Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree – Non-Licensure
The Bachelor of Social Work program at Grand Canyon University (GCU) offers a diverse set of courses aimed to increase the understanding of human behavior. Created by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, this online social work degree program prepares you to assist in improving the well-being of individuals, families and communities while working with diverse groups of people in a variety of settings. By the end of this online Bachelor of Social Work degree program, you will be prepared to work in entry-level social work practice or begin graduate school.
Earn Your Bachelor of Social Work Degree from GCU
With online programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level, GCU’s mission is to provide a quality education while giving students the flexibility you need to get ahead in today’s complex world. As an online student at GCU, you have access to the same perks and resources as on-campus students, including expert faculty members, generous scholarship opportunities, a state-of-the-art learning management system, online library and more.
What You’ll Learn in GCU’s Bachelor of Social Work Degree
In GCU’s Bachelor of Social Work degree, you will explore how the response of individuals to differing variables plays a major role in a social worker’s approach to practice. Classes equip you through developing skills in cultural competency and advocacy while allowing you to gain a deeper self-awareness.
These overall skill sets prepare you 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 a significant impact on families and individuals.
To complete this online social work degree program, you must take a minimum of 120 credits and pass courses including:
- Human Biology and Social Work Practice
- Introduction to Social Welfare
- Methods of Research in Social Work
- Social Service Delivery Systems
- Social Work Ethics and Decision Making
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This social work degree program concludes with a capstone course, in which you will integrate and apply previous learning through the creation of a project to reflect your knowledge and skills. As a student in GCU’s on-campus or online BSW degree, you will take insight from your academic and field experiences to construct a final project and presentation highlighting your knowledge of assessment, application of theory, practice skills, ethics and cultural sensitivity.
Career Outlook for Social Work Degree Graduates
Graduates of GCU’s Bachelor of Social Work degree are prepared to become entry-level social workers or further their education and obtain their 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
Additionally, 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 90,700 new jobs are expected to open for social workers from 2019 to 2029.1
Bachelor of Social Work Degree Program FAQs
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 to 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 social work. However, earning your social work degree will challenge you in ways that prepare you to be an effective, fulfilled social work professional. If you hope to become a social worker who has maximum impact on the diverse lives of those you serve, earning a degree in social work can help you reach your career goals.
To be a social worker, you need to hold a degree in social work from an accredited college or university program. 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.
Earning a social work degree at any level provides 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 allow you to apply your knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. These settings can include mental health clinics, child and family service agencies and policy organizations.2
With a Bachelor of Social Work, you will be prepared for entry level positions 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 qualify for a program management or leadership position in social work, you will need to earn a Master of Social Work.
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is based on 2019, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Workers.
2 Retrieved from National Association of Social Workers, Types of Social Work Degrees in July 2022.
Core Courses
Course Description
This course provides the foundation for students to explain the profession of social work within the social context of the United States. The course explores how society influenced the development of social work as a profession in the United States. Students examine cultural values, social work values, history of social work, and selected theoretical models of social work to demonstrate how these factors influenced the adoption of the general practice framework. In a broad overview, students examine the process to help individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities evaluate and solve problems in using the micro, mezzo and macro system levels to assess the problem and make recommendations for interventions.
Course Description
This course provides an overview of the purpose, structure, and professional roles of human service agencies including federal, state, and social service delivery systems. Students explore the delivery of services with special populations. This course includes integration of 25 hours of service-learning experience with course material. Prerequisite: SWK-170.
Course Description
This course provides the theoretical and practical foundation for conducting social work with cultural competency. Focus areas include understanding yourself and others from a variety of diverse backgrounds, the importance of ethics and professional behavior, development of effective communication techniques, and beginning case management and helping skills for working with individuals, families, groups, and larger systems. Prerequisite: SWK-280.
Course Description
This course provides foundational knowledge of how diversity, advocacy, and social justice exist within social work practice. It offers an examination and application of frameworks to guide and advance social and economic justice and human rights. Students learn skill development related to cultural competency and advocacy for individuals and groups while gaining a deeper self-awareness. Students also learn about the impact of oppression and privilege. Prerequisites: SWK-280 and SWK-285.
Course Description
This course provides the foundation for students to learn and examine the impact of human biology on social work practice. The course explores how the human body’s response to differing variables plays a major role in a social worker’s approach and ideology to practice. Students examine mental health, varying human biological determinants, faith, and environmental factors that influence both the individual and the practitioner. Understanding how these biological factors influence mental and physical health is vital to a social worker’s role in assisting others as they navigate from birth to adulthood and inevitably work through the end of life stages. Students in this course examine the impact of biology to assist individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities evaluate how to minimize negative biological outcomes while focusing on the strengths of biology and beliefs to overcome obstacles. This course looks at the impact of human biology from a micro, mezzo, and macro system level providing an overview of the impact a person’s biological response can have in recovering from a life event. Prerequisites: SWK-280 and SWK-285.
Course Description
This writing intensive course explores the history, evolution, and application of values and ethics in social work, reviewing theoretical approaches and decision-making models. Students explore components of professional values, personal values, and self-awareness in their application and demonstration of ethical professional behavior as it relates to the NASW Code of Ethics. Students examine the legal or jurisdictional requirements of licensing boards and the intersectionality with professional ethical behavior. Students develop a method for decision making for ethical dilemmas that occur in social work practice at all levels of practice, including micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Prerequisites: SWK-280 and SWK-285.
Course Description
This writing-intensive course examines the history of social work as it relates to public policy in social welfare, social health, and civil rights. Roles of social work professionals in policy analysis and evaluation are also examined as well as the interaction between social policy and social work services. Prerequisites: SWK-290 and SWK-330 and SWK-350.
Course Description
This course examines human behavior in the social environment by critically analyzing biopsychosocial development from conception through late adulthood using an integrative, multidimensional perspective while examining multiple theories of human behavior. This includes a focus on individuals and families. The course emphasizes a social work perspective and key frameworks for social work, with an emphasis on person in environment and systems theory as they describe diverse human behavior in relation to social class, race and ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, and other multicultural backgrounds. Prerequisites: SWK-290 and SWK-330 and SWK-350.
Course Description
This course introduces students to scientific inquiry and the research process used to evaluate and inform the social work profession. Methods of both quantitative and qualitative data methods and analysis are explored. Prerequisites: SWK-290 and SWK-330 and SWK-350.
Course Description
This course provides an introductory knowledge of trauma-informed care from foundational principles and historical context to practice implementation. The context of trauma is discussed including types of trauma and adverse outcomes related to various systems. It offers an overview of screening, assessing, and treating traumatic stress. Information is provided on the risk of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue for providers. Prerequisites: SWK-355 and SWK-360 and SWK-430.
Course Description
This course examines human behavior in the social environment at the macro level with a focus on groups, communities, and organizations and their effect on human behavior. The course emphasizes a social work perspective and key frameworks for social work, with an emphasis on person in environment, systems theory, and social justice as they describe diverse human behavior in relation to social class, race and ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, and other multicultural backgrounds. Prerequisites: SWK-355 and SWK-360 and SWK-430.
Course Description
This course explores the complexities of leadership and management in the profession of social work, reviewing theoretical approaches and practices. Students examine various components of leadership including leadership styles, self-awareness, motivational methods, financial management, accountability in management, and vulnerability. Students learn to consider the power differential, courage, exploration of the self, life experience, and the impact of these components on the supervisory relationship. Prerequisites: SWK-355 and SWK-360 and SWK-430.
Course Description
This course introduces students to the fundamental skills of social work direct practice for individuals and family systems within the general practice framework. Students demonstrate a mastery of the social work “helping process.” Students learn, practice, and reflect on their interaction skills within the intake, assessment, treatment, evaluation, and termination process with individuals and families. The course reinforces a variety of organizing theories, builds a variety of social work practice theories, and it broadens the concept of cultural humility and reflective attentiveness. Prerequisites: SWK-370 and SWK-420 and SWK-450. Co-Requisite: SWK-470.
Course Description
This course introduces students to entry-level case management skills. Students identify the various roles and functions of a case manager. A primary focus of this course is the case management process, including how to track and manage a client case load. Through case study analysis, students determine appropriate client assessment techniques and problem-solving strategies. Students explore case manager roles and case management styles in a variety of client populations and nonprofit human service agencies. Students learn to differentiate roles, functions, and styles based on their assessment of the client’s needs and a clear understanding of the agency’s mission, policies, and programs. Prerequisites: SWK-370 and SWK-420 and SWK-450.
Course Description
This course exposes students to the foundations of social work practice in approved community agencies with professional supervision. The course consists of both classroom course work and field experience hours. The course provides experiential integration and application of concepts, cognitive and affective processes, and professional social work skills. Practicum/field experience hours: 200. Prerequisites: SWK-370 and SWK-420 and SWK-450. Co-Requisite: SWK-455.
Course Description
This course introduces students to the fundamental skills of social work direct practice for groups, communities, and organizations within the general practice framework. Students demonstrate a mastery of the social work “helping process.” Students learn, practice, and reflect on their interaction skills within the intake, assessment, treatment, evaluation, and termination processes with groups and organizations. The course reinforces a variety of organizing, builds a variety of social work practice theories, and broadens the concept of cultural humility and reflective attentiveness. Prerequisites: SWK-455 and SWK-465 and SWK-470.
Course Description
This course provides a continuation of foundations of social work practice in approved community agencies with professional supervision. Experiential integration and application of concepts, cognitive and affective processes, and professional social work skills from concurrent social work courses are practiced. Practicum/field experience hours: 200. Prerequisites: SWK-455 and SWK-465 and SWK-470.
Course Description
This capstone course in the Bachelor of Social Work program allows students the opportunity to integrate and apply previous learning through the creation of a project to reflect their knowledge and skills. The student will take insight from their academic and field experiences to create a final project and poster presentation highlighting their knowledge of assessment, application of theory, practice skills, ethics, and cultural sensitivity. Prerequisites: SWK-455 and SWK-465 and SWK-470.
Join Grand Canyon University’s vibrant and growing campus community, with daytime classes designed for traditional students. Immerse yourself in a full undergraduate experience, complete with curriculum designed within the context of our Christian worldview.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.