Prepare for careers dedicated to promoting the social good.
The Bachelor of Arts program in Social Welfare offers students a broad-based introduction to America’s social welfare problems and social policies within a social science context. Since 1942, UC Berkeley Social Welfare has offered the undergraduate major in Social Welfare leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree, under the auspices of the College of Letters & Science.
The Social Welfare undergraduate major is a designated “group major” grounded in the liberal arts, rather than specialized training in the profession of social work. Students gain knowledge of organized networks of public and private social services, and the basic practice methods associated with the social work profession. In doing so, students acquire the knowledge needed to understand, address, and actively participate in the amelioration of critical social problems in American society.
Highlights
- Get involved with the Social Welfare Association for the Greater Good.
- Join students and professionals in social work advocacy with Lobby Days.
- Explore a social problem, intervention, or theory in depth through the Honors Program in Social Welfare.
Curriculum
The Social Welfare major curriculum focuses both on the history and institutions of social work as a field of activity and on the welfare state as a collective enterprise addressing human need. Students complete lower division major prerequisites before they can declare the major. Once accepted, students must complete four core courses:
- SOC WEL 110 Social Work as a Profession
- SOC WEL 112: Social Welfare Policy
- SOC WEL 114: Practice in Social Work
- Focused Topic Core Course: SOC WEL Elective
Additionally, students complete five approved social science electives. Students can enroll in special studies courses to explore social welfare topics, and may also study a topic of interest in depth and write a thesis as part of the honors program.
Learn more at socialwelfare.berkeley.edu/undergraduate-major-basw
Study Options
Interested in the Social Welfare major, but want to see what the curriculum is like? Non-declared students may register for Core Social Welfare courses (e.g., SOC WEL 110) to see if the major may be right for them (a number of seats are set aside for non-declared students).
Social Welfare is an interdisciplinary major program, which allows students to draw in a variety of elective courses in other social science areas. This can lead to pursuing a variety of double majors or any minors, including Education, Disability Studies, Public Health, and others.
Declaring the Major
Social Welfare is a popular major, and prerequisites and enrollment controls for required courses are in place to manage student demand. Students who wish to declare the Social Welfare major should:
- Thoroughly explore the Social Welfare major, including the curriculum and its required sequence.
- Complete the prerequisite entry requirements as soon as possible.
- Be aware of priority deadlines to declare the major, and file the Petition to Declare a Major as soon as all of the prerequisites have been completed.
The declaration process and timeline varies for transfer and non-transfer students.
Undergraduates from the Social Welfare undergraduate program are well prepared to enter graduate programs in social welfare, social work, family therapy, law, counseling, psychology, sociology, health education, human resource management and other fields where foundation knowledge in the social sciences is important. Many program graduates not seeking higher degrees successfully pursue careers as human service workers, counselors, family life educators, and family specialists, non-profit organization administrators, and staff members of other agencies addressing human needs.
UC Berkeley offers a number of career resources for students studying Social Welfare. The College of Letters & Science offers advising for undergraduates pursuing medical or health professions programs, law school, or masters and PhD programs. Additionally, Berkeley Career Engagement provides career counseling, professional and graduate school advising, job and internship listings, and events such as career and graduate school fairs.
Employment
Alumni find employment in a variety of fields and industries after graduation. Examples include:
- ADA Compliance Officer
- Business Development Coordinator
- College Advisor
- Community Health Worker
- Community Organizer
- Director of Social Services
- Family Advocate
- Home Health Aide
- Program Manager
- Residential Counselor
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Youth Specialist
Graduate Study
Alumni pursue graduate education to gain more depth of knowledge in their field as well as prepare for jobs that require advanced degrees. Examples include:
- Clinical Psychology
- Educational Administration
- Hospitality Administration
- Medicine
- Public Health
- Public Policy
- Social Welfare
- Sociology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Tina, class of 2022
Tina McClain’s BA in Social Welfare holds deep significance for her—her mother was a social worker and Tina herself was supported by a team of dedicated social workers when navigating the child welfare system. In her time at UC Berkeley, she achieved far more than she thought was possible, including working as bridges Multicultural Resource Center’s transfer director for the Indigenous and Native Coalition.
“I’m filled with unbelievable gratitude…If you ever think that you cannot be accepted at UC Berkeley, do the footwork, trust the process and turn it over. You’ll be amazed at what can happen.”
First Year
Plan Your Studies
- Start exploring with L&S 1 and the L&S New Freshman Student Guide.
- Visit L&S Advising for help with major exploration and degree requirements.
- Familiarize yourself with the Social Welfare major and BASW Student Handbook; begin prerequisite entry requirements.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar, Berkeley Changemaker, or DeCal course.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Social Research Library.
- Join a student organization like the Social Welfare Association for the Greater Good.
- Get academic help from the Student Learning Center.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Social Welfare website.
- Begin making a plan to get career ready.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
Second Year
Plan Your Studies
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
- Enroll in approved social science electives if you have completed prerequisites and are in the process of applying to the major.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as Public Policy.
- Verify you have completed all prerequisite entry requirements and submit your major application.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend Social Welfare events such as student and alumni mixers.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Explore research opportunities from OURS; apply to URAP to work on a faculty project.
- Browse grants from the Center for Race and Gender, Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, and Greater Good Science Center.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and BCE.
Third Year
Plan Your Studies
- Enroll in SOC WEL 110 once your major application has been approved; focus on core courses and approved social science electives.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Spend a term off-campus with study abroad, UCDC, or the Intercampus Visitor Program.
- Consider applying to the Social Welfare Honors Program; look into Haas Scholars and SURF.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Look into YEDI if interested in youth equity research.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
- Attend Lobby Days in Sacramento to advocate for social work.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options such as pursuing an MSW.
- Join a professional association such as the National Association of Social Workers.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
Fourth Year
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all core courses and social science electives; consider enrolling in a special studies course.
- Enroll in SOC WEL H195A + B if doing the honors program; join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Challenge yourself with a graduate-level Social Welfare course.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your work to the Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Connect with alumni groups such as UC Berkeley Social Welfare Alumni.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Learn about alumni career services; see info for Social Welfare alumni.
Summer
- Make progress on degree requirements with Summer Sessions.
- Get hands-on research experience in the Othering & Belonging Institute Summer Fellowship.
- Go abroad through Berkeley Study Abroad or UCEAP.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate such as Clinical and Counseling Psychology or The Developing Child.
- Consider a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
First Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Get your bearings with L&S 198 Transitioning to Cal and the L&S New Transfer Student Guide.
- Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans; review the BASW Student Handbook.
- Enroll in SOC WEL 110 if you were admitted directly to the major; complete entry prerequisite courses (if needed) and begin approved social science electives.
- Apply to the major if you were not admitted directly to Social Welfare.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Explore the Social Research Library.
- Connect with the Transfer Student Center or Re-entry Student Program.
- Join a student organization like the Social Welfare Association for the Greater Good.
- Visit Berkeley Discovery to get started with research, entrepreneurship, public service, and creative projects.
- Get academic help from the Student Learning Center.
- Learn how to prepare for office hours and build relationships with faculty.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Visit UHS Career Counseling and Berkeley Career Engagement.
- Start exploring career paths for the major; check out career resources on the Social Welfare website.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Use Handshake to start connecting with career events and opportunities.
- Meet with a BCE career educator to discuss career options and goals.
Second Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Complete SOC WEL 110 if needed; otherwise, focus on upper division core courses and social science electives.
- Join Berkeley Connect for 1:1 mentoring and to meet peers with shared interests.
- Develop your writing and critical thinking in an Art of Writing seminar.
- Enrich your studies with a certificate or minor such as Public Policy.
- Consider applying to the Social Welfare Honors Program; look into Haas Scholars and SURF.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Attend Social Welfare events such as student and alumni mixers.
- Check out the Public Service Internship, College Corps, and Haas Public Service Leaders Program.
- Explore research opportunities from OURS; apply to URAP to work on a faculty project.
- Browse grants from the Center for Race and Gender, Institute for the Study of Societal Issues, and Greater Good Science Center.
- Attend Lobby Days in Sacramento to advocate for social work.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Build your network and explore career fields via job shadowing and informational interviews.
- Pursue an internship to build skills and explore fields.
- Browse graduate school resources from the Graduate Division, L&S Advising, and BCE.
- Speak with faculty, advisors, and career educators about post-graduate options such as pursuing an MSW.
Third Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Keep working on core courses and electives; consider enrolling in a special studies course.
- Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
- Spend a term off-campus with study abroad, UCDC, or the Intercampus Visitor Program.
- Enroll in SOC WEL H195A if doing the honors program.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Welcome new students to Berkeley as a Golden Bear Orientation Leader.
- Develop your skills in the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy.
- Look into YEDI if interested in youth equity research.
- Help other students as a Transfer Student Center Leader.
- Address real-world problems in the Fung Fellowship or Big Ideas Contest.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Check in with a BCE career educator.
- Join a professional association such as the National Association of Social Workers.
- Interested in public service careers? Look into the John Gardner Fellowship, Huntington Award, and Truman Scholarship.
- Apply to graduate school or post-graduate programs.
Fourth Semester
Plan Your Studies
- Finish all core courses and social science electives.
- Enroll in SOC WEL H195B if doing the honors program; join a thesis writing workshop at the Student Learning Center.
- Challenge yourself with a graduate-level Social Welfare course.
- Complete any remaining degree requirements and prepare for graduation.
Engage Outside the Classroom
- Interested in teaching? Give it a try by facilitating your own DeCal course.
- Submit a course research project for the Library Prize, American Cultures Student Prize, or other awards.
- Get published! Submit your work to the Berkeley Undergraduate Journal.
- Pursue a special project after graduation with the Stronach Prize.
Pursue Your Career Goals
- Meet employers at info sessions, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs like the Social Welfare Career Fair.
- Utilize job search tools from BCE and apply for job opportunities.
- Connect with alumni groups such as UC Berkeley Social Welfare Alumni.
- Learn about alumni career services; see info for Social Welfare alumni.
Summer
- Get ready for Berkeley with RHETOR 100 Writing at the University.
- Make progress on degree requirements with Summer Sessions.
- Get hands-on research experience in the Othering & Belonging Institute Summer Fellowship.
- Go abroad through Berkeley Study Abroad or UCEAP.
- Pursue a summer minor or certificate such as Clinical and Counseling Psychology or The Developing Child.
- Consider a summer internship with Cal in the Capital, Cal in Sacramento, or Berkeley Global Internships.
- Apply to the GiGS program to learn about graduate school.
Undergraduate Advising
Have questions about Social Welfare or the College of Letters & Science?
Berkeley Social Welfare offers undergraduate advising for students interested in the Social Welfare major. The Undergraduate Advisor is located in 101 Haviland Hall and is available for in-person and remote appointments to help with classes, program planning, graduation, graduate school, and academic and personal goals. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit socialwelfare.berkeley.edu/student-hub or email swugadvisor@berkeley.edu.
The College of Letters & Science helps students with non-major-specific academic topics, including major exploration, general program planning, finding campus resources, and pre-professional graduate programs. L&S College Advisors are available for in-person and virtual meetings. Visit lsadvising.berkeley.edu or email asklns@berkeley.edu.
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