The Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work core mission is to enhance human well-being and promote human rights and social and economic justice for people who are disadvantaged to achieve an equitable, healthy, and productive society. Cultural humility, anti-oppressive practice, and social justice are values central to the profession of social work and our school. Social work seeks to actively confront racism.
Undergraduates in the College of Letters & Science’s Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work receive a liberal arts education in the social and behavioral sciences and their application to human problems that prepares them to be informed citizens involved in human services or social welfare problems and policies. Students majoring in Social Welfare leverage their understanding of the historical context of social work and the systems and policies that underlie our society and learn strategies to address social, racial, economic, and environmental justice and political contexts. Students take courses in a variety of social sciences to enable them to view social welfare in its broad social, economic, and political contexts. The Social Welfare major offers an overview of current social problems and prepares students for further academic study or for employment in selected human service arenas.
Social work‘s special contribution rests on an established body of knowledge, values, and skills pertinent to understanding human relationships and the interaction between people as individuals, in families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social work courses offer a theoretical understanding of social problems and an introduction to practice methods used by social workers. The curriculum covers areas such as aging, family and child welfare, poverty, mental health, developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, diversity, race and ethnicity, criminal justice, oppression and social, economic and environmental justice, and at-risk populations.
Graduates with the Social Welfare major go on to work at nonprofit organizations and federal, state, and local governments. Many go on to complete graduate degrees in Social Work, Counseling, Sociology, Psychology, Gender and Women’s Studies, and Law, among other degrees in the social sciences and beyond.
Read more about the School and its mission: socwork.wisc.edu/about
Certificate Programs
Students in the Social Welfare major or the Bachelor of Social Work degree often choose from a variety of certificate programs available. Common certificates include African American Studies, American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Business, Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies, Criminal Justice, Gender and Women‘s Studies, Global Health, LGBTQ+ Studies, South Asian Studies, and Southeast Asian Studies, among others.
How to Get in
Students can declare the social welfare major as early as the freshman year as long as they are enrolled in SOC WORK 205 and/or SOC WORK 206. To declare the major, students should make an appointment and meet with one of the social welfare academic advisors at the School of Social Work.
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. Some courses satisfy more than one L&S degree requirement (visit College of Letters & Science: Requirements for details).
This major can be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
| Communication | Complete both:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning | Complete both:
|
| Ethnic Studies | one 3+ credit course with the Ethnic Studies designation |
| Language | Complete either:
|
| L&S Breadth: Humanities | Complete 12 credits with the Humanities or Literature designation, which must include at least 6 credits with the Literature designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Social Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Social Science designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Natural Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Natural Science, Biological Science, or Physical Science designations, which must include both:
|
| Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) Coursework | at least 108 credits |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work | at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | at least 120 credits |
| UW-Madison Experience |
|
| Quality of Work |
|
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their School/College to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
Complete a minimum of 32 credits, to be attained via the requirements detailed below.
Social Welfare Policy & Services
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete both: | ||
| SOC WORK 205 | Introduction to the Field of Social Work | 4 |
| SOC WORK 206 | Introduction to Social Policy | 4 |
Social Science Concentration1
Complete two Intermediate or Advanced level courses from one of the following social science concentration areas available from ten departments:
African American Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AFROAMER 302 | Undergraduate Studies in Afro-American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 303 | Blacks, Film, and Society | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 321 | African American History Since 1900 | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 323 | Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History | 3 |
| AFROAMER/GEN&WS 333 | Black Feminisms | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 347 | The Caribbean and its Diasporas | 3 |
| AFROAMER/HISTORY 393 | Slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction, 1848-1877 | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/LEGAL ST 435 | Civil Rights: Policing, Prisons, Voting, Housing, Employment | 3-4 |
| AFROAMER/HIST SCI/MED HIST 523 | Race, American Medicine and Public Health | 3 |
| AFROAMER/ED POL 567 | History of African American Education | 3 |
| AFROAMER 621 | Slavery and Capitalism in the United States | 3 |
| AFROAMER 631 | Colloquium in African American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 671 | Selected Topics in African American History | 3 |
| AFROAMER 673 | Selected Topics in African American Society | 3 |
American Indian and Indigenous Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST 306 | Indigenous Peoples and the Environment | 3 |
| AMER IND/ANTHRO 314 | Indians of North America | 3 |
| AMER IND/ENVIR ST/GEOG 345 | Caring for Nature in Native North America | 3 |
| AMER IND/GEOG 410 | Critical Indigenous Ecological Knowledges | 3 |
| AMER IND 450 | Issues in American Indian Studies | 3 |
| AMER IND/ANTHRO/BOTANY 474 | Ethnobotany | 3-4 |
| AMER IND/C&E SOC/SOC 578 | Poverty and Place | 3 |
| AMER IND/SOC WORK 636 | Social Work in American Indian Communities: The Indian Child Welfare Act | 3 |
Anthropology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 300 | Cultural Anthropology: Theory and Ethnography | 3 |
| ANTHRO/AMER IND 314 | Indians of North America | 3 |
| ANTHRO 321 | The Emergence of Human Culture | 3 |
| ANTHRO 322 | The Origins of Civilization | 3 |
| ANTHRO/RELIG ST 343 | Anthropology of Religion | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 345 | Family, Kin and Community in Anthropological Perspective | 3 |
| ANTHRO 348 | Economic Anthropology | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 350 | Political Anthropology | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO/GEN&WS 443 | Anthropology by Women | 3 |
| ANTHRO/AMER IND/BOTANY 474 | Ethnobotany | 3-4 |
| ANTHRO 477 | Anthropology, Environment, and Development | 3 |
| ANTHRO 545 | Psychological Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTHRO/ED POL 570 | Anthropology and Education | 3 |
Asian American Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ASIAN AM/SOC 220 | Ethnic Movements in the United States | 3-4 |
| ASIAN AM 240 | Topics in Asian American Studies | 3 |
| ASIAN AM 441 | Hmong American Social Movements in the 20th and 21st Centuries | 3 |
| ASIAN AM 540 | Special Topics | 3 |
Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHICLA/POLI SCI 231 | Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies | 3-4 |
| CHICLA 301 | Chicana/o and Latina/o History | 3 |
| CHICLA/POLI SCI 302 | Mexican-American Politics | 3-4 |
| CHICLA 315 | Racial Formation and Whiteness | 3 |
| CHICLA/CURRIC 321 | Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Educational Justice | 3 |
| CHICLA 329 | Education and Service Topics in Chicanx/e & Latinx/e Studies | 3 |
| CHICLA 330 | Topics in Chicano/a Studies | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/GEN&WS 332 | Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change | 3 |
| CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS/POLI SCI 355 | Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective | 3 |
| CHICLA/LEGAL ST/SOC 440 | Ethnicity, Race, and Justice | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/LEGAL ST/SOC 443 | Immigration, Crime, and Enforcement | 3-4 |
| CHICLA/SOC 470 | Sociodemographic Analysis of Mexican Migration | 3 |
| CHICLA/LAND ARC 475 | Latino Urbanism: Design and Engagement in the American City | 3 |
| CHICLA 501 | Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Social Movements in the U.S. | 3 |
| CHICLA/COUN PSY 525 | Dimensions of Latin@ Mental Health Services | 3 |
Economics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON/FINANCE 300 | Introduction to Finance | 3 |
| ECON 301 | Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | 4 |
| ECON 302 | Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory | 4 |
| ECON/HIST SCI 305 | Development of Economic Thought | 3-4 |
| ECON/A A E/REAL EST/URB R PL 306 | The Real Estate Process | 3 |
| ECON 311 | Intermediate Microeconomic Theory - Advanced Treatment | 3 |
| ECON 312 | Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory - Advanced Treatment | 3 |
| ECON/FINANCE 320 | Investment Theory | 3 |
| ECON 321 | Sports Economics | 3-4 |
| ECON 330 | Money and Banking | 4 |
| ECON 340 | Microeconomics in Popular Culture | 3 |
| ECON/A A E/ENVIR ST 343 | Environmental Economics | 3-4 |
| ECON 355 | The Economics of Growing-up and Getting Old | 3-4 |
| ECON 370 | Economics of Poverty and Inequality | 3 |
| ECON 390 | Contemporary Economic Issues | 3 |
| ECON/REAL EST/URB R PL 420 | Urban and Regional Economics | 3 |
| ECON 441 | Analytical Public Finance | 3-4 |
| ECON/ENVIR ST/POLI SCI/URB R PL 449 | Government and Natural Resources | 3-4 |
| ECON 450 | Wages and the Labor Market | 3-4 |
| ECON 461 | International Macroeconomics | 3-4 |
| ECON/A A E/INTL BUS 462 | Latin American Economic Development | 3 |
| ECON 464 | International Trade | 3-4 |
| ECON/HISTORY 466 | The American Economy Since 1865 | 3-4 |
| ECON 467 | International Industrial Organizations | 3-4 |
| ECON/A A E 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| ECON 475 | Economics of Growth | 3-4 |
| ECON 521 | Game Theory and Economic Analysis | 3-4 |
| ECON 522 | Law and Economics | 3-4 |
| ECON/PHILOS 524 | Philosophy and Economics | 3 |
| ECON/A A E/F&W ECOL 531 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| ECON/POP HLTH/PUB AFFR 548 | The Economics of Health Care | 3-4 |
| ECON 623 | Population Economics | 3-4 |
| ECON 661 | Issues in International Macroeconomics | 3-4 |
| ECON/A A E/ENVIR ST/URB R PL 671 | Energy Economics | 3 |
Gender and Women's Studies
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEN&WS/CHICLA/GEOG 308 | Latinx Feminisms: Women's Lives, Work, and Activism | 3 |
| GEN&WS 320 | Special Topics in Gender, Women and Society | 3 |
| GEN&WS/PSYCH 322 | Sexual & Relationship Violence Research & Activism | 3 |
| GEN&WS/AFROAMER 323 | Gender, Race and Class: Women in U.S. History | 3 |
| GEN&WS 331 | Topics in Gender/Class/Race/Ethnicity (Social Sciences) | 3 |
| GEN&WS/CHICLA 332 | Latinas: Self Identity and Social Change | 3 |
| GEN&WS/AFROAMER 333 | Black Feminisms | 3 |
| GEN&WS 340 | Topics in LGBTQ Sexuality | 3 |
| GEN&WS 342 | Transgender Studies | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS 344 | Bi/Pan/Asexuality: Community & Representation | 3 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 353 | Women and Gender in the U.S. to 1870 | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 354 | Women and Gender in the U.S. Since 1870 | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/LEGAL ST/SOC 406 | Law, Sexuality, & Society | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/COM ARTS 418 | Gender, Sexuality, and the Media | 3 |
| GEN&WS 420 | Women in Cross-Societal Perspective | 3 |
| GEN&WS/LEGAL ST 422 | Women and the Law | 3 |
| GEN&WS 423 | The Female Body in the World: Gender and Contemporary Body Politics in Cross Cultural Perspective | 3 |
| GEN&WS/LEGAL ST/SOC 425 | Crime, Gender and Justice | 3 |
| GEN&WS/POLI SCI 429 | Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS 441 | Contemporary Feminist Theories | 3 |
| GEN&WS/ANTHRO 443 | Anthropology by Women | 3 |
| GEN&WS 446 | Queer of Color Critique | 3 |
| GEN&WS 449 | Special Topics in Feminist Theory | 3 |
| GEN&WS/POLI SCI 469 | Women and Politics | 3-4 |
| GEN&WS/GEOG 504 | Feminist Geography: Theoretical Approaches | 3 |
| GEN&WS/HISTORY 519 | Sexuality, Modernity and Social Change | 3 |
| GEN&WS/PSYCH 522 | Psychology of Women and Gender | 3 |
| GEN&WS 523 | Framing Fatness: Gender, Size, Constructing Health | 3 |
| GEN&WS 527 | The Environment of the Womb: Epigenetics and Parent/Child Health | 3 |
| GEN&WS 534 | Gender, Sexuality, and Reproduction: Public Health Perspectives | 3 |
| GEN&WS/INTL ST 535 | Women's Global Health and Human Rights | 3 |
| GEN&WS 536 | Queering Sexuality Education | 3 |
| GEN&WS/HIST SCI 537 | Childbirth in the United States | 3 |
| GEN&WS 539 | Special Topics in Gender and Health | 3 |
| GEN&WS 546 | Men of Color Masculinities | 3 |
| GEN&WS/AFROAMER/POLI SCI/SOC 547 | Theorizing Intersectionality | 3 |
| GEN&WS/ED POL 560 | Gender and Education | 3 |
Political Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI SCI 205 | Introduction to State Government | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/LEGAL ST 217 | Law, Politics and Society | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA 231 | Politics in Multi-Cultural Societies | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 272 | Introduction to Public Policy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA 302 | Mexican-American Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 304 | The Political Economy of Race in the United States | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 305 | Elections and Voting Behavior | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 306 | American Political Parties | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 311 | United States Congress | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 314 | Criminal Law and Justice | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 330 | Political Economy of Development | 3 |
| POLI SCI 335 | Social Identities | 3 |
| POLI SCI 338 | The Civil-Military Paradox in U.S. Politics and Society | 3 |
| POLI SCI 343 | Theories of International Security | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 345 | Conflict Resolution | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 347 | Terrorism | 3 |
| POLI SCI 348 | Analysis of International Relations | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 350 | International Political Economy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 354 | International Institutions and World Order | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/CHICLA/HISTORY/LACIS 355 | Labor in the Americas: US & Mexico in Comparative & Historical Perspective | 3 |
| POLI SCI 356 | Principles of International Law | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 358 | States in the World: Comparative Foreign Policy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 359 | American Foreign Policy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 405 | State Government and Public Policy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 408 | The American Presidency | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 411 | The American Constitution : Powers and Structures of Government | 4 |
| POLI SCI 412 | The American Constitution: Rights and Civil Liberties | 4 |
| POLI SCI 414 | The Supreme Court as a Political Institution | 3 |
| POLI SCI 416 | Community Power and Grass Roots Politics | 3 |
| POLI SCI 417 | The American Judicial System | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/PUB AFFR 419 | Administrative Law | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/GEN&WS 429 | Gender and Politics in Comparative Perspective | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 431 | Contentious Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 434 | The Politics of Human Rights | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/INTL ST 439 | The Comparative Study of Genocide | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI/ECON/ENVIR ST/URB R PL 449 | Government and Natural Resources | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 461 | Interdisciplinary Seminar in Political Economy, Philosophy, & Politics | 3 |
| POLI SCI/ILS 463 | Deception and Politics | 4 |
| POLI SCI/GEN&WS 469 | Women and Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 470 | The First Amendment | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 511 | Campaign Finance | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 515 | Public Opinion | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 538 | 3-4 | |
| POLI SCI 601 | Proseminar: Topics in Political Science | 3 |
| POLI SCI 635 | Comparative Politics of Sport | 3-4 |
Psychology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYCH 311 | Issues in Psychology | 3-4 |
| PSYCH/GEN&WS 322 | Sexual & Relationship Violence Research & Activism | 3 |
| PSYCH 401 | Psychology, Law, and Social Policy | 3 |
| PSYCH 403 | Psychology of Personality | 3 |
| PSYCH 405 | Adult Psychopathology | 3-4 |
| PSYCH 414 | Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| PSYCH/SOC 453 | Human Sexuality | 4 |
| PSYCH 456 | Social Psychology | 3-4 |
| PSYCH 460 | Child Development | 3-4 |
| PSYCH 462 | Adolescent Development | 3-4 |
| PSYCH 464 | Adult Development and Aging | 3 |
| PSYCH 502 | Cognitive Development | 4 |
| PSYCH 503 | Social Development | 4 |
| PSYCH 508 | Psychology of Human Emotions: From Biology to Culture | 4 |
| PSYCH 510 | Critical Issues in Child Psychopathology | 4 |
| PSYCH 513 | Hormones, Brain, and Behavior | 4 |
| PSYCH 521 | 4 | |
| PSYCH/GEN&WS 522 | Psychology of Women and Gender | 3 |
| PSYCH 526 | The Criminal Mind: Forensic and Psychobiological Perspectives | 4 |
| PSYCH 528 | Cultural Psychology | 4 |
| PSYCH 532 | Psychological Effects of the Internet | 4 |
| PSYCH 607 | Introduction to Psychotherapy | 3 |
Sociology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC 181 | Honors Introductory Seminar-The Sociological Enterprise | 3-4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 210 | Survey of Sociology | 3-4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 211 | The Sociological Enterprise | 3 |
| SOC/ASIAN AM 220 | Ethnic Movements in the United States | 3-4 |
| SOC/A A E/C&E SOC 340 | Issues in Food Systems | 3-4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 341 | Labor in Global Food Systems | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 343 | Sociology of Health and Medicine | 3 |
| SOC/GEN&WS/LEGAL ST 406 | Law, Sexuality, & Society | 3-4 |
| SOC 421 | Processes of Deviant Behavior | 3-4 |
| SOC/SOC WORK 422 | Social Issues in Aging | 3 |
| SOC/ILS/JEWISH 423 | Modern Jewish Thought | 3 |
| SOC/GEN&WS/LEGAL ST 425 | Crime, Gender and Justice | 3 |
| SOC/CHICLA/LEGAL ST 440 | Ethnicity, Race, and Justice | 3-4 |
| SOC 441 | Criminology | 3-4 |
| SOC/CHICLA/LEGAL ST 443 | Immigration, Crime, and Enforcement | 3-4 |
| SOC 444 | Social Psychology: A Sociological Perspective | 3-4 |
| SOC 446 | Juvenile Delinquency | 3-4 |
| SOC/PSYCH 453 | Human Sexuality | 4 |
| SOC/CHICLA 470 | Sociodemographic Analysis of Mexican Migration | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 475 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOC 476 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 532 | Health Care Issues for Individuals, Families and Society | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 533 | Public Health in Rural & Urban Communities | 3 |
| SOC 535 | Talk and Social Interaction | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/ENVIR ST 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 541 | Environmental Stewardship and Social Justice | 3 |
| SOC 543 | Collective Behavior | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 573 | Community Organization and Change | 3 |
| SOC 575 | Sociological Perspectives on the Life Course and Aging | 3 |
| SOC/AMER IND/C&E SOC 578 | Poverty and Place | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/URB R PL 617 | Community Development | 3 |
| SOC 624 | Political Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 626 | Social Movements | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 630 | Sociology of Developing Societies/Third World | 3 |
| SOC 632 | Sociology of Organizations | 3-4 |
| SOC 633 | Social Stratification | 3 |
| SOC 640 | Sociology of the Family | 3 |
| SOC/LAW/LEGAL ST 641 | Sociology of Law | 3-4 |
| SOC/C&E SOC/URB R PL 645 | Modern American Communities | 3 |
| SOC/ED POL 648 | Sociology of Education | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 650 | Sociology of Agriculture | 3 |
| SOC/C&E SOC 652 | Sociology of Economic Institutions | 3 |
| SOC/HISTORY 670 | Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy in America Since 1890 | 3-4 |
| SOC 678 | Sociology of Persecution | 3 |
Human Behavior & the Social Environment
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Complete both: | ||
| SOC WORK 457 | Human Behavior and the Environment | 3 |
| SOC WORK 640 | Diversity, Oppression, and Social Justice in Social Work | 3 |
Statistics & Research
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | ||
| Complete one course from: | 3-4 | |
| Introduction to Statistical Methods (recommended) | ||
or STAT 371 | Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | |
or PSYCH 210 | Basic Statistics for Psychology | |
| Statistics for Sociologists I | ||
| Research | ||
| Complete one course from: | 3-4 | |
| Methods of Social Work Research | ||
or PSYCH 225 | Research Methods | |
| Methods of Sociological Inquiry | ||
| Total Credits | 6-8 | |
Electives in Social Welfare
Complete two Intermediate or Advanced level SOC WORK courses and at least 6 total credits of Social Work electives. Not all courses in the list below are offered in each semester or year.
List of Elective Soc Work Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOC WORK 336 | Making Sense of Mental Health & Mental Illness | 3 |
| SOC WORK 375 | Contemporary Issues in Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 420 | Poverty and Social Welfare | 3 |
| SOC WORK/SOC 422 | Social Issues in Aging | 3 |
| SOC WORK 453 | Substance Use Disorders | 3 |
| SOC WORK 454 | 3 | |
| SOC WORK 462 | Child Welfare | 3 |
| SOC WORK 578 | Housing Precarity and Social Policy | 4 |
| SOC WORK 623 | Interpersonal Violence | 3 |
| SOC WORK 624 | 3 | |
| SOC WORK 627 | Sex Trafficking and Sex Trading | 2 |
| SOC WORK/AMER IND 636 | Social Work in American Indian Communities: The Indian Child Welfare Act | 3 |
| SOC WORK 639 | Social Work Practice with LGBTQIA2S+ Individuals and Communities | 3 |
| SOC WORK 644 | Issues in Developmental Disabilities | 3 |
| SOC WORK 646 | Child Abuse and Neglect | 2 |
| SOC WORK 648 | Social Work Practice in Palliative Care | 2 |
| SOC WORK 656 | Child Welfare Practice in Foster and Kinship Care, Permanency, and Adoption | 2 |
| SOC WORK 675 | Topics in Contemporary Social Welfare | 2-3 |
| SOC WORK 691 | Senior Thesis 2 | 2 |
| SOC WORK 692 | Senior Thesis 2 | 2 |
| SOC WORK 699 | Directed Study 2,3 | 2-3 |
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all SOC WORK and all major courses
- 2.000 GPA on 15 upper-level major credits taken in residence4
- 15 credits in SOC WORK, taken on the UW–Madison campus
Footnotes
- 1
Social Science Concentration courses listed are a selected list of eligible courses. Consult with a Social Work advisor for other exceptions or additions to the list.
- 2
Students with an interest in a particular area of study may develop a plan of independent work with the assistance of an interested Social Work faculty member. They may obtain information about instructors and their areas of interest from the School of Social Work website. Consent of instructor is required for the noted course offerings in independent work.
- 3
No more than 3 credits of SOC WORK 699 may be used to meet this requirement.
- 4
PSYCH 225, SOC/C&E SOC 357, STAT 301, STAT 371, PSYCH 210, and SOC/C&E SOC 360, and all SOC WORK courses designated as Intermediate or Advanced level count as upper-level in the major.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the historical foundations of the US social welfare system and the social work profession
- Recognize human differences and how social welfare systems interact with these differences to shape opportunities and outcomes for individuals, groups, and communities.
- Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate research with respect to its relevance, quality, and utility for addressing social welfare issues.
- Synthesize and communicate knowledge relevant to social welfare issues.
- Practice self-awareness of one’s values, beliefs, and biases regarding the causes and consequences of social welfare issues.
- Connect awareness of self, systems and social welfare knowledge to promote human dignity and justice.
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
Social Welfare majors are encouraged to gain social service experience through volunteer work. See the Social Work advisors or contact the Morgridge Center for Public Service, 263-2432, for information on volunteering.
Students wishing to apply to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program must do so in spring of Junior year.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Communication A | 3 | Communication B | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3-4 | Elective | 3 |
| SOC WORK 1001 | 3 | Natural Science Breadth (or Physical Science if BS) | 3 |
| Foreign Language (if needed) | 4 | Foreign Language (if needed) | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective (Intermediate/Advanced-level) | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC WORK 205 (can be taken Freshman or Sophomore year) | 4 | SOC WORK 206 (can be taken Freshman or Sophomore year) | 4 |
| Foreign Language (if needed) | 4 | Foreign Language (if needed; or Intermediate/Advanced level Comp Sci, Math, Stats if BS) | 3-4 |
| Biological Sciences Breadth | 3 | Physical Science Breadth | 3-4 |
| Humanities Breadth | 3-4 | Literature Breadth | 3-4 |
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC WORK 640 | 3 | SOC WORK 457 | 3 |
| STAT 301, 371, PSYCH 210, or SOC 360 (Take STAT 301 or STAT 371 if BS) | 3-4 | SOC WORK 650, PSYCH 225, or SOC 3573 | 3 |
| Social Science Concentration course2 | 3-4 | Literature Breadth | 3 |
| Humanities Breadth | 3 | SOC WORK elective (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 2-4 |
| Electives (I/A-level) | 3 | Social Science Concentration course2 | 3-4 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| SOC WORK elective (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 2-4 | SOC WORK elective (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 2-4 |
| Natural Science Breadth (or Biological Science if BS) | 3 | Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 3-4 |
| Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 3-4 | Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 3-4 |
| Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 3-4 | Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 3-4 |
| Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 3-4 | Electives (Intermediate/Advanced level) | 3-4 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
- 1
Note: SOC WORK 100 is a pre-major elective course that can be taken in the first year, if offered; it is not required for the major.
- 2
Take two Intermediate or Advanced level courses from one of the following social science departments: African American Studies, American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Anthropology, Asian American Studies, Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies, Economics, Gender and Women's Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology.
- 3
SOC WORK 650 is often available in the summer. Check with an Advisor for course availability and how summer courses might fit into your schedule.
Advising and Careers
Students interested in either the Social Welfare major or Bachelor of Social Work meet with the Social Work advisors to discuss degree requirements; explore career paths; declare the major; and confer on student issues and concerns. Advisors are an excellent resource for information about campus and community services. Students should see an advisor at least once each semester to review academic progress: socwork.wisc.edu/students/advising
Advising appointments for current UW–Madison students are made through Starfish or by calling 608-263-3660.
Social Work faculty members are available for advice about coursework, research, and the social work profession in general.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students