Bachelor of Social Work Prerequisite Courses

Applicants to the Undergraduate Program must complete a total of 57 undergraduate credits that include the below program prerequisite courses prior to beginning the program. Courses must be completed with a letter grade of C or better (B or higher preferred). A minimum of one (or two; where needed) 3 credit courses are required for each area.

The below program prerequisites courses provide students with a broad liberal arts base with core content in the following areas:

Introduction to American Government

  • American political systems that provide knowledge about the organization of the American government, including the Constitution, Congress, political parties, pressure groups, growth of the presidency, the Supreme Court, judicial review, federalism, separation of powers and the Bill of Rights.
    • This requirement may be met by Stony Brook POL 102 or a equivalent course at another institution*.

US History Since 1877 (Modern American History/Post-Reconstruction era) 

  • Provides knowledge of modern American history, including industrialization, the impact of industrialization upon social, cultural and political life, the Great Depression, the New Deal and the resulting social and technological changes.
    • This requirement may be met by Stony Brook HIS 104** or equivalent course work at another institution*.

Introduction to Psychology 

  • Provides an understanding of psychology as the science of behavior, including content related to personality theory, social and developmental psychology and psychological testing.
    • This requirement may be met by Stony Brook PSY 103 or equivalent course work at another institution*.

Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Anthropology

  • Provides an analysis of the principles of social structure through an examination of various forms of kinship, marriage, family, age group, voluntary associations and various levels of political, judicial, religious and economic organization.
    • This requirement may be met by Stony Brook (SOC 105 or ANT 102) or equivalent course work at another institution*.

Introduction to Human Biology

  • Introductory course in biological sciences which provides an understanding of the major concepts of human biology, including the cell, the gene, molecular biology, development and evolution, the human implications and values associated with these concepts, and the impact of biology on human behavior. 
    • This requirement may be met by Stony Brook ANP 101** or equivalent course work at another institution*.

English Composition 

  • Develops proficiency in the composition of expository and argumentative essays. 
    • This requirement may be met by Stony Brook WRT 102 course or equivalent course work at another institution* and/or by scoring 4 on the English placement examination and completing a designated intensive writing course.

Math (above Algebra

  • This requirement may be met by any course fulfilling a Stony Brook QPS designated SBC.
    • Preferred Stony Brook statistics courses are PSY 201, SOC 202, or AMS 102 or a equivalent course at another institution*.

Humanities 

  • This requirement may be met by any course fulfilling a Stony Brook HUM designated SBC or a equivalent course at another institution*. 

Fine Arts 

  • This requirement may be met by any course fulfilling a Stony Brook ARTS designated SBC or a equivalent course at another institution*. 

Foreign Language 

  • This requirement may be met by any course fulfilling a Stony Brook LANG-part or LANG designated SBC or a equivalent course at another institution*. 


Applicants can visit our Transfer Course Equivalency Database to view equivalent courses to fulfill the required program prerequisites. 

*Consult with the School of Social Welfare for equivalent courses. Unequivalent courses may result in delayed admissions review. 

**Other Stony Brook courses are equivalent to fulfil this requirement. Consult with the School of Social Welfare for equivalent courses.