Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree
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If you are interested in pursuing a BSW degree, we invite you to learn more by reading through our answers to these commonly asked questions.
A social work degree is useful for those who want to make it their life’s work to help people overcome difficult challenges in their life, such as poverty, addiction, unemployment, disability, abuse and mental illness. A social work degree focuses on training and cooperating with people of various backgrounds that can help them change their environments and improve their quality of life. Armed with this training, social workers guide their clients through creating positive changes and habits in their lives through the development of new and improved skills.
Social work degree programs are designed to be demanding to help prepare you for the mental and emotional rigors of a career in this field. If you hope to become a social worker who has an impact on the diverse lives of those you serve, earning a degree in social work can help you position yourself to potentially reach your career goals.
To be a social worker, you typically need to hold a degree in social work from an accredited college or university program.2 The undergraduate degree is the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). Graduate degrees include the Master of Social Work (MSW) and a Doctorate (DSW) or PhD in Social Work. A BSW degree may qualify you for some non-licensed social work positions. An MSW is required to become a licensed clinical social worker or for those looking to hold management or leadership positions. A DSW is designed for those looking to conduct research or teach at the university level.3
With a Bachelor of Social Work, you have the opportunity to position yourself for entry-level jobs in areas such as child and family services, mental health, substance abuse, healthcare and correctional treatment. To become a licensed clinical social worker, or to position yourself for a potential program management or leadership position in social work, you will need to earn a Master of Social Work.2
Earning a social work degree at any level can provide a unique education due to the social work profession having its own body of knowledge, values and code of ethics. One unique feature of a social work degree is field placement. In addition to classroom or online study, you will have in-person field experiences that will teach you how to apply your knowledge and skills in a practical setting. These settings can include mental health clinics, child and family service agencies and policy organizations.3
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Workers, retrieved on Sept. 26, 2023.
2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). How To Become a Social Worker. Retrieved on Sept. 26, 2023.
3 National Association of Social Workers. (n.d.). Types of Social Work Degrees. Retrieved July 2022.
Social workers can expect faster than average job growth in their field over the next decade. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 53,800 new jobs are expected to open for social workers from 2022 to 2032.1
This program can prepare graduates to become a social worker. You may also choose to further your education and obtain your Master of Social Work.
Graduates may go on to work in:
Hospitals
Outpatient facilities
Integrated healthcare facilities
Private practices
Residential facilities
Schools
Child welfare agencies
Community service agencies
Policy or program development
This BSW program adheres to the social work standards and competencies established by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). GCU’s Bachelor of Social Work program is fully accredited by the CSWE. The BSW program was fully accredited in February 2024 and will be up for reaccreditation in February 2032. This accreditation status allows for all BSW students who successfully complete their BSW at GCU to apply for licensure at the BSW level and to apply to an MSW graduate program with Advanced Standing.
As a student in this program, you will take insight from your academic and field experiences to construct a final project and presentation highlighting your knowledge.
The Bachelor of Social Work program culminates in a capstone project that integrates previous learning and provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, including:
Assessment
Application of theory
Practice skills
Ethics
Cultural sensitivity
If your dream is to make a difference in people’s lives, consider a career in social work. Learn more about the on-campus and online Bachelor of Social Work degree program at GCU by completing the form on this page.
This bachelor’s program is offered online and on campus so you can choose the best learning environment for you and your schedule. Whether you select the campus or online BSW program, you will complete in-person, supervised field experiences in a professional setting.
With online programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level, GCU’s mission is to provide a quality education while giving you the flexibility you need to get ahead in today’s complex world. As an online BSW student at GCU, you have access to our digital learning platform, knowledgeable faculty members, networking opportunities with peers in the program, the online library and more.
The Bachelor of Social Work at GCU is also available as an on-campus degree for those who prefer a more traditional college experience. You will attend classes at GCU’s Phoenix campus and have access to campus events, academic and career services, learning resources, spiritual life and much more.
In GCU’s Bachelor of Social Work, you can explore how the response of individuals to differing variables plays a major role in a social worker’s approach to practice. As you go through the program, you will have the opportunity to develop skills in cultural competency and advocacy while allowing you the chance to gain a deeper self-awareness through the lens of a Christian worldview.
In the BSW degree online and on-campus courses, you will be taught how to examine human behavior in the social environment by critically analyzing biopsychosocial development from conception through late adulthood using an integrative, multidimensional perspective. Classes offer opportunities to learn, practice and reflect on skills throughout the entire intake, assessment, treatment, evaluation and termination process. The coursework is designed to help graduates make an impact on families and individuals.
This undergraduate social work degree program will teach you the following core competencies in the social work field:
Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Bachelor's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
*Math and reading only on a 1600 point scale (test date after 3/1/2016). SAT score of 1380 required for 2400 point scale (test date before 3/1/2016).
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Grand Canyon University teaches you the skills to help improve the well-being of individuals, families and communities while working with diverse groups of people in a variety of settings. Created by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the diverse set of courses are designed to increase the understanding of human behavior.
