Pre-Social Work

Pre-Social Work

Transfer Pathway A.S.

The 60-credit Pre-Social Work Transfer Pathway A.S. degree program offers you the powerful opportunity to complete an associate degree and transfer with junior-year status to a designated social work bachelor's degree program at one of seven Minnesota State universities.

As a student in this A.S. degree program, you will complete the Required Pathway Curriculum (38 credits) and Additional General Education Requirements (22 credits) for a credit total of 60.

Minnesota State universities
  • Bemidji State University
  • Metropolitan State University
  • Minnesota State University Mankato
  • Minnesota State University Moorhead
  • Southwest Minnesota State University
  • St. Cloud State University
  • Winona State University

Note: If you have been arrested, charged, or convicted of any criminal offense, you should investigate the impact that the arrest, charge, or conviction may have on your chances of employment in the field you intend to study or on your chances to obtain federal, state, and other higher education financial aid.

Some courses within this program require a criminal background study to successfully complete. Please see the course description section of the catalog for more details. Please refer to the Criminal Background section of the catalog for more information on the criminal background study.

Full-time schedule recommendation

See how to schedule your classes each semester to complete your degree in two years.

 Full-Time Recommended Course of Study

Part-time schedule recommendation

Recommendations for a part-time schedule are included in the Pre-Social Work Program Planning Guide (see below).

2023-2024 Required Courses

Required Pathway Curriculum

Course # Course Name Credit(s)
  HSER 1100
Introduction to Social Work
3

Course Outline
Credits: 3
Provides an introduction to the field of Social Work and Social Welfare. Course describes history, worker roles, and current career trends in the field. Students are required to participate in hands-on experience through service learning. This course is appropriate for anyone who might be interested in the helping profession.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites:

  • HSER 1106 Basic Counseling Skills

Future Offering:
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

Human Services Elective(s)
Choose from the following or any HSER courses: HSER 1104,HSER 1112, HSER 1117,HSER 1123
6



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

  HSER 1179
Human Services Seminar
1

Course Outline
Credits: 1
Provides an opportunity for human services students to create and implement projects for the development of personal knowledge and skill. Provides students the opportunity to receive support on internship progress. This course must be taken concurrently with HSER 1189 - Internship. The course may be repeated once.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering:

  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  HSER 1189
Internship
3

Course Outline
Offers work experience in a human service agency, providing an opportunity to further develop skills. Through work experience, students will gain additional knowledge of human services practices and concepts. This course must be taken concurrently with HSER 1179 - Human Services Seminar. May be taken as two 3-credit courses or one 6-credit course.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering:

  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  BIOL 1114
Critical Issues In Human Biology
3

Course Outline
Credits: 3
MNTC Goal Areas: 03, 09
Intended for majors and non-majors interested in critical and ethical issues related to human biology. Ethical decision-making surrounding current biological issues will be examined. Topics such as evolution, human research subjects, biotechnology, antibiotic resistance, or other emerging science issues may be examined. Students will understand the process of science, be able to distinguish science from non-science, and critically analyze claims. Students desiring a traditional lab may take BIOL 1110 concurrently or following completion of BIOL 1114.

Prerequisites:


Corequisites: None
Future Offering:
  • Summer 2023
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  MATH 1103
Introduction to Statistics
4

Course Outline
Credits: 4
MNTC Goal Areas: 02, 04
Presents basic statistics which includes descriptive and graphical statistics, basic probability, probability distributions, sampling distributions, confidence intervals and hypotheses testing for one or two populations, linear regression, chi-square tests, and ANOVA. Professional statistical software, such as Minitab, will be integrated throughout the class. Graphing calculator required for the course. Recommendation based on the results of the Inver Hills Assessment Test or grade of "C" or higher in MATH 0820 or 0840 within the last 2 years.

Prerequisites:


Corequisites:
  • MATH 0103 Statistics Support

Future Offering:
  • Summer 2023
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  PSYC 1101
Introduction to Psychology
4

Course Outline
Credits: 4
MNTC Goal Areas: 02, 05
Presents a survey of the science of psychology including theoretical and experimental findings and applications. Topics include research methodology, the nervous system, perception, cognition, learning, memory, human development, emotions, motivation, personality, psychological disorders and their treatment, attitudes, social influence and growth processes. This course may not be taken for credit if you have already earned credit for Introduction to Psychology with Lab (PSYC 1201). Prereq: Placement into ENG 1108 or successful completion (grade of C or above) of ENG 99/Read 93

Prerequisites:


Corequisites: None
Future Offering:
  • Summer 2023
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  PSYC 1210
Lifespan Development
4

Course Outline
Credits: 4
MNTC Goal Areas: 05, 07
Presents an introduction to the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of development across the lifespan. Explores the research and theories relevant to the psychological study of human development from conception to death. Applies these issues to general and clinical populations. PSYC 1101 or PSYC 1201 recommended.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering:

  • Summer 2023
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  SOC 1100
Introduction to Sociology
4

Course Outline
Credits: 4
MNTC Goal Areas: 05, 09
Emphasizes methods, basic concepts, terminology, and perspectives used by sociologists in analysis of social relationships. Sociological analysis will focus on American government, family, education, religion, and the economy.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering:

  • Summer 2023
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  SOC 1127
Social Inequalities: Race, Class, & Gender
3

Course Outline
Credits: 3
MNTC Goal Areas: 05, 07
Describes and analyzes selected inequality relationships in the United States. Topic areas will include economic inequality-poverty; ethnic inequality-racism; and gender inequality-sexism. This course is open to all students and meets the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) 8710.3200, Subp. 3, Standard 12a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering:

  • Summer 2023
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

  POLS 1111
Introduction to U.S. Politics
3

Course Outline
Credits: 3
MNTC Goal Areas: 05, 09
Analyzes United States national government, political parties, campaigns and elections, public opinion, interest groups, media coverage and current political issues. The course will also examine principles of the Constitution, and the structure and behavior of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. In your exploration of contemporary U.S. domestic and foreign policy issues, you will critically examine your own political values, experiences and behaviors.

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering:

  • Summer 2023
  • Fall 2023
  • Spring 2024
  • Summer 2024
  • Fall 2024
  • Spring 2025

Total Credits in Required Pathway Curriculum 38

Additional General Education Requirements

Course # Course Name Credit(s)
General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 1)
Communication: ENG 1108. ENG 1111, 1114 OR 1130. COMM 1100, 1110 OR 223
3



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 2)
Critical Thinking. Satisfied by First Year Experience course or MnTC Completion



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 3)
Natural Science (1 course must include lab). Goal 3a (Life Sciences) BIOL 1114. Goal 3b (Physical Sciences) course
2



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 4)
Mathematical/Logical Reasoning. MATH 1103- Satisfied by Pathway



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 5)
History/Social Sciences/Behavioral Sciences. PSYC 1101, PSYC 1210, SOC 1100 - Satisfied by Pathway



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 6)
Humanities/Fine Arts/Literature. Goal 6a (Fine Arts) course. Goal 6b (Humanities/Literature) course. Any additional Goal 6 course
3



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 7)
Human Diversity. SOC 1127 -Satisfied by Pathway
1



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 8)
Global Perspective. May be satisfied by utilizing course from Goal 6
1



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 9)
Ethical and Civic Responsibility. POLS 1111 -Satisfied by Pathway



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

General Education Credits (MnTC Goal 10)
People and the Environment. May be satisfied by utilizing course from Goal 3
1



Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Future Offering: None

Total Credits in Additional General Education Requirements 22
Total Credits: 60
‡ Select General Education electives from specified MnTC goal area or from any MnTC goals if none specified.