University of Texas at El Paso Academic Catalog

Academic Catalog

Bachelor of Social Work

The purpose of the BSW Program is to educate students from diverse backgrounds to become ethical, competent, culturally responsive, and community-engaged generalist social work practitioners equipped to practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels to promote social, racial, economic and environmental justice in partnership with the diverse population of the U.S.-Mexico border region and beyond; and engage in high-impact, interprofessional, and advance research-informed practice to strengthen community well-being and enhance social and health equity

Marketable Skills

  1. Students will gain the skills to engage, assess, and intervene with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations to improve their coping and problem-solving skills.
  2. Students will be able to analyze and develop social policies that fairly meet the needs of all people.
  3. Students will have experience engaging in and analyzing ethical research methods to add to the understanding of and implementation of effective interventions.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Effectively engage with multi-cultural and bi-national individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities from an anti-racist anti-oppressive perspective.
  2. Effectively and ethically assess multi-cultural and bi-national individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities from an anti-racist anti-oppressive perspective.
  3. Effectively intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities on the U.S.-Mexico border from an anti-racist anti-oppressive perspective.
  4. Ethically and effectively evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities on the U.S.-Mexico border with consideration to the diverse populations served.

The BSW degree plan is designed to assure coverage of the Council of Social Work Education-mandated curriculum content. The degree plan is based on a building-block analogy of Social Work education. The freshman and sophomore years are considered the liberal arts and pre-professional foundation. The junior year is the foundation professional year. The senior year is the concluding professional year.

Social Work classes are offered sequentially and include content on values, ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, populations at risk, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social work practice, research, and field practicum.

The Department of Social Work strongly values community involvement and engagement, and students begin early in their course of study to gain practical experience through volunteer hours in approved agencies. In the foundation professional (junior) year, two pre-internship experiences of 30 hours each are incorporated into SOWK 3355 Generalist Social Work Pract I and SOWK 3358 Generalist Social Work Prac II .

Professional social work advising allows for early and periodic evaluation of each student’s performance and guides students in selecting courses required to fulfill degree-plan requirements. Advising during the freshman and sophomore years is provided by the Academic Advising Center (up until 46 credits). The Student Support center in the College of Health Sciences, after students complete 46 credit hours, will provide academic advising to both declared social work majors and students admitted to the Bachelor of Social Work program. Students who wish to apply to the program to complete the BSW Social Work Degree Plan are required to be advised by an Academic Advisor in the Student Support Center. Upon acceptance into the BSW program, students will be assigned a faculty advisor to provide professional guidance and mentoring as requested by the student. Additionally, all students admitted to the BSW program are required to attend one group advising session per semester while in the program. 

Course Requirements and Admissions Policy

All students who wish to graduate with a BSW Degree from the Department of Social Work at UTEP must apply for a separate admission into the BSW Program. Admission is granted by the social work faculty. Only students who have been admitted into the BSW Degree Program and have completed all degree-plan requirements in both the university core and the Social Work major will be recommended for graduation with a BSW degree. Criteria for admission to the program are outlined below.

University and Pre-Professional Course Requirements and Course Transfer Information

UTEP Students

The following is the list of transferred or UTEP courses from which the 61 hours of University Core Curriculum and additional required College of Health Sciences pre-professional courses will be counted,

  1. University Core Curriculum (All courses used to satisfy the core curriculum must be completed with a "C" or higher).
  2. Designated core (MATH, BIOL 1305/1107, BIOL 2311, PSYC 1301)
  3. Pre-Professional Courses 
    Modern Language: A 2-semester sequence of a modern foreign language is required. SPAN 2301/2302 or SPAN 2303/2304 is strongly recommended.6
    *If students test out of 2000-level language through UTEP placement exam, language credits may be filled with elective coursework.
    SOCI 1301Introduction to Sociology3
    Statistics - Select one of the following:3
    Statistical Methods
    Measure/Inference-Social Resea
    Statistical Literacy
    Elementary Statistical Methods
    SOWK 2310Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare3
    Workplace Writing (Preferred)
    Technical Writing
Transfer Students

A student can transfer up to 27 semester hours from a CSWE-accredited BSW degree program:

  1. An introduction to social work course (three hours);
  2. Up to six (6) hours of social policy;
  3. Up to six (6) hours of Human Behavior in the Social Environment;
  4. Up to nine (9) hours of practice; and
  5. Up to three (3) hours of research courses.

Admission Requirements

A limited number of students will be admitted to the BSW program each academic year.  The number of student spots available in the program is limited by Council of Social Work Education accreditation guidelines on faculty-to-student ratio and maximum class sizes.  Applications will be accepted once per year. Details about application dates and the application packet can be located at the Department of Social Work website.

  1. Admissions application: All students who wish to apply for the BSW Degree Program must submit a complete admissions application (all pages of the application are required) available from the Department of Social Work web site.  Only completed applications received by the deadline will be considered.
  2. Admissions Criteria:

Requirements for consideration for admission include: 
         a.   Application to the BSW program.
         b.   Completion of University Core and all pre-professional courses.
         c.   Cumulative GPA of 2.80 or higher (Cumulative GPA includes all college coursework completed from all institutions attended)

Field Instruction (Internship)

During the Fall Semester of their first year of professional course work (junior year), students are required to formally apply for field instruction: SOWK 4380 and SOWK 4390. The deadline to submit this application is the second Friday in December of the fall semester. During the Fall semester, students are required to attend the Field Orientation prior to submitting their application. This usually takes place during group advising in Fall. After submitting their application, students are required to attend the Field Exchange Day and Field Readiness Day in the Spring semester prior to seeking their internship site. 

To be considered eligible for field instruction, students must meet the following criteria:

1.  Be currently enrolled in the UTEP BSW Program (first year of professional course work, junior year)

2.  Obtain approval from the academic advisor approving academic readiness for field instruction 
      a.  Successfully complete University Core and pre-professional courses
      b.  Have a 2.80 or higher cumulative GPA for all courses completed in Social Work by the end of the second
            semester of the first year of professional course work (junior year)
      c.   Completion of all courses in the first year of professional coursework (junior year) with grades of C or higher.

3. Have met with Practicum Coordinator for practicum advising and placement.  

4.  Attend all identified field events presented by the Department of Social Work Practicum Coordinators.

Students are not permitted to seek out their own internship sites without following the above guidelines. Doing so may result in disqualification for Field Instruction.  

Field Instruction is completed during their second year of professional course work (senior year).  Students work an average of 16 hours per week in an approved social service or health care agency under the supervision of a degreed social worker.

BSW Honors Program (Fast Track)

A limited number of students will be admitted to the BSW Honors Program, which serves as a Fast-Track program to the Master of Social Work degree. Students admitted to the BSW Program can apply for the BSW Honors Program in January of the first year of the BSW Program. Minimum criteria for admission include the following:

  • overall GPA of 3.3
  • 3.5 GPA in BSW coursework for the first year of the BSW Program, and
  • the recommendation of the instructors for SOWK 3355 Generalist Social Work Pract ISOWK 2320 Social Welfare Policy/Srvs I , and SOWK 3430 Research Methods-Social Work

If admitted to the Honors Program, students will take 3 required graduate-level electives and enroll in the two Honors Field Education Seminars I (SOWK 4383 Honors Field Seminar I) and II (SOWK 4384 Honors Field Seminar II). SOWK 4383 is an accelerated seminar that covers the content contained in the traditional BSW Field Education Seminars (SOWK 4381 Generalist Field Seminar I & SOWK 4382 Generalist Field Seminar II); SOWK 4384 is an advanced, experiential, skills based course that utilizes simulation technology for skill development. The three required graduate-level electives will be taken from the Fast Track Graduate Program course listings: SOWK 5331 SOWK Theory & Pract w/Indiv, SOWK 5332 SOWK Theory & Pract w/Families and SOWK 5333 SOWK Theory & Pract w/Groups.

Students must receive a grade of B or better in all honors courses and successfully pass the final interview with a Standardized Patient in SOWK 4384. This interview will be rated by the team of faculty who conduct the interviews for Advanced Standing applicants in the Master of Social Work program. Students who successfully complete these requirements of the Honors Program will automatically be admitted to the Master of Social Work Advanced Standing Program. If student are not admitted to Advanced Standing and choose to enroll in the full-time MSW Program, the three Fast Track courses will apply towards the first-year requirements of the MSW Program. 

Dismissal Policy

By applying for formal admission to the UTEP BSW program, students confirm that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by the UTEP Scholastic Dishonesty policy, the BSW Student Honor Code Statement, and the NASW Code of Ethics. Also, application for admission to the BSW program indicates that the student understands that failure to adhere to academic and professional standards will result in disciplinary action that could include, but is not limited to receiving failing grades on assignments or in a class or classes, dismissal from the Bachelor of Social Work program, denial of formal entry into the BSW program and/or field practicum and/or referral for disciplinary action to the Dean of Students in the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. The UTEP Scholastic Dishonesty policy is available on the UTEP Provost's web site.The BSW Student Honor Code Statement appears in the BSW Student Manual, and the NASW Code of Ethics.

Degree Plan

University Core Curriculum
Complete the University Core Curriculum requirements.42
Social Work Prerequisites (All courses require a grade of C or better.)
Designated Core (Life & Physical Sciences) All courses are required:
BIOL 1305
BIOL 1107
General Biology
and Topics in Study of Life I (met in core)
4
BIOL 2311Human Anat/Physiology I (met in core)3
PSYC 1301Introduction to Psychology (met in core)3
Designated Core (Mathematics) Select one of the following:3
Math for Social Sciences I
Calculus I
Precalculus
Trigonometry and Conics
Select at least 6 credits (typically a 2-course sequence) from one of following subjects:. SPAN 1301/ SPAN 1302 or SPAN 2301/ SPAN 2302 or SPAN 2303/SPAN 2304 or SPAN 2602 or SPAN 2603 are recommended.6
Elementary Arabic I
and Elementary Arabic II
or
Intermediate Arabic I
and Intermediate Arabic I
French One
and French Two
or
French Three
and French Four
German One
and German Two
or
German Three
and German Four
Intensive Language Study
and Intensive Language Study
Beginning Portuguese
and Intermediate Portguese I
Intermediate Portguese I
and Intermediate Portuguese II
Spanish One
and Spanish Two
or
Intensive Elementary Spanish
or
Interm Spanish One Non-Nat Spk
and Interm Spanish Two Non-Nat Spk
or
Spanish For Spanish Spkrs One
and Spanish for Spanish Spkrs Two
or
Intensive Intermediate Spanish
or
Intensive Span for Span Speak
Statistics: Select one of the following:3-4
Statistical Methods
Measure/Inference-Social Resea
Statistical Literacy
Elementary Statistical Methods
Required:
RWS 3355Workplace Writing (Preferred)3
or RWS 3359 Technical Writing
SOCI 1301Introduction to Sociology3
SOWK 2310Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare3
Traditional BSW (All courses listed below are required):
SOWK 2320Social Welfare Policy/Srvs I3
SOWK 2331Human Behavior/Social Envir I3
SOWK 3320Social Welfare Policy/Srvs II3
SOWK 3325Culturally Grounded Social Wk3
SOWK 3341Human Behavior/Social Envir II3
SOWK 3350Diag Sys for Genrlst Soc Wk3
SOWK 3355Generalist Social Work Pract I3
SOWK 3358Generalist Social Work Prac II3
SOWK 3430Research Methods-Social Work4
SOWK 4370General Social Work Pract III3
SOWK 4380Generalist Field Instruction I3
SOWK 4381Generalist Field Seminar I3
SOWK 4382Generalist Field Seminar II3
SOWK 4390Genrlst Field Instruction II3
OR
Honors Program
All courses listed below are required:
SOWK 2320Social Welfare Policy/Srvs I3
SOWK 2331Human Behavior/Social Envir I3
SOWK 3320Social Welfare Policy/Srvs II3
SOWK 3325Culturally Grounded Social Wk3
SOWK 3341Human Behavior/Social Envir II3
SOWK 3350Diag Sys for Genrlst Soc Wk3
SOWK 3355Generalist Social Work Pract I3
SOWK 3358Generalist Social Work Prac II3
SOWK 3430Research Methods-Social Work4
SOWK 4370General Social Work Pract III3
SOWK 4380Generalist Field Instruction I3
SOWK 4383Honors Field Seminar I3
SOWK 4384Honors Field Seminar II3
SOWK 4390Genrlst Field Instruction II3
Electives
Traditional BSW
Select sixteen additional hours from Social Work Support courses16
Courses used to fill University Core or Social Work Prerequisite requirements cannot be "double counted" to fill Social Work Support Courses.
OR
Honors Program
All courses listed below are required:
SOWK 5331SOWK Theory & Pract w/Indiv3
SOWK 5332SOWK Theory & Pract w/Families3
SOWK 5333SOWK Theory & Pract w/Groups3
Select seven additional hours from Social Work Support Courses 7
Courses used to fill University Core or Social Work Prerequisite requirements cannot be "double counted" to fill Social Work Support Courses.

Social Work Support Courses 

AFST 2300Intro-African Amer Studies3
AFST 2301Theories-African Amer Studies3
AFST 3390Topics in African/Amer Studies3
AFST 4304Envir. Just. & Min. Comm. U.S.3
AFST 4390Spc Top-African American Stud3
ANTH 1301Intro-Phys Anth/Archeolog3
ANTH 1302Intro-Cultural Anthropology3
ANTH 1310Cultural Geography3
ANTH 2320Intro to Linguistics3
ANTH 3303Ecological Anthropology3
ANTH 3304Biological Anthropology3
ANTH 3306Cultural Diversity3
ANTH 3307Sports, Society and Culture3
ANTH 3309Mesoamerican Cultures3
ANTH 3310Southwestern Archeology3
ANTH 3311Applied Cultural Anthropology3
ANTH 3312Drug Use, Abuse, Trafficking3
ANTH 3315Urban Anthropology3
ANTH 3319Indig Cultures of Latin Amer3
ANTH 3320Indig Cultures of North Amer3
ANTH 3321Indians of the Southwest3
ANTH 3322Sex, Culture, and Evolution3
ANTH 3325Chicanos & Mexicans in the U.S3
ANTH 3326Migration3
ANTH 3330Language/Power on the Border3
ANTH 3332Intro to GIS-Social Sciences3
ANTH 3340Popular Archeology3
ANTH 3347Archaeological Field Studies3
ANTH 3357Sociolinguistics3
ANTH 3358Ethnographic Methods3
ANTH 3359Archeological Methods3
ANTH 3360Lab Methods in Archeology3
ANTH 3361Contemporary Mexican Culture3
ANTH 3379Independent Study3
ANTH 3380Cult. & Environ Resource Mgmt3
ANTH 3647Archeological Field Studies6
ANTH 4303Internship in Anthropology3
ANTH 4304Envir. Just. & Min. Comm U.S.3
ANTH 4308U.S.-Mex. Border Society/Cult3
ANTH 4312Thinking Spatially3
ANTH 4313Advanced Spatial Analysis3
ANTH 4346Global Health3
ANTH 4365Material Culture and Museums3
ANTH 4370Studies in Anthropology3
ANTH 4380Theory in Anthropology3
ASIA 3300Intro to Asian Studies3
ASIA 3350Special Topics-Asian Studies3
CHIC 3301La Chicana3
CHIC 3302Chicano Cinema3
CHIC 3303Border Image in Mexican Film3
CHIC 3304Chicano/Latino Music in the US3
CHIC 3311Chicano Studies: Societal Issu3
CHIC 3339Cultural Diversity & Youth: US3
CHIC 4301Chicano Legal History3
CHIC 4304Envir. Just. & Min. Comm U.S.3
CHIC 4306Comm Formation on US/MX Border3
CHIC 4307Hispanic Entrepreneurship3
CHIC 4350Topics in Chicano Studies3
CHIC 4450Topics in Chicano Studies4
CRIJ 1301Intro to Criminal Justice I3
CRIJ 1306Courts Systems and Practices3
CRIJ 1310Fundamentals of Criminal Law3
CRIJ 2313Correctional Systems & Practcs3
CRIJ 2328Police Systems and Practices3
CRIJ 3300Applied Research Methods in CJ3
CRIJ 3308Juvenile Justice3
CRIJ 3309Comm Corrections & Corr Cnslng3
CRIJ 3311Crime Control & Prevention3
CRIJ 3313Criminology3
CRIJ 3321Family Violence3
CRIJ 3351Crim Just on US-Mexico Border3
CRIJ 3389Criminal Justice Ethics3
CRIJ 4300Selected Topics - Crim Justice3
CRIJ 4301Readings in Criminal Justice3
CRIJ 4302Cyber Crime3
CRIJ 4303Crime, Criminal Justice & Film3
CRIJ 4309Internship in Crim Just I3
CRIJ 4310Internship in Crim Just II3
CRIJ 4311Immigration Law and Admin3
CRIJ 4312Criminal Procedure3
CRIJ 4313White Collar Crime3
CRIJ 4314Women in Criminal Justice3
CRIJ 4315Homicide3
CRIJ 4316Comp CJS & Transntl Crime3
CRIJ 4317Victimology3
CRIJ 4318Violence in America3
CRIJ 4319Street Gangs:Strctr,Act & Resp3
CRIJ 4320Crim Just Org and Management3
CRIJ 4321Organized Crime3
CRIJ 4390Adv Concepts in Crim. Justice3
HSCI 1301Fnd. of Hlth Sci. & Hlth Promo3
HSCI 2302Fundamentals of Nutrition3
HSCI 2303Wellness Dynamics3
HSCI 2309First Aid & Safety Practices3
HSCI 3301Community Health3
HSCI 3302Computer Syst for Hlth Profess3
HSCI 3304Health Perspectives in Aging3
HSCI 3305Substance Use & Society3
HSCI 3306Environmental Health3
HSCI 3307Death, Dying and Bereavement3
HSCI 3308Disease Charc/Prevnt/Contrl3
HSCI 3311Introduction to Epidemiology3
HSCI 3312Theories & Meth of Hlth Behav3
HSCI 3315Research For The Health Prof3
HSCI 3316Community Nutrition3
HSCI 3317Occupational Health & Safety3
HSCI 3320Selected Topics in HSCI3
HSCI 3322Sports Nutrition3
HSCI 3323Nutrition Thru the Life Cycle3
HSCI 4101Health Ed Elem Schl Teach Lab1
HSCI 4201Hlth Ed for Elem Sch Teachers2
HSCI 4303Family Life & Human Sexuality3
HSCI 4304Public Health Administration3
HSCI 4306Health Cnrns of Preadol & Adol3
HSCI 4307Hlth Promo Plan & Implement3
HSCI 4308Independent Study in Health3
HSCI 4309Program Eval in Health Science3
HSCI 4311Community Health Education3
HSCI 4312Grant Writing in Hlth Profess3
HSCI 4600Practicum in Community Health6
PHIL 1301Introduction to Philosophy3
PHIL 1304Logic3
PHIL 2306Ethics3
PHIL 2313Chicanos and American Thought3
PHIL 3301Philosophy of Mind3
PHIL 3302Ethical Theory3
PHIL 3303Philosophy of Education3
PHIL 3305Philosophy of Law3
PHIL 3307Environmental Ethics3
PHIL 3308Aesthetics: Philosophy of Art3
PHIL 3311Philosophy of Science3
PHIL 3312Latin American Thought3
PHIL 3314Ancient Philosophy3
PHIL 3317Modern Philosophy3
PHIL 3318Nineteenth Century Philosophy3
PHIL 3322Philosophy of Religion3
PHIL 3325Social Philosophy3
PHIL 3335Twentieth Century Philosophy3
PHIL 3341Political Philosophy3
PHIL 4301Bioethics3
PHIL 4302Metaphysics3
PHIL 4304Latin American Philosophy3
PHIL 4307Feminist Philosophy3
PHIL 4311Theories of Knowledge3
PHIL 4351Great Philosophers3
PHIL 4352Problems in Philosophy Seminar3
PHIL 4353Independent Study3
POLS 3312Party System, Campaigns Elect.3
POLS 3313Pub Opinion/Media & Technology3
POLS 3314Ethnicity & Race In Amer Pol3
POLS 3320Constitutional Law3
POLS 3321Civil Rights & Liberties3
POLS 3322Law and Society3
POLS 3332Political Geography3
POLS 3334Politics in World Regions3
POLS 3337Latin American Politics3
POLS 3339Comparative Political Systems3
POLS 33403
POLS 33413
POLS 33423
POLS 3345Democracy and Democratization3
POLS 3350Intro to Public Administration3
POLS 3351The Public Policy Process3
POLS 3353State and Local Administration3
POLS 3354Internship3
POLS 3360International Relations3
POLS 3361International Security3
POLS 3362International Law and Politics3
POLS 3365Political Simulations3
POLS 3600Research in Political Science6
POLS 4300Adv Rsrch Methods/Pol Science3
POLS 4304Envir. Just. & Min. Comm U.S.3
POLS 4310American Legislatures3
POLS 4311The Presidency3
POLS 4313Southwestern Border Politics3
POLS 4314Women, Power and Politics3
POLS 4315Latinos In Amer Political Syst3
POLS 4317U.S. Constitutional Structure3
POLS 4318Teaching Democracy3
POLS 4319Special Topics in Am. Politics3
POLS 4322Legal Reasoning3
POLS 4323Courts in Action3
POLS 4324Introduction to Private Law3
POLS 4325Spec Topics in Law & Politics3
POLS 4330Foreign Policy of the U.S.3
POLS 4337The Politics of Mexico3
POLS 4339US-Latin American Relations3
POLS 4340The American Constitution3
POLS 43423
POLS 4344Sp Topics in Political Theory3
POLS 4346Russia's Challenges/21st Cent3
POLS 4347European Union Politics3
POLS 4348Politics/Developing Countries3
POLS 4350Sp Topics in Comparative Gov3
POLS 4356Non-Profit Organizations3
POLS 4357Leadership/Civic Participation3
POLS 4358Special Topics in Public Admin3
POLS 4363North American Relations3
POLS 4364Internat'l Political Economy3
POLS 4365International Organizations3
POLS 4366Sp Topics/Internat'l Relations3
POLS 4368Conflict Analysis3
POLS 4370Independent Reading in Pol Sci3
PSYC 2302Social Psychology3
PSYC 2305Psychology of Human Sexuality3
PSYC 2306Psychology of Personality3
PSYC 2310Life Cycle Development3
PSYC 2312Intro to Abnormal Psychology3
PSYC 3101Lab for Gen Exper Psyc1
PSYC 3102Professional Development1
PSYC 3201Gen Experimental Psychology2
PSYC 3315Psychology and the Law3
PSYC 3320Learning & Memory3
PSYC 3330Sensation and Perception3
PSYC 3331Cross-Cultural Psychology3
PSYC 3346Drugs of Abuse and Behavior3
PSYC 3347Behavior Modification3
PSYC 3348Cognitive Psychology3
PSYC 3350Health Psychology3
PSYC 4301Psychological Testing3
PSYC 4309History & Systems Psychology3
PSYC 4311Advanced Topics Dev Psyc3
PSYC 4312Advanced Abnormal Psychology3
PSYC 4316Language and Cognition3
PSYC 4317Advanced Statistics3
PSYC 4321Judgment and Decision Making3
PSYC 4324Psychobiology3
PSYC 4341Motivation & Emotion3
PSYC 4343Seminar in Meta-Analysis3
PSYC 4345Seminar in Psychology3
PSYC 4352Independent Research3
PSYC 4353Honors Thesis3
SOCI 1302Social Problems3
SOCI 1310Cultural Geography3
SOCI 2315Soci of Marriage and Family3
SOCI 3300Ecological Sociology3
SOCI 3306Cultural Diversity3
SOCI 3307Sports, Society and Culture3
SOCI 3309Mesoamerican Cultures3
SOCI 3311Methods of Research3
SOCI 3312Drug Use, Abuse, Trafficking3
SOCI 3315Urban Sociology3
SOCI 3317Indig Cultures of Latin Amer3
SOCI 3320Indig Cultures of North Amer3
SOCI 3321Indians of the Southwest3
SOCI 3322Sex, Culture, and Evolution3
SOCI 3323Advanced Social Problems3
SOCI 3324Deviance3
SOCI 3325Chicanos & Mexicans in the U.S3
SOCI 3326Migration3
SOCI 3327Social Inequality3
SOCI 3330Language/Power on the Border3
SOCI 3331Family Violence3
SOCI 3332Intro to GIS-Social Sciences3
SOCI 3333Juvenile Delinquency3
SOCI 3341Special Undergraduate Topics3
SOCI 3348Criminology3
SOCI 3358Ethnographic Methods3
SOCI 3361Contemporary Mexican Culture3
SOCI 3362Medical Sociology3
SOCI 3370Gender Roles and Society3
SOCI 4301General Sociological Theory3
SOCI 4303Internship in Sociology3
SOCI 4304Envir. Just. & Min. Comm U.S.3
SOCI 4308U.S.-Mex Border Society/Cult3
SOCI 4312Thinking Spatially3
SOCI 4313Advanced Spatial Analysis3
SOCI 4346Global Health3
SOCI 4347Population Analysis & Problems3
SOCI 4390Independent Study3
SOWK 3175Independent Study-1 Credit1
SOWK 3345SOWK/Aging: Cross Cultl Persp3
SOWK 3370Special Issues in Social Work3
SOWK 3375Independent Study3
WS 2300Introduction to Womens Studies3
WS 2315Sociology of Marriage & Family3
WS 2350Global Feminisms3
WS 3301La Chicana3
WS 3310Directed Study3
WS 3320Internship in Women's Studies3
WS 3321Family Violence3
WS 3322Sex, Culture, and Evolution3
WS 3330Women in Fine Art3
WS 3331Gender & Popular Culture3
WS 3335Feminist Film3
WS 3336Queer Cinema3
WS 3340Gender & Technology3
WS 3351Gender & Religion3
WS 3360Women in Literature3
WS 3370Gender Roles & Society3
WS 3372Women & Work in the Sex Indust3
WS 3373Plagues, Pandemics, & Power3
WS 3374Mental Illness at the Margins3
WS 3375Women's Health3
WS 3380Social Justice Values at Work3
WS 3382Gender Issues in the Arts3
WS 3383Gender Issues in Humanities3
WS 3384Gender Issues in Social Scincs3
WS 3390Women's Studies:Special Topics3
WS 3391History of Women3
WS 3393Feminism of 1960's & 1970's3
WS 3394Gender, Health, & Medicine3
WS 4307Feminist Philosophy3
WS 4310Feminist Theory3
WS 4314Women, Power, & Politics3
WS 4360Jr/Sr Seminar/Women's Studies3
Total Hours120

University Core Curriculum

The department may make specific suggestions for courses which are most applicable towards your major.

All courses require a C or better

I. Communication (six hours)

Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively. Courses involve the command of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.
Select six hours of the following: 6
For students whose secondary education was in English:
Written and Oral Communication
Writing About Literature
Rhetoric & Composition I
Rhetoric & Composition 2
Rhetoric, Composition & Comm
For students whose secondary education was not in English:
Expos Engl Compos-Spkr Esl
Res & Crit Writng Spkr Esl
Total Hours6

II. American History (six hours)

Courses in this category focus on the consideration of past events and ideas relative to the United States, with the option of including Texas History for a portion of this component area. Courses involve the interaction among individuals, communities, states, the nation, and the world, considering how these interactions have contributed to the development of the United States and its global role.
HIST 1301History of U.S. to 18653
HIST 1302History of U.S. Since 18653
Total Hours6

III. Language, Philosophy & Culture  (three hours)

Courses in this category focus on how ideas, values, beliefs, and other aspects of culture express and affect human experience. Courses involve the exploration of ideas that foster aesthetic and intellectual creation in order to understand the human condition across cultures.
Select one of the following:3
Intro-African Amer Studies
Latina/o Presence in the U.S.
English Literature
English Literature
Intro to American Fiction
Intro to American Drama
Intro to American Poetry
Making of the "Other" Americas
World History to 1500
World History Since 1500
Introduction to Philosophy
Ethics
Introduct to Religious Studies
Seeing & Naming: Conversations
Introduction to Womens Studies
Global Feminisms
Total Hours3

IV. Mathematics  (three hours)

Courses in this category focus on quantitative literacy in logic, patterns, and relationships. Courses involve the understanding of key mathematical concepts and the application of appropriate quantitative tools to everyday experience.
Select one of the following:3
College Algebra
Trigonometry and Conics
Math in the Modern World
Math for Social Sciences I
Calculus I
Precalculus 1,2
Math for Social Sciences II
Statistical Literacy
Elementary Statistical Methods
1 A higher-level course in the calculus sequence can be substituted.
2 TCCN MATH 1314 will also satisfy this requirement.
Total Hours3

V. Life & Physical Sciences  (six hours)

Courses in this category focus on describing, explaining, and predicting natural phenomena using the scientific method. Courses involve the understanding of interactions among natural phenomena and the implications of scientific principles on the physical world and on experiences.
Select one of the following:1-4
Astronomy Lab I
Elem Astronomy-Solar System
Elem Astr Stars & Galaxies
Introductory Biology Lab
Human Biology Laboratory
Topics in Study of Life I
Organismal Biology Laboratory
Introductory Biology
Human Biology
General Biology
Organismal Biology
Human Anat/Physio Lab I
Human Anat/Physio Lab II
Human Anat/Physiology I
Human Anat/Physiology II
Laboratory for CHEM 1305
Laboratory for CHEM 1306
Intro General Chemistry Lab
Intro Organic & Biochem Lab
General Chemistry
General Chemistry
Intro to General Chemistry
Intro Organic & Biochemistry
Environmental Sci. Lab
Non-major Lab for ESCI 1301
Intro to Environment Science 2
Intro to Environmental Sci
Laboratory for GEOG 1306
Physical Geography
Lab for GEOL 1313
Lab for GEOL 1314
Principles of Earth Sci - Lab
Laboratory for Geology 1212
Principles of Earth Sciences
Principles of Earth Science
The Blue Planet
Natural Hazards
Intro to Physical Geology
Intro to Historical Geol
Fundamentals of Nutrition
Wellness Dynamics
Microorganisms and Disease
General Physics I
General Physics II
Laboratory for PHYS 2320
Laboratory for PHYS 2321
Introductory Mechanics
Introductory Electromagnetism
Total Hours 6

VI. Political Science  (six hours)

Courses in this category focus on consideration of the Constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the states, with special emphasis on that of Texas. Courses involve the analysis of governmental institutions, political behavior, civic engagement, and their political and philosophical foundations.
Required Courses:
POLS 2310Introduction to Politics3
POLS 2311American Gover & Politics3
Total Hours6

VII. Social and Behavioral Sciences  (three hours)

Courses in this category focus on the application of empirical and scientific methods that contribute to the understanding of what makes us human. Courses involve the exploration of behavior and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, and events, examining their impact on the individual, society, and culture.
Select one of the following:3
Intro-Phys Anth/Archeolog
Intro-Cultural Anthropology
Cultural Geography
Intro to Linguistics
Econ for Engrs & Scientists
Intro to Chicano Studies
Asian American Studies
Interpersonal Communication
Mass Media and Society
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Introduction to Ed Psychology
Action Research in Classrooms
Introduction to Linguistics
Cultural Geography
Community Service
An Intro. to Linguistics
Lang. Inside & Out: Sel Topics
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Cultural Geography
Total Hours3

VIII. Creative Arts (three hours)

Courses in this category focus on the appreciation and analysis of creative artifacts and works of the human imagination. Courses involve the synthesis and interpretation of artistic expression and enable critical, creative, and innovative communication about works of art.
Select one of the following:3
Art Appreciation
History of Art I
History of Art II
Chicana/o Fine Arts Appreciat
Dance Appreciation
Intro-Art of Motion Pict.
Music Appreciation
Jazz to Rock
Music, Culture, and Society
Introduction to Theatre
Total Hours3

IX. Component Area Option (six hours)

a. A minimum of 3 SCH must meet the definition and corresponding Core Objectives specified in one of the foundational component areas. b. As an option for up to 3 semester credit hours of the Component Area Option, an institution may select course(s) that: (i) Meet(s) the definition specified for one or more of the foundational component areas; and (ii) Include(s) a minimum of three Core Objectives, including Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, and one of the remaining Core Objectives of the institution's choice.
Intro to Global Business
Public Speaking
Business/Profession Comm
Intro-Computational Thinking
Computer Programming Sci/Engr
Eng Innovation and Leadership
Introduction to Leadership
Inquiry in Math & Science
Seminar/Critical Inquiry
Total Hours0

4-Year Sample Degree Plan 

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK IN SOCIAL WORK
FRESHMAN
Fall
BIOL 1305
BIOL 1107
General Biology
and Topics in Study of Life I
4
HIST 1301History of U.S. to 18653
MATH 1320Math for Social Sciences I3-5
or MATH 1508 Precalculus
or MATH 1411 Calculus I
RWS 1301Rhetoric & Composition I3
UNIV 1301Seminar/Critical Inquiry3
Spring
HIST 1302History of U.S. Since 18653
PSYC 1301Introduction to Psychology3
RWS 1302Rhetoric & Composition 23
Language, Philosophy, and Culture3
Modern Foreign Language *3
SOPHOMORE
Fall
BIOL 2311Human Anat/Physiology I3
POLS 2310Introduction to Politics3
SOCI 1301Introduction to Sociology3
Modern Foreign Language *3
Statistics (choice from list)3
Spring
COMM 1301Public Speaking3
POLS 2311American Gover & Politics3
RWS 3359Technical Writing3
or RWS 3355 Workplace Writing
SOWK 2310Intro-Social Work/Soci Welfare3
Creative Arts Core3
JUNIOR
Fall
SOWK 2320Social Welfare Policy/Srvs I3
SOWK 2331Human Behavior/Social Envir I3
SOWK 3355Generalist Social Work Pract I3
SOWK 3430Research Methods-Social Work4
SOWK Elective/Support Course3
Spring
SOWK 3320Social Welfare Policy/Srvs II3
SOWK 3325Culturally Grounded Social Wk3
SOWK 3341Human Behavior/Social Envir II3
SOWK 3358Generalist Social Work Prac II3
SOWK Elective/Support Course3
SENIOR
Fall
SOWK 3350Diag Sys for Genrlst Soc Wk3
SOWK 4380Generalist Field Instruction I3
SOWK 4381Generalist Field Seminar I3
or SOWK 4383 Honors Field Seminar I
SOWK Elective/Support Course3
SOWK Elective/Support Course3
Spring
SOWK 4370General Social Work Pract III3
SOWK 4382Generalist Field Seminar II3
or SOWK 4384 Honors Field Seminar II
SOWK 4390Genrlst Field Instruction II3
SOWK Elective/Support Course3
SOWK Elective/Support Course1
Notes:
**Language Requirement : Students must complete a 2‐semester sequence of a modern foreign language meet SOWK language requirement. Take the placement test (testing.utep.edu) as soon as possible to determine where you will start in the sequence if you choose SPAN or FREN.
Total Hours120-122