Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Next session begins MAR 24. Some program start times may vary.
Call 844.YES.UOPX for full schedule and details.
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Overview
Connect people with solutions
Whether you want to ensure the safety of children, help those suffering from domestic abuse or serve the underserved in your community, a Bachelor of Science in Social Work can help you prepare. You’ll gain real-world experience through our program’s supervised field education component. And you’ll learn through courses that align with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) standards.
In this BS in Social Work, you’ll learn to:
- Strengthen your community by addressing social problems and advocating for social justice
- Understand and influence the policies and systems that affect people
- Gain a well-rounded, versatile social work foundation that can translate to a variety of practice settings
- Develop skills in working with individuals, families, organizations and communities
- Understand social welfare policy and applicable laws
You can complete your bachelor’s degree in Social Work in about four years, and you’ll take one 5-week* class at a time so you can balance work and life on the path to your degree.
* The program’s field component involves two 15-week courses.
Courses
Course length:
5 weeks
Total credits required:
120
Max. number of transfer credits:
90
Requirements and prerequisites
You’ll need 120 credits to complete this program. These may be earned through a combination of required and elective courses. Required courses may vary based on previous experience, training or transferable credits. View general requirements.
There is no in-person residency requirement for the BSSW. To learn more about class requirements and to gain a general program overview, view the BSSW Program Handbook.
Students are required to complete 400 hours of field education experience over two 15-week courses, which can be done in about 13 hours a week. To learn more about field education, preparation and placement, view the BSSW Field Education Handbook.
Transfer credits
Earn your degree faster. Transfer eligible college credits or apply to have relevant experience evaluated for potential college credit. Contact an enrollment representative at 844.YES.UOPX for more information.
Licensure
Licensure requirements vary by state. Students must ascertain and meet the licensure requirements in any state in which they desire to practice.
Our BSSW program meets the educational requirements in Alabama, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Utah and Wisconsin for graduates who want to pursue social work licensure or certification. The program is currently available online to residents of these states.
Core courses
Careers & Outcomes
Job opportunities
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth for community and social service and social workers is projected to be 16 percent between 2016 and 2026. A Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree can help prepare you to be a:
- Caseworker
- Child protective services social worker
- Family protection specialist
- Family service worker
- Foster care social worker
- Youth services specialist
Networking opportunities
Access powerful networking tools through our PhoenixLinkTM career services platform. Take advantage of personal career coaching. Search and apply for jobs, or make your resumé visible to employers. And connect with employers and alumni through career fairs and mixers. It’s all about connections. And we help you make them.
Learning outcomes
Along with the knowledge and skills related to the University Learning Goals, graduates should gain program-specific knowledge, skills and abilities. Each college or school creates a set of Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) to describe the knowledge, skills or attitudes students will possess upon completion of the program of study. By the time you complete your Bachelor of Science in Social Work, you should be able to perform these learning outcomes.
Program purpose statement
The Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) is an undergraduate degree program that provides a foundation in social work theory and teaches the application of professional social work values, principles, standards and techniques to educationally prepare graduates to pursue state licensure or certification as a bachelor’s-level social worker in select states. Licensure requirements vary by state, and students must ascertain and meet the licensure requirements in any state in which they desire to practice. There may be additional qualifications and/or disqualifications applicable in order to become a social worker. See the licensure requirements and contact information for your state.
Accreditation
The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Accreditation is your assurance the University meets quality standards.
Institutional accreditation
Regional accreditation is an institution-level accreditation status granted by one of six U.S. regional accrediting bodies. Accreditation by more than one regional accrediting body is not permitted by the U.S. Department of Education.
University of Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org. Since 1978, University of Phoenix has been continually accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and its predecessor.
Programmatic accreditation candidacy
The Bachelor of Science in Social Work achieved candidacy status for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE’s) Commission on Accreditation in 2017. Candidacy is a multiyear process, and attaining candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain initial accreditation.
Download program info
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What sets us apart?
When you choose our Bachelor of Science in Social Work, you can:
There is no in-person residency requirement with this degree. We work with you to find field placement in your community. And most courses are just 5 weeks long, so you can balance school and life.
This program aligns with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) standards. You can have confidence your education reflects academic excellence and translates to in-demand skills.
Our instructors are experienced practitioners in social work. You’ll learn real-world industry ethics and principles hands-on from those who apply them on the job.
Take the next step
It’s time to let your education prepare you for the next phase of your career. You’ve got the will. And, by taking one course at a time toward a Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree, you’ve got the way.
Or call 844.YES.UOPX for more details.
While widely available, not all programs are available in all locations or in both online and on-campus formats. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.
