How to Choose a Bachelor’s in Social Work Program
Written by: Janice Monti, Ph.D. | Edited by: Rebecca Munday
Last Updated on June 21, 2024
Bachelor of social work (BSW) programs provide a foundation in generalist social work. Graduates can pursue entry-level positions in non-clinical social work or master’s in social work (MSW) degrees. In most U.S. states, BSW degree-holders can become licensed baccalaureate social workers (LBSWs).
This guide covers how to choose a social work degree program, along with information on career pathways and potential salaries. Explore our program rankings to find details on admission requirements, tuition costs, coursework, and field experience.
Popular Online BSW Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Social Work Degrees
1. University of Central Florida
You can tailor your bachelor in social work degree at the University of Central Florida by taking optional certificates and minors. You can minor in aging studies and nonprofit management and complete certificates in aging studies, children’s services, and Spanish for social work.
In the final semester of the BSW degree, you will complete a 420-hour internship. UCF has a network of more than 200 agencies in Central Florida to help you find an internship placement.
- Program: Bachelor of social work
- Campus: Orlando, Florida
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education
- Tuition: $212 per credit for Florida residents; $749 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Associate degree or UCF general education program requirements; minimum 2.5 GPA; complete BSW prerequisites; personal statement; letter of recommendation
- Minimum Time Commitment: 48 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
2. University of Georgia
The University of Georgia offers a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s in social work degree that merges data and digital fluency, advanced social psychology, and environmental awareness.
The flexible program allows you to earn a dual degree, minor, certificate, or study abroad in Ghana or Ireland. Throughout your studies, you’ll gain practical and theoretical social work knowledge and complete a capstone program and 12-month internship.
After graduating, you can qualify for advanced standing in a master’s in social work degree and graduate in one year.
- Program: Bachelor of social work
- Campus: Athens, Georgia
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education
- Tuition: $12,080 per year for Georgia residents; $31,120 per year for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: First-year students must gain UGA admission; transfer students need a minimum 2.5 GPA
- Minimum Time Commitment: 48 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
3. University of South Florida
The University of South Florida offers a bachelor’s in social work program that prepares you for a generalist practice in 2-4 years. As a certified Global Pathways program, you can qualify for the Global Citizens Project’s study abroad scholarship.
Required courses cover case management, data management, the American social welfare system, human behavior and social environment, multicultural American, and research and statistics for social work. You’ll also complete 460 hours during the field placement.
- Program: Bachelor of social work
- Campus: Tampa, Florida
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education
- Tuition: $6,410 per year for Florida residents; $17,324 per year for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Minimum 2.75 GPA; prerequisites; transfer students must complete an associate degree from the Florida College System institution.
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
4. Florida International University
Florida International University’s social work programs emphasize theoretical and practical social work. You can complete the required practicum at their workplace.
You’ll complete 120 credits over four semesters. The courses cover social environment and human behavior, social welfare policy and services, and research. During the field practicum, you’ll complete 256 hours over two semesters. If your workplace meets the department’s standards, you can complete the practicum there.
- Program: Bachelor of social work
- Campus: Miami, Florida
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education
- Tuition: $3,084 per semester for Florida residents; $9,283 per semester for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Associate degree or 60 college credits from an accredited college; general education requirements; minimum 2.75 GPA
- Minimum Time Commitment: 48 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
5. Mississippi College
Mississippi College is the second oldest Baptist college in the state and has offered social work degrees since the 1970s. The bachelor’s in social work program focuses on building critical thinking skills and knowledge for generalist practice.
You’ll complete 130 credits over four years, taking courses in contemporary social problems, generalist practice, social welfare policy, and human behavior. The generalist practice labs prepare you for a senior year practicum experience.
- Program: Bachelor of social work
- Campus: Clinton, Mississippi
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education
- Tuition: $10,123 per semester
- Admission Requirements: Minimum 2.5 GPA; completion of 75% of the core curriculum; prerequisites; three letters of recommendation; resume; admission conference; autobiographical essay
- Minimum Time Commitment: 48 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
6. California State University-Long Beach
California State University-Long Beach offers a social work program that offers daytime or evening courses 2-3 times a week. You can also qualify for a stipend if you commit to a post-college career at a public child welfare agency.
To earn a BSW degree, you must complete courses in social welfare, human behavior and social environment, social policy, and law, court decisions, and policy practice. Your practical experience begins in your junior year with 80 hours of field work. As a senior, you must complete 450 hours of fieldwork.
- Program: Bachelor of social work
- Campus: Long Beach, California
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education
- Tuition: $1,665 for part-time California residents (0-6 units); $2,061 for part-time (0-6 units) out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Complete at least 60 college credits; minimum 2.5 GPA; complete prerequisites
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
7. The University of Texas at Austin
You can earn a social work degree within 3-4 semesters at the University of Texas at Austin’s Steve Hicks School of Social Work. UT Austin’s undergraduate social work programs foster career development, community-building, and mentorship through the Social Work Education Enhancement Program (SWEEP).
The 122-credit BSW degree incorporates classroom learning, a 420-hours internship, and 60 service learning hours. You’ll learn topics in social work and social welfare, research methods, and social work statistics.
- Program: Bachelor of social work
- Campus: Austin, Texas
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education
- Tuition: $1,709 per credit for Texas residents; $6,400 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: At least 45 college credits; minimum 2.0 GPA for general credits; minimum 2.5 GPA for social work courses; prerequisites; personal statement; a reference from a SW 312 instructor
- Minimum Time Commitment: 48 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
8. CUNY Hunter College
Established in 1870 on the Upper East Side, Hunter College offers social work degrees that focus on child welfare and care coordination. You’ll take courses in human behavior and the social environment, social work research, and social work practice in care coordination or child welfare. The program also requires an integrative seminar and field practicums.
To qualify for the field placement, you must complete a Gateway Volunteer Assignment that requires 32 volunteer hours. You’ll complete 200 service hours in your junior year and 400 hours in your senior year.
- Program: Bachelor of social work
- Campus: New York, New York
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education
- Tuition: $305 per credit for New York residents; $620 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Must be a full-time Hunter College student; Social Work Gateway course with at least a B grade; minimum 2.75 GPA; one 200-500 word essay; resume; volunteer, internships or social service work history
- Minimum Time Commitment: 48 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
9. San Diego State University
San Diego State University’s school of social work, founded in 1963, offers customizable social work programs. You can pursue a bachelor’s in social work degree with specializations in community corrections case management or environmental social work.
To broaden your understanding of cross-cultural issues, you must complete designated courses, or study abroad for two weeks through an SDSU or California State University program.
Additionally, you’ll take 44 upper division units in cultural pluralism, perspective on human behavior, social policies and social issues, social work research methods, and field experiences.
- Program: Bachelor of social work
- Campus: San Diego, California
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Council on Social Work Education
- Tuition: $8,290 per year for California residents; $21,170 per year for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Apply to CSU as a first-time freshmen or transfer students; minimum 2.7 GPA
- Minimum Time Commitment: 48 months
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
How We Rank Schools
SocialWorkGuide.org uses a student-oriented methodology to evaluate and rank social work programs. Using datasets from sources including the U.S. Department of Education, our objective approach focuses on academic quality, affordability, school reputation, and program appeal.
This process focuses on relevant details for social work students searching for their ideal programs. This ranking is from 2023. To learn more, read about our rankings methodology.
Benefits of a Bachelor’s in Social Work Program
If you are interested in a social work career, earning a bachelor’s degree can help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
- In 38 states and Washington D.C., you can become an LBSW or your state’s equivalent with a bachelor’s in social work.
- Earning a bachelor’s in social work may strengthen your chances for admission and shorten your time to prepare for an MSW degree.
- A bachelor’s in social work is the most common requirement for generalist and non-clinical social work positions. This degree prepares you for multiple entry-level careers in human services.
- The internship requirement in an undergraduate social work degree connects your coursework to real-world experience, helping you understand the issues you will face in social work practice.
- With a bachelor’s in social work, you can enter the workforce after graduating without the added expense and time needed to earn an MSW. This timeline allows you to decide if you want to pursue advanced training and continue to work in the field.
What to Look For in a Bachelor’s in Social Work Program
When considering available social work programs, research each school’s location, its public or private status, and whether it assists with field placements. Most importantly, identify the programs that will most likely admit you and prepare you for your social work career.
Accreditation
Ensure that any prospective BSW programs hold accreditation from the Council for Social Work Education (CSWE). Accreditation indicates that a program undergoes regular peer review to ensure it meets academic quality and industry standards. Attending a non-accredited program can adversely affect your chances of transferring credits toward an MSW, qualifying for financial aid, finding a job, or pursuing a state social work license.
Cost
Compare programs’ tuition and fees before applying to ensure you can afford attending. State schools tend to be more affordable than private institutions, and in-state tuition generally costs less than out-of-state tuition. Undergraduates pay average tuition rates between $10,000-$50,000 per year, but costs vary significantly based on factors like location and prestige.
Financial Aid
Financial aid can make a big difference in your school choice. In some cases, a private college with generous aid can be as affordable as out-of-state tuition at a public university. Sources of federal financial aid include federal loans, grants, and work-study opportunities. After you graduate, you can apply for loan forgiveness in exchange for public service. Other options include scholarships and private loans.
Admission Requirements
Carefully review each admission requirement to ensure you meet the criteria. If you have a high school or college GPA of 2.7 but the BSW program you’re most interested in requires a 3.0, you may receive conditional admission in some cases. To increase your odds of acceptance, apply to schools with lower GPA requirements, too. Find out whether you need to submit SAT or ACT scores, and contact the school’s admissions office if you have any questions.
CSWE-Accreditation in Bachelor’s in Social Work Programs
CSWE accredits BSW and MSW programs. As the only accrediting agency for social work in the U.S., this organization ensures that social work programs adhere to high academic standards and prepare graduates in the competencies necessary for social work practice and licensure.
Almost all social work positions require CSWE-accredited degrees. Accredited BSWs deliver at least 400 hours of supervised field experience to each enrollee, in addition to the rigorous course requirements.
Bachelor’s in Social Work Program Courses
The curriculum for a BSW degree varies by program. Still, you can expect to take courses that introduce you to social work principles, policies, and research methods, along with field placements, which provide real-world experience. The following section covers common undergraduate BSW courses.
- Social Work and the Law: This course provides an overview of how to practice social work legally and ethically. Students review social work licensure standards, ethical practices, malpractice, and other legal actions affecting the profession.
- Field Experience: These practical learning opportunities allow students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world settings with individuals, families, small groups, and communities under the supervision of licensed social workers.
- Introduction to Social Work: The prerequisite course for the social work degree introduces students to the profession, emphasizing the knowledge, values, and skills needed to work with clients in social work practice in various agency settings.
- Fundamentals of Social Work Research: This course surveys research methodology in social work, including problem formulation, research design, measurement, data collection, and data analysis. Enrollees learn to critically analyze qualitative and quantitative research related to various social work contexts.
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment: This examination of human development through the lenses of social, biological, and ecological systems focuses on the intersectionality of ethnicity, race, gender, and sexual identity across the lifespan.
Bachelor’s in Social Work Program Outcomes
With a bachelor’s in social work, you can acquire the skills and knowledge to take the ASWB exam and find employment in entry-level social work positions in various human services agencies and other organizations.
Careers
A bachelor’s in social work can help you pursue rewarding careers helping individuals, families, groups, and communities improve their lives. Depending on your interests, you may specialize in children, families, the elderly, or particular populations.
Common employers for BSW degree-holders include social service and community agencies, government and nonprofits, healthcare facilities, prisons, and schools. This versatile degree can qualify you for a position as a case manager, family service assistant, child welfare specialist, and victim advocate.
Once you earn your BSW, you can advance into higher-paid positions by gaining work experience, continuing your training in an MSW program, or acquiring specialty certifications from the National Association of Social Workers. Although eligibility requirements for social work licensure differ nationwide, a bachelor’s in social work from a CSWE-accredited program qualifies you for LBSW credentials or its equivalent in 39 states and Washington, D.C.
Salary Potential
Sources: Payscale (June 2024), BLS (May 2023)
The amount you make as a social worker depends on several factors, including education, location, and specialty. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in May 2023, the median annual salary for all social workers was $62,880.
The BLS projects social work positions to grow by a faster-than-average 7% from 2022-2032. The demand for certain social work specialties affects salary levels. The highest-paid social workers include those with high-demand specialties in criminal justice, adult protective services, and forensic social work. Healthcare and mental health social workers also rank among the highest-paid professionals in this field at $67,430 and $63,870 respectively.
How to Apply to a Bachelor’s in Social Work Program
Social work programs list their admission requirements and required documents on their websites. Start early by compiling the required materials, such as transcripts, recommendations, and test scores. Pay close attention to any criteria the school prefers, such as minimum test scores, GPAs, and work or volunteer experience.
Schools often require an application to the institution, completion of prerequisites, and an application to the social work program during your sophomore year for a junior-year start date.
Typical requirements for BSW programs include:
- High school diploma or GED certificate
- Minimum GPA
- Official transcripts
- SAT or ACT scores
- A personal essay or statement
- Two recommendation letters from teachers
- General education requirements
- Prerequisite coursework (e.g., psychology, sociology, statistics)
Cost of a Bachelor’s in Social Work Program
| Time Frame | Tuition and Fees Paid | Total Student Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Annually | $8,118 | $20,933 |
| Four-Year Total | $32,472 | $83,732 |
The cost of your undergraduate degree depends on several factors. The median tuition and fees for a BSW is just over $8,000, but you may be able to reduce your overall costs by attending a state school rather than a private institution. Most public schools charge lower tuition rates to in-state students than out-of-state residents. Online programs may charge lower tuition and save you on transportation and housing costs.
Financial aid can make a big difference in helping you reduce your out-of-pocket costs. An important first step in determining your eligibility for government and school scholarships and loans is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Many schools and private foundations offer need-based and merit-based scholarships for students interested in social work and social services.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bachelor’s Degrees in Social Work
What is the difference between a BA in social work (BASW) and a BSW?
Bachelor of arts in social work (BASW) degrees offer the same classes and field experience components as BSW programs but require general education content in the liberal arts. The CSWE accredits BASW and BSW degrees.
Is a bachelor’s degree enough in social work?
A BSW prepares you for entry-level social work positions and leads to LBSW licensure in most states. Many BSW graduates decide to earn master’s degrees, which can open up more career and salary opportunities.
What’s the difference between a bachelor’s in social work and a master’s in social work?
With a BSW, you can find employment in entry-level generalist social work positions, but you will need an MSW and an LCSW license to enter clinical positions and private practice.
Is a BSW worth it?
Yes — and depending on your professional goals, a BSW may be a requirement. A BSW can lead you to rewarding employment prospects right after graduation or provide a strong foundation for an MSW program.
Is social work a hard major?
A BSW can be an academically and personally challenging major. The curriculum requires you to develop critical thinking, analytical, and research skills, along with the cultural competencies and emotional stamina to assist diverse populations dealing with difficult issues.
