BSW Degree: Your Guide to the Bachelor of Social Work

Pursuing a career in social work often requires a graduate education, but earning your Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree is an important first step. Social work “promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people,” according to the International Federation of Social Workers [1]. This often means working with various groups to identify problems and develop strategies to manage or solve them.

A BSW is often a requirement for entry-level administrative roles. And, if you’re interested in more advanced roles, it can lay the foundation for earning your Master of Social Work (MSW) degree—a requirement for clinical social worker roles.   

This article will cover the BSW degree, including how long it takes to earn, the courses you’ll most likely take, and the paths you can follow after graduation.  

What is the BSW?

A BSW degree is an undergraduate degree that tends to take a generalist approach to social work so that you can gain a broad understanding of the profession and pursue any number of different paths after graduation.   

Some college majors require that you declare your intent to study them, but social work falls under the type of major that typically requires an additional application to a special program, department, or school within your institution.

Length of time + cost

As with other bachelor’s degrees, a Bachelor of Social Work takes around four or five years of full-time study to complete. In addition to the general education requirements you’ll fulfill as part of your degree, you can expect to complete at least half of the 120 minimum credits it takes to graduate in your social work major.  

A bachelor’s degree costs an average annual total of $20,598 for a public four-year institution and $44,662 for a private four-year institution, according to the National Center for Education Statistics [2].

Types of coursework

You’ll be expected to complete several required major courses to graduate with a BSW. Your social work coursework may include topics like:

• Human behavior

• Diversity or multicultural social work

• Social work policy 

• Social work research methods

• Child welfare

• Communications 

Field internship

According to the Council on Social Work Education, you’ll also need to complete a field internship before graduating, fulfilling at least 400 hours [3]. Your internship will likely occur during your program's final year or last semester and can take many forms, such as working with an agency or organization. The purpose is to help you develop practical experience to augment what you’ve learned in your courses.

Learn more: Your Guide to Social Work Degrees

What can you do with a BSW?

With a BSW degree, you can enter the workforce or continue to graduate school. Let’s look more closely at each of those paths.

Entry-level roles

After earning your BSW, you can pursue entry-level administrative roles in the social work field. You can also apply for many entry-level social services jobs, including: 

• Case worker 

• Child and family advocate 

• Community outreach worker  

• Human services specialist 

• Probation officer 

• Social services aide 

• Youth worker

Many social services jobs in the United States are government jobs. Depending on your state, you can find job listings through a central government hub like USAJobs or through various counties’ websites.

Master of Social Work (MSW)

If you’re interested in more advanced roles, you may want to explore a Master of Social Work (MSW). With a BSW, you may qualify for accelerated dual degree programs, which reduce the amount of coursework you need to complete your bachelor's and master's.

With your master's degree, you can become a licensed clinical social worker, therapist, or other state-certified social work professional. Here are some common roles that MSW graduates go on to do:

• Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)

• Behavior analyst 

• Child welfare worker 

• Medical social worker

• Addiction counselor

Do you need a BSW to earn an MSW?

No. If you’re interested in achieving a graduate-level degree in social work, many related majors will help provide a useful foundation, including:

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology 

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology 

• Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Services

Many combination programs, such as BA/MSW or BSW/MSW, are designed to significantly reduce your time earning both degrees. When you enroll in a combined degree program in social work, oftentimes, you may only need to spend one additional year—instead of two or three—earning your master’s.

Learn more: What Is the Difference Between a BA and a BS Degree?

What are the benefits of a BSW?

As an important credential to begin a career in social work, a Bachelor of Social Work has several benefits.

Salary + job growth

As a profession, social workers in the United States earn a median salary of $50,390 per year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [4]. That’s higher than the average median salary for all occupations. And social work as a profession is set to grow by 12 percent over the next ten years, which is faster than average.

Meaning and impact

At its core, social work is about helping others. The National Association of Social Workers states, “The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet basic and complex needs of all people, with a particular focus on those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty” [5]. Many people enter the profession because of the potential impact they can have and the meaning that may create within their careers.

Which BSW program is right for me?

The best BSW degree program is the one that helps you achieve your goals, be they personal, professional, or educational. As you research potential programs, here are four additional factors to consider:

Your goals

Your long-term education or career goals can help determine which BSW degree program is best for you. If you’d like to pursue an MSW, it may help to find a BSW/MSW (or BA/MSW) program, where you can earn your Master of Social Work in an additional year. However, if you are more interested in working after graduation, a standard BSW degree program may be the best choice.

Accreditation

Accreditation, or the verification that a social work program meets certain quality standards, is important when selecting the best BSW degree program for you. Only the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in the United States can provide accreditation for social work programs [6]. As you research potential programs, make sure to verify their accreditation status—or you can check the CSWE Directory for a list of accredited bachelor’s programs.

Field internship

The types of internships you’ll find may depend on location and even the connections a program has established with external professional organizations. As you look at various BSW degree programs, take time to find out where many students intern—or reach out to an admissions counselor for more information. Given the professional experience you’ll gain from an internship, it’s important to make sure it aligns with your larger goals.

Online vs. in-person

How you want to study—and the flexibility you’ll need to do so—is another important consideration when determining the best BSW degree program for you. There are several online BSW degree options you can explore. If you’d like to work while attending school or prefer learning from home (or anywhere with an internet connection) rather than attending in-person classes, then an online BSW program may be worth exploring.

Next steps

Opportunities exist to earn a social work degree online at every level, from associate to PhD. Online and in-person learning environments each come with their own set of challenges and benefits.