expanded Perspective Electives (e.g., AH, SS, GCI, GCUS) – two courses required
• Engaged Inquiry Elective
• Foreign Language Sequence (100-level, if needed)
• FYS 101 – First-Year Studies Seminar
• PSYC 110 – General Psychology
• POLS 101 – Introduction to Political Science
• SOCI 120 – Introduction to Sociology: Social Problems (or SOCI 127 – Honors: Social Problems)

• SOWK 200 Introduction to Social Work and Social Justice (or equivalent)
  • This course introduces students to the profession of social work. This course is intended to facilitate prospective social workers’ understanding of the vast breadth of professional practice while providing students with comprehensive knowledge of the profession’s historical evolution, scope of service, consumers of service, rewards, challenges, and commitment to social justice. Additional topics covered in this course include professional skills, values, ethics, practice settings, career patterns, and practice methods.
• SOWK 250 Introduction to Social Welfare (or equivalent)
  • This course assists prospective social workers by providing a holistic understanding of the social work profession and its contribution to social welfare. This course examines the development of social welfare policies, programs, and areas of service provision within domestic and international contexts. Students taking this course will study the construct of social welfare as it relates to social justice and wellbeing.

• SOWK 312 Introduction to Interpersonal Social Work Practice
  • This course introduces social work students to professional interpersonal practice specific to individuals, families, and small groups. This course integrates the social work code of ethics, theoretical models, and practice techniques with an emphasis on social justice, trauma-informed care, and interprofessional practice. The course assists students with identifying appropriate evidence-based service interventions with consideration to intersecting identities, professional standards, and ethical code.
• SOWK 314 Human Behavior in the Social Environment
  • This course examines biological, psychological, and social theories and frameworks for practice with individuals and families across the lifespan, emphasizing the interaction between neurophysiological development, trauma, and environmental contexts. Students explore topics such as risk and protective factors that influence and shape development, while promoting resilience, the influence of culture, oppressive systems, and dynamic processes critical to risk and resilience for vulnerable populations. Additionally, students examine practice implications for promoting healthy development including early prevention policies, practices, and services.
• SOWK 316 Social Justice and Anti-oppressive Practices
  • This course is designed to increase students’ awareness of the dimensions of human diversity, equity, and inclusion. Students will learn to articulate and apply multicultural and social justice practice frameworks, critical theories, and a human rights perspective to address complex social problems. Students will be prepared to integrate these concepts into future ethical decision-making and practice with historically excluded and underserved populations.
• TRANS 201 – Transitioning on Rocky Top
  • A seamless transition to Rocky Top is critical to the success of our students. This course emphasizes the development a personal plan of study connected with an academic, personal, career exploration, and/or goals. Students enrolled in the course will identify and engage in experiences outside of the classroom to foster connection to the institution and development of personal identity as a student. Open to all transitional and transfer students at the University of Tennessee.
• SOWK 325 – Professional Ethics
  • Explores professional ethics for entry level generalist practice.

• SOWK 313 – Interpersonal Social Work Skills Lab
  • This experiential course will apply the essential skills of social work practice to simulated learning activities. Students taking this course will have the opportunity to model various service provision techniques related to empathy, engagement, assessment, intervention, evaluation, and termination. Students will understand the appropriate use of self in professional practice, and learn strategies to promote self-care. Skills are reinforced through multiple service frameworks integrating trauma-informed care, interprofessional practice, and social justice.
• SOWK 315 – Introduction to Macro Social Work Practice
  • This course addresses systems-level macro practice specific to communities, organizations, and professional leadership. Strategies, methods, and skills applicable to a wide range of macro practice settings are examined. Students taking this course will explore issues surrounding inequity, exclusion, and oppression while learning effective strategies to promote social justice and systemic change.
• SOWK 416 – Social Welfare Policy and Programs
  • This course explores the policies and programs that shape the welfare system and influence social work practice. The course assesses organizational and legislative systems at the federal, state, local levels and their impact on social services. The course links social welfare policy and social work practice by critically analyzing the historic and contemporary contexts of social welfare practice. The processes of analyzing, influencing, developing, implementing, and advocating for policies and programs through the lens of social work values and ethics are addressed.
• Choose two of any 300-400 level Social Work Electives

• SOWK 380N – Field Practicum I
  • Supervised field experience with practice situations for developing professional skills, values, and attitudes. Concurrent seminar focuses on integration of knowledge with practice experiences.
• SOWK 385 – Field Seminar
  • The purpose of field seminar is to enhance the academic and supervisory support for social work practicum students.
• SOWK 410 – Foundations of Social Work Research
  • This course is designed to help students understand and appreciate the role of research in evidence-based practice. Students are introduced to quantitative and qualitative concepts and skills underlying a systematic approach to social work research, including basic research terminology, scientific methods and the value of research in social work. Students will learn about historical and present-day inequities in research and how to apply social work values to engage in ethical research. Students taking this course engage in research techniques such as problem formulation, measurement, design, sampling, data gathering, and use of analytic software.  

• SOWK 480N – Field Practicum II
  • Supervised agency field practicum for integration of theory and practice and critical examination of oneself as a professional helping person. Concurrent field seminar on integration of knowledge with practice experiences.
• SOWK 485 – Field Seminar II
  • The second seminar in a sequence of three. The purpose of field seminar is to enhance the academic and supervisory support for social work practicum students.
• Choose two of any 300-400 level Social Work Electives

• SOWK 460 – Integrative Seminar
  • This integrative seminar provides a platform for students to reflect and synthesize their awareness, knowledge, and skills across all BSSW program competencies through completion of the Senior Portfolio assignment.  
• SOWK 481N – Field Practicum III
  • Supervised agency field practicum for integration of theory and practice and critical examination of oneself as a professional helping person. Concurrent field seminar on integration of knowledge with practice experiences.
• SOWK 495 – Field Seminar III
  • The final seminar in a sequence of three. The purpose of field seminar is to enhance the academic and supervisory support for social work practicum students.
• Any 300-400 level Social Work Elective