The purpose of the social work profession is to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program prepares students for positions as generalist practice social workers and for graduate education in social work.  As generalist practitioners, students apply the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession to empower individuals and communities to overcome life challenges. Social work incorporates a holistic, strength-based approach to helping individuals, families, and communities. The BASW degree provides the foundation for entry-level social work careers in areas such as child welfare, community mental health, developmental disabilities, drug and alcohol, criminal justice, aging, community organizations, and other social service settings.

 The social work major is based in a liberal arts education that promotes scientific inquiry and critical thinking. The BASW program provides an evidence-based approach to social work education that identifies best practices in social work. Students are taught the purpose, history, values, and ethics of the social work profession. Subject matter also includes communication and assessment skills, problem-solving approaches, human diversity, research, social welfare and policy, and intervention skills with individuals, families, and communities.  As a professional program, the BASW program requires a supervised field placement experience in a social service agency, including 400 on-site hours.  Students completing an accredited undergraduate social work program are eligible for advanced standing in a graduate social work degree program (MSW). Students in the BASW program are encouraged to take either or both of PSYU 101 and SOCU 101 as general electives.

The mission of the BASW degree program is to prepare students for generalist social work practice in the 21^st century and for graduate education in social work. The program offers a dynamic, flexible, and technologically-based education designed to meet the needs of working adult students. The BASW curriculum is based in the values and ethics of the social work profession and provides students with the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to engage with clients and communities in collaborative and innovative problem solving.  Graduates are prepared to assist individuals, families, and communities in the California area and larger society in advancing quality of life, human rights, and social justice in a global community.