Social Work, Associate of Science Articulated with Idaho State (ISU)

 Program Description

This program provides academic coursework and foundational knowledge for students planning to transfer to Idaho State University (ISU) to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). Students will develop essential skills in communication, working with diverse populations, and assessing the needs of individuals, families, and groups. Graduates will be prepared to foster dignity, respect, and self-determination in their professional practice while addressing the growing need for social workers in Douglas County and beyond.

Program Outcomes

This degree aligns with the Social Work program at Idaho State University (ISU). Students who complete the Human Services Associate of Science will have the knowledge, skills and abilities to:

  1. Communicate effectively with others.
  2. Be comfortable and effective working with people from diverse backgrounds.
  3. Assess and address needs of individuals, families, and groups.
  4. Develop a plan of action and link people with community resources.
  5. Foster commitment to the field of human services based on the belief that all humans are capable of growth and have a fundamental right to dignity, respect, and self-determination.
  6. Expand general knowledge and skills in ways that enrich personal and professional lives.
  7. Use appropriate library and information resources to research professional issues and support lifelong learning.
  8. Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them.

Career Considerations

The Associate of Science (AS) in Social Work is based on a signed articulation agreement with Idaho State University (ISU). This agreement allows students to seamlessly transfer to ISU’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program as juniors, with no loss of credits. The program focuses on preparing students for careers in human services, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to address the diverse needs of individuals, families, and communities. 

Program Course Requirements

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First TermCredits
GS 104
or GS 105
or GS 106
 Physical Science
or Physical Science
or Physical Science
 4
SOC 204Z Introduction to Sociology 4
WR 121Z Composition I 4
Program Elective 1 3
 Credits15
Second Term
PSY 201Z Introduction to Psychology I 4
SOC 205Z Social Change and Institutions 4
WR 122Z Composition II 4
Program Elective 1 3
 Credits15
Third Term
MTH 105Z Math in Society (or higher) 4
Program Elective 1 3
Program Elective 1 3
Program Elective 1 4
 Credits14
Second Year
First Term
ART 101 Introduction to Visual Arts 4
ENG 104Z Introduction to Fiction 4
Program Elective 1 3
Program Elective 1 3
 Credits14
Second Term
PSY 231 Human Sexuality 3
STAT 243Z Elementary Statistics I 4
Program Elective 1 3
Program Elective 1 3
Program Elective 1 3
 Credits16
Third Term
COM 111Z Public Speaking 4
Program Elective 1 3
Program Elective 1 3
Program Elective 1 3
Program Elective 1 3
 Credits16
 Total Minimum Credits90
1

Program Elective.

Approved Social Work (ISU) Electives

CJ 230Intro-Juvenile Justice System3
HS 100Introduction to Human Services3
HS 102Addiction Pharmacology3
HS 108UnderstandBEH-EMOT Iss-Old Pop3
HS 110Peer Recovery Mentor4
HS 150Personal Effect for HS Workers3
HS 154Community Resources3
HS 209Trauma-Theory to Practice3
HS 211HIV AIDS-Infectious Disease2
HS 217Group Counseling Skills I3
HS 226Ethics and Law3
HS 227Family Systems and Trauma3
HS 229Crisis Intervention-Prevention3
HS 265Counseling Skills II3
HS 266Case Mgmt for HS Workers3
HS 267Culturally Informed Care3
HS 280CWE-Human Svcs1-13
HST 104World History3
HST 105World History3
HST 106World History3
HST 201ZUnited States History I4
HST 202ZUnited States History II4
HST 203ZUnited States History III4
PS 201United States Government I4
PSY 231Human Sexuality3
PSY 239Abnormal Psychology3
SOC 205ZSocial Change and Institutions4
SOC 206ZSocial Problems4
SOC 207Juvenile Delinquency3
SOC 210Sociology of the Family3
SOC 213Race Class and Ethnicity3
SOC 225Social Aspects of Addiction3
SPAN 101ZFirst-year Spanish I4
SPAN 102ZFirst year Spanish II4
SPAN 103ZFirst-year Spanish III4
SPAN 201Second Year Spanish I4
SPAN 202Second Year Spanish II4
SPAN 203Second Year Spanish III4

Advising Notes:

Completion of this AS degree confers the following benefits:
1) ISU waives the admission fee upon Transfer.
2) Students who transfer without predetermined courses from degree plan must complete ISU’s institution- specific education requirements.
Idaho State University Requirements:
● Students must complete 120 credits of coursework, of which at least 60 must be academic credits. 
● Completion of an AA/AS degree as outlined above satisfies ISU’s general education requirements. Students who transfer to ISU without an AA/AS must complete ISU's general education requirements.
● Students will take SOWK 1101 (Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare) and ANTH 2300 (Biological Anthropology) at ISU after having been admitted to the BASW Program at ISU.
● Students must complete 36 credits of upper division coursework (3000 level and above), of which 15 must be earned at ISU. 
● At least 30 credits in the major area of study must be resident credits (earned at ISU), or 30 of the last 50 credits applied to the degree must be ISU resident credit. (Refer to the ISU catalog for limits on specialized credits such as credit by exam, physical activity, music participation, and experiential learning.) 
● Students must complete all major requirements with a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and have an overall ISU cumulative GPA of 2.0.
● Students will be subject to the program contained in the academic catalog of the year they enroll at ISU.