Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

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

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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

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.

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.