About the Program

Council on Social Work Education Accredited

The social work program prepares students for social work practice at the first professional level. Consistent with accreditation standards, the social work courses cover the following areas: human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, intervention methods, research, values and ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, populations at risk, and field instruction.

Social work is an upper-division major that builds on a liberal arts base. Academic evaluation includes GPA, class performance, and conduct that is ethical and professional. Interested students should contact the department for specific information on these academic standards.

Evening courses are available. Evening and weekend field practicum is available on an extremely limited basis.

The Social Work program is designed to begin in the fall semester. The program may accept a student in the spring or summer semester.

About the Social Work Department

354 Caudell Hall
1300 Elmwood Ave
Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 878-5705
Fax: (716) 878-3539
https://socialwork.buffalostate.edu/

Admission Requirements

At the time of application, students are required to have:


  • Completed 45 credit hours

  • Attained a minimum GPA of 2.5.

  • Successfully completed the SUNY Buffalo State required college Writing (CWP 101/CWP 102 with a "C" or better).

  • Human Biology (BIO 101)

  • PSY – Any 3 credit hour Psychology course or SPF 302 – Educational Psychology: Elementary Education or AP Psychology from high school.

  • SOC – Any 3 credit hour Sociology course.

Learning Outcomes

Students will acquire:

1. The skills required to work with clients who are diverse in race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation, ability, and religion.

2. The history of the social work profession and social welfare policy; existing policy and services; and methods to analyze social welfare policy

3. The value and use of the scientific method to assess social work theory and practice

4. The knowledge and skills learned from a liberal arts education, including writing, logical thinking and analysis, human origins, government processes, aspects of social institutions, and psychological functions

5. Policies, procedures, funding sources, structures, functions, rules, and regulations of community agencies

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours 33

Social Work Major Requirements (51 credit hours)
SWK 220 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK 3
SWK 301 POVERTY AND PUBLIC POLICY 3
SWK 307 HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I 3
SWK 308 HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II 3
SWK 317 RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIAL WORK 3
SWK 320 SOCIAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS 3
SWK 419 SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY 3
SWK 422 ASSESSMENT AND ENGAGEMENT 3
SWK 423 INTERVENTIVE METHOD 3
SWK 424 GROUPS 3
SWK 429 POLICY PRACTICE 3
SWK 493 FIELD PRACTICUM I 12
& SWK 494 and FIELD PRACTICUM II
SWK 496 INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR I 3
SWK 497 INTEGRATIVE SEMINAR II 3

All College Electives
30-36 credit hours 30-36

Total Credit Hours 120