The International Social Work Concentration will provide students with opportunities to research and engage with the focus area of international human experience. Immersive education via 2-3 week education abroad opportunities are available through this concentration. Students will develop an advanced understanding of the interconnectedness between Systems Theory, Person-in-Environment Theory, and specialized theories applicable to the courses selected in completing the concentration.
Learning Objectives
Program objectives are the competency outcomes required for accreditation by the Council on Social
Work Accreditation. This concentration will support the following competencies:
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior.
- Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice.
- Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice.
- Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice.
- Engage in Policy Practice.
- Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
- Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
- Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
- Advocate for human rights at the individual, family, group, organizational, and community systems levels.
Effective Fall 2025
Students must have a C (2.000) or better in the following courses: HDFS 101, PSY 100, SOC 100 or SOC 105, and SOWK 150. Students must maintain a grade of C in all required courses for the concentration,
A grade of C (2.000) or above is required in each SOWK course required for the major; a 2.500 overall GPA in all SOWK courses is required for the major.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AUCC | Credits | ||
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 |
| HDFS 101 | Lifespan Development (GT-SS3) | 3C | 3 |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (GT-SS3) | 3C | 3 |
| SOWK 120 | Academic and Career Success | 1 | |
| SOWK 130 | Identity, Power, and Social Justice (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| SOWK 150 | Introduction to Social Work | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | ||
| Human Origins and Variation (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Humans and Other Animals (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
| Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3) | 3C | ||
| Social Problems (GT-SS3) | 3C | ||
| Select one course from the following:1 | 0-3 | ||
| The Power of Numbers--Statistics in Sociology | |||
| Statistical Literacy (GT-MA1) | 1B | ||
| General Statistics (GT-MA1) | 1B | ||
| Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods | |||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Fields of Practice: Child Protection | |||
| Fields of Practice: Juvenile Justice | |||
| Fields of Practice: Criminal Justice | |||
| Fields of Practice: Social Gerontology | |||
| 1B | 1B | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 31-35 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| SOWK 330 | Intersectionality and Identity | 3 | |
| SOWK 340 | Generalist Practice with Individuals | 3 | |
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | ||
| Indigenous Women, Children, and Tribes | |||
| Fields of Practice: Child Protection | |||
| Fields of Practice: Juvenile Justice | |||
| Fields of Practice: Criminal Justice | |||
| Fields of Practice: Social Gerontology | |||
| Fields of Practice: Training Canine Animal Assisted Interventions | |||
| Economic, Environmental, and Social Justice (see list below) | 3 | ||
| Health and Wellness Course List (select a minimum of 2 credits lfrom the ist below) | 2 | ||
| International Social Work Concentration Courses (see list below)2 | 6 | ||
| Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | 3A | 3-4 | |
| Total Credits | 29-30 | ||
| Junior | |||
| SOWK 300 | Translational Social Work Research | 3 | |
| SOWK 341 | Generalist Practice with Groups | 3 | |
| SOWK 344 | Social Work Practice--Partners and Families | 3 | |
| SOWK 425 | Prep and Essential Skills for Internship | 1 | |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Writing Arguments (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| American Government and Politics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||
| State and Local Government and Politics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| Indigenous Women, Children, and Tribes | |||
| Fields of Practice: Child Protection | |||
| Fields of Practice: Juvenile Justice | |||
| Fields of Practice: Criminal Justice | |||
| Fields of Practice: Social Gerontology | |||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | ||
| International Social Welfare and Development | |||
| Social Work in Costa Rica | |||
| Study Abroad: Social Work in India | |||
| International Social Work Concentration Courses (see list below)2 | 6 | ||
| Historical Perspectives | 3D | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 31 | ||
| Senior | |||
| SOWK 400 | Generalist Practice-Organizations/Communities | 4B | 3 |
| SOWK 410 | Social Welfare--Policy, Issues, and Advocacy | 4A | 3 |
| SOWK 488 | Practice-Based Learning | 9 | |
| SOWK 492A | Capstone Seminar: I Engagement and Reflection | 4C | 1 |
| SOWK 492B | Capstone Seminar: II Demonstrating Social Work Practice Skills | 4C | 2 |
| Upper-Division Social and Behavioral Sciences (see list below) | 6 | ||
| Elective2 | 1-4 | ||
| Total Credits | 25-28 | ||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||
International Social Work Concentration Course List
| Code | Title | AUCC | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANTH 200 | Cultures and the Global System (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| ECON 101 | Economics of Social Issues (GT-SS1) | 3C | 3 |
| NRRT 320 | International Issues-Recreation and Tourism | 3 | |
| SOC 322 | Environmental Justice | 3 | |
| SOC 330 | Social Inequality | 3 | |
| SOC 364 | Food, Agriculture and Global Society | 3 | |
| SOWK 450/IE 450 | International Social Welfare and Development | 3 | |
| SOWK 482A | Social Work in Costa Rica | 3 | |
| SOWK 482B | Study Abroad: Social Work in India | 3 |
Health and Wellness Course List
| Code | Title | AUCC | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERHS 220 | Introduction to Environmental Public Health (GT-SC2) | 3A | 3 |
| ERHS 430 | Human Disease and the Environment | 3 | |
| FSHN 125 | Food and Nutrition in Health and Disease | 2 | |
| FSHN 150 | Introduction to Human Nutrition | 3 | |
| HES 145 | Health and Wellness for Everyone (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| HES 345 | Population Health and Disease Prevention | 3 | |
| MIP 101 | Introduction to Human Disease and Immunity (GT-SC2) | 3A | 3 |
| MIP 149 | The Microbial World | 3 | |
| PSY 328 | Psychology of Human Sexuality | 3 |
Economic, Environmental, and Social Justice Course List
| Code | Title | AUCC | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AGRI 270/IE 270 | World Interdependence-Population and Food (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| ANTH 100 | Introductory Cultural Anthropology (GT-SS3) | 3C | 3 |
| ANTH 200 | Cultures and the Global System (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| ANTH 235 | Indigenous Peoples of North America | 3 | |
| ANTH 310 | Peoples and Cultures of Africa | 3 | |
| ANTH 312 | Modern Indian Culture and Society | 3 | |
| ANTH 314 | Southeast Asian Cultures and Societies | 3 | |
| ANTH 335 | Language and Culture | 3 | |
| ANTH 338 | Gender and Anthropology | 3 | |
| AREC 202 | Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1) | 3C | 3 |
| E 142 | Reading Without Borders (GT-AH2) | 1C | 3 |
| E 422 | African-American Literature | 3 | |
| ECON 101 | Economics of Social Issues (GT-SS1) | 3C | 3 |
| ECON 211 | Gender in the Economy (GT-SS1) | 1C | 3 |
| ECON 212 | Racial Inequality and Discrimination (GT-SS1) | 1C | 3 |
| ECON 310 | Poverty and the Welfare State | 3 | |
| ETST 100 | Introduction to Ethnic Studies (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| ETST 201 | Introduction to Queer Studies | 3 | |
| ETST 205 | Ethnicity and the Media (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| ETST 234/E 234 | Introduction to Native American Literature | 3 | |
| ETST 239/E 239 | Introduction to Chicano Literature | 3 | |
| ETST 240 | Introduction to Indigenous Studies (GT-AH2) | 3B | 3 |
| ETST 250/HIST 250 | African American History (GT-HI1) | 3D | 3 |
| ETST 252/HIST 252 | Asian American History (GT-HI1) | 3D | 3 |
| ETST 253 | Chicanx History and Culture (GT-HI1) | 3D | 3 |
| ETST 254 | La Chicana in Society | 3 | |
| ETST 255/HIST 255 | Native American History (GT-HI1) | 3D | 3 |
| ETST 256 | Border Crossings--People/Politics/Culture (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| ETST 300 | Queer Studies and Women of Color | 3 | |
| ETST 305 | Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in the U.S. | 3 | |
| ETST 310 | African American Studies | 3 | |
| ETST 320 | Ethnicity and Film--Asian-American Experience | 3 | |
| ETST 324 | Asian-Pacific Americans and the Law | 3 | |
| ETST 330 | African American Resistance and Self-Creation | 3 | |
| ETST 332 | Contemporary Chicanx Issues | 3 | |
| ETST 352/SOWK 352 | Indigenous Women, Children, and Tribes | 3 | |
| ETST 354 | Black Cinema and Media | 3 | |
| ETST 364/HIST 364 | Asian American Social Movements, 1945-Present | 3 | |
| ETST 365 | Global Environmental Justice Movements | 3 | |
| ETST 370 | Caribbean Identities | 3 | |
| ETST 371 | The Modern Caribbean | 3 | |
| ETST 382/LGEN 382 | Italian Ethnic Identity, Culture, and Gender | 3 | |
| ETST 404 | Race Formation in the United States | 3 | |
| ETST 410 | Advanced Topics in African American Studies | 3 | |
| ETST 411 | Black Feminism(s) | 3 | |
| ETST 412 | Africa and African Diaspora | 3 | |
| ETST 413 | Queer Creative Expressions | 3 | |
| ETST 425 | Indigenous Film and Video | 3 | |
| ETST 430 | Latinx Creative Expression | 3 | |
| ETST 432 | Latinx Routes to Empowerment | 3 | |
| ETST 438/E 438 | Native American Literature | 3 | |
| ETST 444/SOC 444 | Federal Indian Law and Policy | 3 | |
| ETST 454/SPCM 454 | Chicanx Film and Video | 3 | |
| GES 101 | Foundations of Environmental Sustainability | 3 | |
| GES 450 | Global Sustainability and Health | 3 | |
| HIST 115 | The Islamic World: Late Antiquity to 1500 | 3D | 3 |
| HIST 120 | Asian Civilizations I (GT-HI1) | 3D | 3 |
| HIST 121 | Asian Civilizations II (GT-HI1) | 3D | 3 |
| HORT 171/SOCR 171 | Environmental Issues in Agriculture (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| IE 179 | Globalization: Exploring Our Global Village (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| NR 130 | Global Environmental Systems (GT-SC2) | 3A | 3 |
| POLS 131 | Current World Problems (GT-SS1) | 1C | 3 |
| POLS 309 | Urban Politics | 3 | |
| POLS 331 | Politics and Society Along Mexican Border | 3 | |
| POLS 361 | U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy | 3 | |
| POLS 405 | Race and Ethnicity in U.S. Politics | 3 | |
| POLS 409 | Urban and Regional Politics | 3 | |
| POLS 413 | U.S. Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 | |
| POLS 442 | Environmental Politics in Developing World | 3 | |
| POLS 443 | Comparative Social Movements | 3 | |
| POLS 444 | Comparative African Politics | 3 | |
| POLS 445 | Comparative Asian Politics | 3 | |
| POLS 446 | Latin American Politics | 3 | |
| POLS 447 | Politics in Mexico, Central America, Caribbean | 3 | |
| POLS 448 | Comparative Racial/Ethnic Politics | 3 | |
| POLS 449 | Middle East Politics | 3 | |
| POLS 463 | Urban Policy and Management | 3 | |
| SOC 205 | Sociology of Race and Racism (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| SOC 220 | Environment, Food, and Social Justice (GT-SS3) | 1C | 3 |
| SOC 322 | Environmental Justice | 3 | |
| SOC 344 | Health, Medicine, and Society | 3 | |
| WS 200 | Introduction to Women's Studies | 3C | 3 |
| WS 269 | Women of Color in the United States | 3 | |
| WS 270 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
Upper-Division Social and Behavioral Sciences Course List (select 6 credits with approval of advisor)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 3XX or ANTH 4XX | ||
| ECON 3XX or ECON 4XX | ||
| ETST 3XX or ETST 4XX | ||
| HDFS 3XX or HDFS 4XX | ||
| HIST 3XX or HIST 4XX | ||
| POLS 3XX or POLS 4XX | ||
| PSY 3XX or PSY 4XX | ||
| SOC 3XX or SOC 4XX | ||
- 1
STAT 100 or STAT 201 is recommended. If a different course is taken, a Statistics course (AUCC 1B category) is still required for the major.
- 2
12 credits of concentration work required - credit accrual above 12 concentration credits will count toward university credit completion in the elective category.
Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:
A grade of C (2.000) or above is required in each SOWK course required for the major; a 2.5000 overall GPA in all SOWK courses is required for the major. STAT 100 or STAT 201 is recommended.
| Freshman | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | X | 1A | 3 | |
| HDFS 101 | Lifespan Development (GT-SS3) | X | 3C | 3 | |
| PSY 100 | General Psychology (GT-SS3) | X | 3C | 3 | |
| SOWK 120 | Academic and Career Success | X | 1 | ||
| SOWK 130 | Identity, Power, and Social Justice (GT-SS3) | X | 1C | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | X | 0-3 | |||
| The Power of Numbers--Statistics in Sociology | |||||
| Statistical Literacy (GT-MA1) | 1B | ||||
| General Statistics (GT-MA1) | 1B | ||||
| Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods | |||||
| 1B | 1B | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 16-19 | ||||
| Semester 2 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| SOWK 150 | Introduction to Social Work | X | 3 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3-4 | |||
| Human Origins and Variation (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| Humans and Other Animals (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
| Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Introduction to Sociology (GT-SS3) | 3C | ||||
| Social Problems (GT-SS3) | 3C | ||||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Fields of Practice: Child Protection | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Juvenile Justice | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Criminal Justice | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Social Gerontology | |||||
| Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
| CO 150, PSY 100, and SOC 100 or SOC 105 must be completed by the end of Semester 2. | X | ||||
| Progression to the Major is strongly recommended by the end of Semester 2. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 15-16 | ||||
| Sophomore | |||||
| Semester 3 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| SOWK 330 | Intersectionality and Identity | X | 3 | ||
| SOWK 340 | Generalist Practice with Individuals | X | 3 | ||
| International Social Work Concentration Course (See Department List on Major Requirements Tab) | X | 3 | |||
| Arts and Humanities | X | 3B | 3 | ||
| Biological and Physical Sciences | X | 3A | 3-4 | ||
| Total Credits | 15-16 | ||||
| Semester 4 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| Select two courses from the following: | X | 6 | |||
| Indigenous Women, Children, and Tribes | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Child Protection | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Juvenile Justice | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Criminal Justice | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Social Gerontology | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Training Canine Animal Assisted Interventions | |||||
| Economic, Environmental, and Social Justice (See Department List on Major Requirements Tab) | X | 3 | |||
| Health and Wellness Course List (See Department List on Major Requirements Tab) | X | 2 | |||
| International Social Work Concentration Course | X | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 14 | ||||
| Junior | |||||
| Semester 5 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| SOWK 300 | Translational Social Work Research | X | 3 | ||
| SOWK 341 | Generalist Practice with Groups | X | 3 | ||
| SOWK 425 | Prep and Essential Skills for Internship | X | 1 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Writing Arguments (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||||
| Writing in the Disciplines: Social Sciences (GT-CO3) | 2 | ||||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| American Government and Politics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||||
| State and Local Government and Politics (GT-SS1) | 3C | ||||
| International Social Work Concentration Course | X | 3 | |||
| Total Credits | 16 | ||||
| Semester 6 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| SOWK 344 | Social Work Practice--Partners and Families | X | 3 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| Indigenous Women, Children, and Tribes | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Child Protection | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Juvenile Justice | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Criminal Justice | |||||
| Fields of Practice: Social Gerontology | |||||
| Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
| International Social Welfare and Development | |||||
| Social Work in Costa Rica | |||||
| Study Abroad: Social Work in India | |||||
| International Social Work Concentration Course | X | 3 | |||
| Historical Perspectives | X | 3D | 3 | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | ||||
| Senior | |||||
| Semester 7 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| SOWK 400 | Generalist Practice-Organizations/Communities | X | 4B | 3 | |
| SOWK 410 | Social Welfare--Policy, Issues, and Advocacy | X | 4A | 3 | |
| SOWK 488 | Practice-Based Learning | X | 4 | ||
| SOWK 492A | Capstone Seminar: I Engagement and Reflection | X | 4C | 1 | |
| Elective | X | 1-4 | |||
| Total Credits | 12-15 | ||||
| Semester 8 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
| SOWK 488 | Practice-Based Learning | X | 5 | ||
| SOWK 492B | Capstone Seminar: II Demonstrating Social Work Practice Skills | X | 4C | 2 | |
| Upper Division Social and Behavioral Sciences (See Department List on Major Requirements Tab) | X | 6 | |||
| The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. | X | ||||
| Total Credits | 13 | ||||
| Program Total Credits: | 120 | ||||