Bachelor’s of social work (BSW)

Introduction to social work

Social workers focus on helping their clients solve problems and cope with challenges. Social workers are employed in a variety of settings, from hospitals to schools to nonprofit agencies to advocacy organizations. This solution-focused career choice offers great diversity in the opportunities that are available to the people who decide to commit to it – in terms of clientele, presenting problems, and scale of interventions.

In general, social workers are divided into 3 main groups based on their scope of practice.

Micro social workers work with clients in a one-on-one setting, often through clinical work such as therapy or counseling.

Mezzo social workers focus on helping small groups or communities of people. For example, a mezzo social worker might implement a new better mental health education program within an inner-city school.

Finally, macro social workers take the widest lens to focus on systemic or institutional issues. A macro social worker may lobby for expanded access to school lunches or work on a policy initiative related to access to mental health resources.

A bachelor of social work (BSW) degree is an entry level degree for the profession. After completing a BSW, you will be eligible for certain entry level positions. However, many people in the field go on to earn a master’s degree in social work (MSW) or a doctorate degree. Beginning with a bachelor’s degree of social work will give you a solid foundation and prepare you for graduate school if you so choose.

Less common, some colleges offer a bachelor of arts in social work (BASW) program – but for the purposes of this paper, we concentrate on the BSW.

Bachelor of social work program basics

A bachelor of social work degree provides foundational coursework to prepare students to graduate and work in the field. The goal of the degree is to teach students relevant theories of social work and practical skills to be competent to perform well in an entry level social work position.

In general, people with an 2-year associate degree in social work may be able to transfer credits to a BSW program. It may also be possible to transfer prior credits from a bachelor’s degree program in another area of study. Transferring credits is at the discretion of the individual school. Contact the school directly for more information.

Note that 75% of BSW program applicants are accepted into this 4-year degree, yet the national average for graduating in 46%. This is not a career for everyone.

» Read: Can you get a bachelor’s degree from a community college?

What can you do with a BSW?

People with a BSW degree often take entry level social work positions, such as case workers, mental health assistant, or continue their education to a graduate degree such as an MSW. Jobs performed by people with a BSW degree may be supervised by a graduate-level social worker or include fewer leadership opportunities than other social work positions.

» Read: See the best colleges in the country for social work

Should you get a BSW?

When we consider the national data on employment, 95% of holders of a BSW are employed within 2 years of graduating. While these figures look great, the annual average net salary earned in this period is $32,373 which may limit luxury item purchases. Fortunately, salaries are shown to increase by 16.7% within the first decade of working (see second table).

To give you some idea of your long-term expected income with a BSW, the table below compares a generic 4-year degree with a BSW.

While the news is not all bad, making lots of money would be a misguided reason to decide to become a social worker. An altruistic career choice comes with its own advantages that are sought after and appreciated by the professionals who enter these fields, and the people they work with.

Finally, the average net cost of a BSW is $24,000, which takes the average student 3.46 years to payback after graduating.

How to pick a BSW program

People who earn a BSW degree are prepared to enter the workforce as social workers. However, they generally cannot perform clinical work, as this requires a master’s of social work degree (MSW) in most states. Earning a BSW may make you an attractive applicant for MSW programs. Furthermore, credits from this degree may transfer to other fields, particularly those adjacent to social work, such as psychology and sociology.

Accreditation

If you wish to become a social worker, it is critical to attend a degree program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The accreditation process ensures the quality and integrity of social work programs. People who do not attend an accredited degree program may not be eligible to become licensed or practice as a social worker.

Can I study for a BSW online?

Only 5.5% of BSW programs are available as fully online programs. Integral to social work programs is coursework that refines people and communication skills, which are essential components in the main responsibilities of most social work positions. These skills are taught in person – typically incorporating role-playing, recording interviews for feedback, and numerous practice sessions held and monitored in the classroom. Secondly, BSW programs incorporate fieldwork or practicums that require in-person attendance.

The cost of a BSW degree varies by program, school and state. The national median cost at a public institution is $14,279. The same degree at a state private institution comes with a national median cost of $22,787 and at a for-profit institution the median cost is $21,020. These figures cover tuition, accommodation, books, and other essential school-related costs.

What financial aid can BSW students apply for?

As with all degree programs, the first steps in applying for most types of aid involves filling out the FAFSA form on the Federal Student Aid website. Make a time to meet with the student financial aid service at your chosen college to uncover options that are provided by the school, or that you may be unaware of. There are also numerous scholarships available specifically for social work students, including:

• Alma Adams scholarship
• Carl A. Scott memorial fund book scholarship
• Davis Putter scholarship
• Patty Gibbs-Wahlberg scholarship

What to expect from a BSW program?

Most BSW programs require core coursework in social work as well as elective courses in relevant areas of study. In general, foundational courses include:

Social welfare and justice

This course includes information about major theories in the field as well as how they are applied today.

Human behavior

Social workers, particularly clinical social workers, need to understand why people behave the way they do. Coursework in human behavior focuses on the causes and consequences of people’s decisions and how to help people modify their behavior.

Social work research methods

This course teaches students to be critical consumers of research in social work. Social workers must remain familiar with the scientific literature in their area of study.

Community social structures

Typically this course begins by teaching students about the roles people play in communities, followed by a focus on modifying community norms and behaviors to promote social change.

Ethics

Foundational to social work practice, coursework in ethics is required at most accredited BSW programs.

Accredited social work programs require at least 400 hours of supervised field work experience. This allows you to gain real-world skills as a social worker, preparing you to transition to a job outside of school.

What are admission requirements for a BSW?

To apply, students commonly need to submit a high school diploma or GED, recommendation letters, personal essay, and application form. GPA, SAT and ACT scores depend on the admitting school.

» Read: A guide to test-optional and test-blind admissions

How long does it take to get a BSW?

This is typically a 4-year program, obviously extended if you choose to study on a part-time basis.

What career options are available with a BSW?

People with a BSW degree often take entry level social work positions or continue their education to a graduate degree such as an MSW. Jobs performed by people with a BSW degree may be supervised by a graduate-level social worker or include fewer leadership opportunities than other social work positions. Some examples of jobs that can be performed with a BSW include:

Licensure and certification

In most states, bachelor’s level social workers who intend to work directly with clients to provide social work services must be licensed. The exact licensure requirements vary by state, so check with your local laws. To become licensed, you must first earn a BSW degree from an accredited social work program. Then, you must complete 2 years of post-degree work experience. This experience must be the equivalent of 2 full years and must be supervised by a licensed social worker. Finally, you must pass the ASWB bachelor’s exam to be eligible for licensure.

After becoming a licensed bachelor level social worker, you need to take continuing education courses to renew your license every 2 years. The exact type and number of courses may vary by state, so check with your state licensing board.

Continuing education

Many people who get a BSW degree do so because they want to become a social worker. Thus, an obvious next step for continuing your education is to earn an MSW degree. This opens considerably more options in terms of clinical practice, leadership, or advocacy work.

In some cases, people with a BSW want to change careers. The skills gained through a BSW degree are transferable to a variety of other career paths. People with a BSW degree may seek graduate education in psychology, sociology, medicine, law, business, and more.

Conclusion

Social workers are involved in all aspects of public life, from healthcare to social services to policy work. That makes a BSW a strong foundational degree for careers in a variety of health and welfare sectors. The skills and knowledge you gain through a BSW can transfer to many different areas of work, making this a very versatile degree option.

It is important to also recognize the limitations of the degree. For example, many people interested in social work wish to provide clinical services such as psychotherapy. This is only possible by earning a MSW or doctorate degree in social work. The BSW can be a good steppingstone to these graduate degrees, but it does not provide the experience needed to practice clinically.