Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Discover your path to meaningful change with the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Houston Christian University (HCU). This program empowers you as an aspiring social work professional with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to make a positive difference in people’s lives and communities, sharing Christian values and their healing power.
A comprehensive curriculum and immersive internships are gateways to rewarding careers in diverse social work settings. Ready yourself to make a lasting impact and shape your future in the dynamic Houston metropolitan area, taking advantage of our strong ties to community organizations and social work agencies.
Develop your interpersonal skills and critical thinking to become a highly effective social worker, advocate, or community educator and pursue further education and credentials to compound your impact.
BSW Program Overview and Requirements
Rooted in Christian values, our four-year Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) emphasizes compassion and service, preparing for professional roles in this valued field. You’ll dive into general education courses and build a robust foundation in social work theories, principles, and practices in core major classes. Gain a deep understanding of human behavior, social welfare policies, and ethical considerations in social work, all while integrating Christian values into your professional practice in integrated internship semesters and research experience.
Degree Plan
Courses
The BSW program’s core courses consist of foundational and advanced social work concepts and supporting topics like research, psychology, human behavior, and data and statistics.
As a social work student, you’ll complete courses such as:
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment
- Research Methods
- Social Welfare History & Policy
- Social Work Practice with Individuals & Families
- Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations
What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s in Social Work From HCU?
Graduates of the Bachelor of Social Work program pursue career opportunities across social services, advocacy, and community support. You may pursue roles such as child welfare specialist, community outreach coordinator, school or healthcare social worker, policy analyst, or nonprofit program coordinator, strengthened by the tools to promote social justice and equity and impact the well-being of populations close to home or across the globe.
Career and Salary Outcomes
The skills cultivated in our Bachelor of Social Work program pave the way for numerous in-demand career paths. From entry-level positions to advanced roles, the anticipated growth in the field promises abundant opportunities for serving individuals, families, and communities. Fields our Social Work majors are ready to explore include:
- Advocacy
- Child welfare
- Community organizing
- Crisis intervention
- Employee assistance
- Mental health social work
- Social work case management
- Substance abuse social work
The variety of elective course topics allows you to explore health, medicine, psychology, and other angles of serving the human population in preparation for specialized social service careers. Graduates with bachelor’s degrees who work in substance abuse or mental health counseling or health education earn an average annual salary of $53,710 and $62,860, respectively, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Certain job positions such as certified social worker, counselor, or supervisory roles in corporate or community human service settings come with higher salary expectations and increased responsibilities but may require you to complete additional certification coursework or work for a few years in the field to gain experience. The BLS reports that certified social workers earn an average annual salary of $58,380, and social and community service managers report a yearly average salary of $77,030.
Opportunities for Social Worker Program Students
Practice Social Work Through Internships
As a Social Work major, you will have the opportunity to gain practical experience in a work environment related to social work or human services, such as social work agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other related businesses. Gain an immersive perspective and strengthen your post-graduate job applications through two internship semesters with the help of HCU’s Career and Calling and our ties to community professionals.
Pursue Graduate Work in Human Services
Backed by connections with expert faculty and undergraduate research and work experiences, BSW program graduates can progress to the engaging online Master’s in Human Services degree or tailor our unique BA to Master of Arts in Psychology (MAP) accelerated dual degree program to enhance social work skills and knowledge, with a focus on psychology for future careers in human services and social work at all levels of society.
Explore graduate programs and online degree programs.
Expand Your Professional Network
Our experienced faculty members approach their profession by embodying guidance beyond academics alone, answering any questions you have about your path in social work. Their professional background and network range from government agency work to the nonprofit sector.
An extensive network of graduates from the bachelor’s and master’s programs in social work include alums who have created nonprofit organizations serving Christians in social work professions. We consistently engage with alums and other local professionals through events from workshops and trainings to mental health symposiums for Social Work majors.
Related Programs
We carefully curate our undergraduate academic programs with interdisciplinary careers in mind, knowing that any pathway or combination of majors and minors may best serve your needs and goals. Some of our other HCU programs that may intrigue you if you imagine a life of service include:
- Bachelor of Arts in Family Studies: Undergo preparation for careers using analysis and communication to protect and serve family units in various communities.
- Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Behavioral Studies: Build an unbreakable foundation of knowledge in the behaviors and anxieties of today’s population in preparation for diverse professional pathways.
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: Understand individual and social psychology and specialize in professional degree tracks in-person or online.
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology–Marriage and Family Studies: A fully online degree preparing for careers working with and supporting couples and families.
See all HCU major and minor programs.
Admissions and Aid
Gain the toolbox to effect real change and pursue a career and further studies in social work and related fields. Our application process is easy to complete, and you can contact your admissions counselor with any questions.
- How to apply as an undergraduate: Admissions and application information for first-time college students or applicants with transfer credit.
- Review financial aid and costs: Learn about scholarships, grants, and loans and apply for aid sources.
- Take a glance at HCU: Houston Christian University by the facts and figures, and a bit deeper than that, too.
Pursue a BSW Degree at Houston Christian University
Embrace your calling to effect positive change in society with HCU’s Bachelor of Social Work program. Immerse yourself in a rich educational experience designed to equip you with the skills and empathy needed to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
Apply online now to embark on your journey to becoming a dedicated and influential social work professional at HCU.