September 28, 2023 update 

We are transitioning from a selective admissions process to students being able to declare a social work major at the time they apply to the University of Iowa.

This provides an opportunity for you to enter the pathway to a BA in Social Work degree on day one.  We’ve created criteria, including three pre-requisite courses, you must meet to be eligible to enroll in the “professional core” social work courses.  Then you submit a signed “Acceptance to Complete the Major Agreement form” to affirm your intent and agreement to continue into the “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.

Program Requirements

Sample of the Acceptance to Complete the Major Agreement Form - Fall 2024

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. Upcoming information session dates and registration form can be found on the following Information Sessions page.

Iowa City B.A. Information Sessions
 

Criteria to enroll in the "professional core" social work courses

The following criteria will be published in the UI catalog during June 2024.

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

Because the time between fall 2023 – spring 2024 is a transition year, we have the following exceptions for the two pre-requisites: PSY1001 and SOC1010.

What if you’ve not taken these pre-requisites or earned a grade below a C in Elementary Psychology (or transfer equivalent) or Introduction to Sociology (or transfer equivalent)?

To enroll in the “professional core” social work courses in fall 2024, you may be enrolled in PSY1001 and/or SOC1010 while enrolled in the fall “professional core” social work courses.

You must achieve a passing grade in PSY1001 and SOC1010 in order to complete the major.

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

Who Can Enter the Social Work Major

Through spring 2024, we will be transitioning from students declaring Social Work Interest to directly declaring Social Work as the major when applying to the University of Iowa.

Students are eligible to complete the "Acceptance to Complete the Major Agreement form", after they meet the criteria listed above.

To access the "Acceptance to Complete the Major Agreement form" link, contact:

Ben Landsee, Social Work Advisor at benjamin-landsee@uiowa.edu for further guidance.

Social Work Interest Majors

Social Work Interest students are eligible to complete the “Acceptance to Complete the Major Agreement form”, after they meet the criteria.  

During this transition year (fall 2023 - spring 2024), after the signed Agreement form is received:

• the School of Social Work will assist to add/change your major to social work; and
• Ben Landsee, the Social Work Interest advisor, will assist you to create a course plan to complete the social work major during your next advising appointment.  Ben Landsee can be reached at Benjamin-landsee@uiowa.edu for further guidance.

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

Students with other Primary Majors

Students who have declared another major or are an open major will also be eligible to complete the “Acceptance to Complete the Major Agreement form”, if they meet the criteria.  

During this transition year (fall 2023 - spring 2024), the School of Social Work will assist to add/change your major to social work after the signed Agreement form is received.  

Transfer Students

Transfer students from a community college or another B.A. in Social Work program can be eligible to complete the "Acceptance to Complete the Major Agreement form" if they meet the criteria.

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 approval before you submit your application.

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 "Acceptance to Complete the Major Agreement form", or need assistance with a requirement listed above, please contact us at ssw-admissions@uiowa.edu or call 319-335-1250.