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
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, see Advising & Careers. |
| Courses required to get in | Students who have completed or are enrolled in SOC WORK 205 or SOC WORK 206 are eligible to declare the major. |
| GPA requirements to get in | None. |
| Credits required to get in | None. |
| Other | None. |
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. More information: 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. More information: 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 Concentration
Complete two Intermediate or Advanced level courses and at least 6 total credits with the Social Science Breadth designation from one of the following subject areas:
- African American Studies (AFROAMER)
- American Indian and Indigenous Studies (AMER IND)
- Anthropology (ANTHRO)
- Asian American Studies (ASIAN AM)
- Chicanx/e and Latinx/e Studies (CHICLA)
- Economics (ECON)
- Gender and Women's Studies (GEN&WS)
- Political Science (POLI SCI)
- Psychology (PSYCH)
- Sociology (SOC)
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 316 | Power, Possibility, and the Practice of Social Justice | 3 |
| 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 462 | Child Welfare | 3 |
| SOC WORK 578 | Housing Precarity and Social Policy | 4 |
| SOC WORK 623 | Interpersonal Violence | 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 1 | 2 |
| SOC WORK 692 | Senior Thesis 1 | 2 |
| SOC WORK 699 | Directed Study 1,2 | 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 residence3
- 15 credits in SOC WORK, taken on the UW–Madison campus
Footnotes
- 1
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.
- 2
No more than 3 credits of SOC WORK 699 may be used to meet this requirement.
- 3
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 |
| Language (if needed) | 4 | 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 |
| Language (if needed) | 4 | 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