Social Work, BS

Program Description

The Associate of Arts (AA) degree is a general transfer degree and partners well with the first two years of most bachelor degree programs. Students pursuing the AA may select courses that satisfy both the AA degree requirements and lower division requirements for a bachelor’s degree at four-year institutions. The elective hours within the AA allow students to complete additional general education and lower division courses required for specific majors. The AA degree requires completion of 60 credit hours. Meeting with a JCCC counselor is strongly recommended for selection of appropriate courses.

Admissions Requirements

• Step One: Admission to the University of Kansas – Students are directly admitted to the School of Social Welfare as new freshman and transfer students. Incoming students must first apply for admission to the University of Kansas. The application may be completed at KU Admissions. Students must submit official college transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended. Transfer students must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA and at least 24 transferable credit hours. Being admitted does not guarantee permission to enroll in social welfare courses. Students must complete the Advancement Review before being able to take 500-level coursework. For scholarship consideration, apply by August 1st prior to the fall semester or December 1st prior to the spring semester you plan to transfer to KU.
• Step Two: Advancement Requirements - For students to advance into 500 and 600 level Social Welfare coursework, they must complete the following:
  • 54 hours of General Education requirements or elective hours
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
  • Earned grade of “B” or higher in SW 220. (Students who receive a B- or lower must retake the course before progressing to 500 level course work)
  • Submitted signed electronic copy of School of Social Welfare Standards and Advancement Policies and Procedures, NASW Code of Ethics, and the KU Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

If all the above criteria are met, students are successfully advanced into 500 level coursework. Note: Students must complete all general education requirements including electives prior to the start of 600 level course work and practicum.

• A maximum of 75 community college credit hours can be applied toward a Bachelor of Social Work degree at KU Edwards. Contact your KU Edwards academic success coach for more information. A minimum of 120 credit hours of coursework, including 12 credit hours of field practicum, is required for graduation. At least 30 junior/senior hours must be taken at KU; 48 junior/senior level credit hours are required.

• Degree Requirements include: 

  • A minimum of 120 credit hours of course work including 12 credit hours of practicum.
  • 48 Social Welfare hours.
  • 34 hours of Core 34 requirements including SW 220 (degree requirement).
  • 6 hours of degree required social and behavioral sciences beyond the Core 34 requirements. 
  • 32 hours of electives.
  • A 2.0 minimum grade-point average in all coursework (cumulative KU GPA).
  • Successful completion of practicum.
  • Recommendation by the faculty of the school to the chancellor and KBOR that the degree be granted. 
• Pass/Fail Policy - Not allowable for any required SW (prefix) courses. 
• Students may complete the BSW degree on the Lawrence campus in courses offered during the daytime. Late afternoon and evening courses meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the KU Edwards campus. Social work major courses are not offered online. The major is identical on both Lawrence and Edwards Campuses; only the times the courses are offered differ.
• To find out which of the courses listed are offered online, visit: Online Learning.

KU Core 34: 

• Students transferring to KU, with an Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree from JCCC will satisfy KU’s Core 34 general education curriculum.
• Students who transfer to KU, without completing Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree will have courses evaluated on a course-by-course basis toward meeting KU requirements. To learn more about courses that satisfy KU Core 34 Requirements and KU CredTran.
• Visit the KU Core 34 General Education guide for JCCC equivalents.