Students applying to UI for admission in 2025 and beyond, will declare Social Work directly.

With a social work major, students are still required to meet the criteria listed below and submit a signed Professional Social Work Agreement form to be eligible to enroll in professional core social work courses.

Criteria to enroll in the professional core social work courses

You can register for the professional core courses when you’ve successfully completed the following three prerequisite courses with a C or above:

• SSW:1022 Social Justice and Social Welfare in the U.S. or approved Intro to Social Work course 3 s.h.
• PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology or transfer equivalent 3 s.h.
• SOC:1010 Introduction to Sociology or transfer equivalent 3 s.h.

and meet these requirements:

• 2.0 G.P.A. minimum overall
• Completion of 45 s.h. or more
• Submits a signed Professional Social Work Agreement form (signed after criteria is met)

Program Requirements

Sample of the professional social work Agreement Form - Fall 2025

1 YEAR sequence of professional core social work courses

2 Year sequence of professional core social work courses

2 Year with 2 semesters of Practicum & Seminar sequence of professional core social work courses

The BA in Social Work curriculum sequence is very structured, with the professional core social work courses starting in fall.

Students planning to enroll in professional core courses in fall 2025 and after, will be required to meet all of the criteria listed above.

Information Sessions

We encourage prospective applicants to attend a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work Information Session to learn more about the program requirements and criteria to be eligible to enroll in the professional core social work courses. Click link below to view upcoming Info Session dates.

Iowa City B.A. Information Sessions
 

Who Can Enter the Social Work Major

Students are eligible to complete the Professional Social Work Agreement form, after they meet the criteria listed above.

To access the Professional Social Work Agreement form link, contact: ssw-admissions@uiowa.edu

As a Social Work major, you can participate in the Social Work Student Association and other School activities.

Transfer Students

Transfer students from a community college or another B.A. in Social Work program can be eligible to complete the Professional Social Work Agreement form if they meet the criteria posted above.

Step #1 - You must first be admitted to the University of Iowa to access the Agreement form.  This includes sending a transcript to UI.

Step #2 - Contact ssw-admissions@uiowa.edu to access the Agreement form.  The email must include your University ID number.

*The School has approved introductory level social work courses from numerous area community colleges (see transfer course tables of approved courses). If the introductory course you took is not on this list, contact ssw-admissions@uiowa.edu for further guidance.

Transfer Students from another Accredited BSW/BASW Program
If you completed social work courses at another CSWE-accredited social work program, you can request to have these courses applied to the Social Work major. The School will evaluate and approve courses on a case-by-case basis. To have your social work courses at another institution considered, it is best to provide these course outlines to ssw-admissions@uiowa.edu before applying so you know which courses are approved towards the major if you are accepted.  If these courses are accepted, your advisor will adjust your plan of study accordingly.

Gen Ed CLAS Core World Language Requirement
The School is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS).  For students entering the UI for their first degree-seeking session in summer 2024 or later, additional pathways to meet the world language requirement details here.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the program, the Professional Social Work Agreement form, or need assistance with a requirement listed above, please contact us at ssw-admissions@uiowa.edu or call 319-335-1250.