Social Work, BSW
Are you passionate about helping individuals, families, groups and communities with a variety of challenges? In this nationally accredited program, you develop the skills to make a difference and prepare for a rewarding career.
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 and professional licensure
The BSW program is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education'...
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Social Work, BSW degree description
In the Bachelor of Social Work program, you focus on social policy and services, human behavior in the social environment and social work practice, and you receive research and practicum instruction in community agencies. In addition, you take elective courses in related areas.
If you are interested in completing the BSW program in Tucson, you are encouraged to use MyPath2ASU®. The Tucson option is only available if you are a transfer student.
Format options
This program is also offered via ASU Sync if you have transfer credit or already hold an associate degree. As a ASU Sync student, you attend live classes remotely via Zoom. Classes are designed to foster active collaboration and discussion in real time with faculty and peers.
The program features ASU Sync courses at the upper-division level --- courses numbered from 300 to 499 that are designed primarily for juniors and seniors. It is ideal if you are a transfer student who wishes to complete your BSW with live interactions without coming to campus. Prerequisites and other restrictions should be noted before class registration.
If you have F-1 or J-1 immigration status, you should speak with an advisor about other options to complete this program. Students with F-1 or J-1 immigration status are not permitted to complete courses via Sync.
If you seek to use GI Bill® benefits for ASU Sync programs, you should contact the Pat Tillman Veterans Center regarding certain limitations.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available on the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Why study social work at ASU?
You can join a vibrant student community with organizations such as the Social Work Student Organization, Phi Alpha Honor Society, the American Indian Social Work Student Association and the Macro Social Work Student Network. These groups connect you with peers who share your commitment to making a difference.
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 295 Foundations of Social Work Practice |
| SWU 302 Human Biology for Social Workers |
| SWU 303 Micro Human Behavior and the Social Environment |
| SWU 306 Ethics in Social Services |
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.
- Plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions.
- Apply professional case management intervention skills when working with individuals, families, groups and communities.
- Advocate for advanced human rights, and social and economic justice.
Plan, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions.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)
The ASU Sync option is available only to transfer students or those with an associate degree. Students on F-1 or J-1 immigration status visas are not allowed to complete courses via Sync.
Transfer admission requirements:
The MyPath2ASU pathway allows Arizona transfer students to complete a prescribed sequence of courses that meet the requirements for the community college's AA degree along with the lower-division requirements for the ASU major. Students should visit Admission Services for more information about ASU degrees offered at local community colleges.
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.
When participating in a study abroad program, students examine social work through an international lens as it relates to community-building, service organizations, support for disenfranchised people and human rights advocacy.
Cross-cultural understanding is one of the main learning outcomes of study abroad programs and is also one of the most important skills for those moving into social work careers. Students are able to use the knowledge and skills learned in the program and the distinct intercultural focus gained from study abroad to enhance their career.
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 receive 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addictions Counselor | 18.4% | $59,350 | Learn more |
| Behavioral Health Specialist | 2.3% | $71,900 | Learn more |
| Counselor (General) | 5.9% | $50,860 | Learn more |
| Human Behavior Researcher | 5.0% | $61,990 | Learn more |
| Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) | 13.5% | $66,940 | Learn more |
| Medical Social Worker | 8.5% | $67,880 | Learn more |
| Mental Health Counselor | 18.4% | $59,350 | Learn more |
| Social Services Director | 7.2% | $80,390 | Learn more |
| Social Worker | 4.4% | $59,550 | Learn more |
| Substance Abuse Social Worker | 10.3% | $60,280 | 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 social work degree prepares you for
Graduates are prepared to be generalist social work practitioners who focus on advocacy, referrals, case management and problem-solving functions with individuals, groups, families, organizations and the community.
Employment in social work is expected to increase commensurately with the needs of a growing and diverse population. Social workers are employed in public and private agencies and deal with a wide variety of social issues, including:
- adoption and teen pregnancy
- aging
- child abuse and foster care
- corrections and delinquency
- disability
- discrimination
- domestic violence and family dysfunction
- health and mental health
- homelessness and poverty
- substance abuse
Social work skills such as problem-solving, resource use, counseling, group work and community organization are also useful for employee relations and mediation positions in industry.
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.
