Community Advocacy and Social Policy, BA
Explore the root causes of complex social issues and learn to advocate for meaningful change through this program. You examine social justice, diversity, oppression and privilege while developing practical skills in advocacy, research, critical thinking and policy evaluation.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Community Advocacy and Social Policy degree description
In the Bachelor of Arts program in community advocacy and social policy, you focus on advocacy strategies through an in-depth exploration, analysis and comparison of social service systems and policies from an empowerment perspective.
The program emphasizes examining the needs of historically underserved individuals, families and communities. Policy analysis and social change are critical themes in developing an advocacy knowledge base, as are the equally important themes of prevention and social well-being. You complete courses in two core areas: diversity and oppressed populations, and social issues and interventions.
While the BA program in community advocacy and social policy is fully accredited regionally under the Higher Learning Commission, it isn't accredited through the Council of Social Work Education because it doesn't lead to a Bachelor of Social Work degree. If you're ultimately interested in pursuing a master's degree in social work, you can build a strong foundation within this program.
Why study community advocacy and social policy at ASU?
This degree centers specifically on advocacy strategies, policy analysis and social change rather than general social science theory.
The degree is available online and at the Downtown Phoenix and West Valley campuses, so you can choose the format that fits your schedule.
Additional details
The School of Social Work supports multiple student organizations where you can connect with peers who share your interests. Options include the American Indian Social Work Student Association, Compassion for Her, Latina@s Unid@s, Macro Social Work Student Network, Phi Alpha Honor Society, Social Work Advancement Team, Social Work Student Organization, and Tucson Student Council.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| SWU 171 Introduction to Social Work |
| SWU 291 Social Service Delivery Systems |
| SWU 302 Human Biology for Social Workers |
| SWU 303 Micro Human Behavior and the Social Environment |
| SWU 306 Ethics in Social Services |
| SWU 320 Research Methods in Social Work |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Apply professional theories to working with diverse, oppressed and marginalized populations in both micro and macro practice.
- Apply social justice techniques to advance human rights, and social and economic justice.
- Identify and apply advocacy concepts and methods that support and advance social, economic and environmental justice.
Apply professional theories to working with diverse, oppressed and marginalized populations in both micro and macro practice.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required to change majors to this program.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Global Education programs give students the chance to witness how policy, advocacy and social service systems function internationally, providing an opportunity for them to develop a valuable skill set that can give them an advantage in their career, as well as personal enrichment. Enhancing global awareness, communication competency and leadership skills through study abroad can better prepare a student for a career in social services.
Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, participation in one of the more than 300 Global Education programs encourages students to build communication skills that span intercultural boundaries, challenges them to adapt and persevere, exposes them to differences across the world that they can't experience from textbooks, and increases their ability to work with diverse groups of people.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advocate | 7.4% | $45,930 | Learn more |
| Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) | 5.6% | $64,070 | Learn more |
| Community Health Worker | 12.7% | $51,850 | Learn more |
| Community Specialist | 5.5% | $56,730 | Learn more |
| Counselor (General) | 5.9% | $50,860 | Learn more |
| Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) | 13.5% | $66,940 | Learn more |
| Social Services Director | 7.2% | $80,390 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this community advocacy and social policy degree prepares you for
Graduates are prepared for employment in the social services arena, such as performing basic case management tasks, staffing hotlines and warmlines, making referrals to needed services, recruiting volunteers, and developing and providing training.
In addition, advocate positions are part of many organizations and areas, such as hospitals and the behavioral health system.
This degree program also prepares students to pursue graduate education.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Social Work
|
UCENT 800
social.work@asu.edu
602-496-0800
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
