The 5 Best Online Bachelor's of Social Work Degree Programs
An online Social Work degree provides you the opportunity to obtain an entry-level position in social work, with positions such as a mental health assistant, group home worker, residential counselor, program coordinator, etc. Organizations employing bachelor’s level practitioners include the Department of Social Services, county health agencies, home health agencies, group homes, nursing homes and more.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 16% increase in social worker employment between 2016 and 2026. This is much faster than the 7% projected growth rate for all occupations. Analysts expect the field to gain nearly 110,000 new positions during this period.
Some social workers perform entry-level administrative duties, while others interact regularly with clients. Both positions typically require a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor of social work (BSW) can also be a stepping stone to earning a master’s degree, which most clinical social work positions require.
In addition to traditional on-campus programs, many colleges and universities offer online social work degrees.
Most students spend approximately four years earning a social work degree online. Although program length varies, most require approximately 120 credits.
Coursework for an online social work degree typically addresses issues such as human behavior, child welfare, and community organization. Students may also study social work policy and statistics. Some online social work programs encourage BSW students to select a concentration, such as criminal justice, healthcare, or addiction.
Students pursuing a social worker degree online usually complete a supervised practicum in lieu of a final capstone or research project. Practicums allow learners to apply new knowledge and skills to real-life social work settings. Practicum lengths vary by school, but most students spend between 400 and 600 hours in the field.
For career information, skip down:
What Will I Learn in an Online Bachelor’s in Social Work Program?
Online Bachelor’s in Social Work Careers
Accreditation for Online Bachelor’s in Social Work Degrees
Professional Organizations for Social Work
Bachelor in Social Work degree
Bachelor in Social Work (BSW) degree programs prepare graduates for entry-level social work practice or to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work. The programs typically provide preparation for the generalist social worker.
Online Social Work programs often feature a strong liberal arts foundation as well as practical social work experience. While completing the program, students hone their critical-thinking and analytical skills — and learn to use those skills to improve people’s quality of life and well-being.
Online schools for Social Work typically include coursework in social welfare policy, human behavior, research methods, diversity, social policy, ethics and treatment/interventions. Also, students usually have opportunities to take seminars in areas of interest.
Students can earn their degree in Social Work mostly or entirely online — although some programs do include face-to-face sessions. Undergraduate Social Work programs also include at least 400 hours of field experience (typically in a social service agency), which helps students develop practical skills and apply theory and knowledge in real-life practical settings.
Some programs allow students to tailor the degree program with minors in sociology or chemical dependency — or earn certificates in alcohol and drug counseling, or school social work.
Accredited Social Work Degree Programs
The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) provides accreditation to programs which meet a set of rigorous standards, designed by social work practitioners and educators to ensure programs adequately prepare students for professional practice. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation recognizes the CSWE as the only accrediting agency for social work education in the United States.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and social work licensing laws in most states require graduates to earn their degrees from CSWE-accredited programs.
Important note: Students who hold a Social Work degree online from a CSWE accredited program may receive advanced standing in a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program. Advanced standing can reduce graduate requirements to one year. The typical Master in Social Work degree program consists of the equivalent of two years of full-time study. BSW degree program graduates do not have to attend the same school to obtain advanced standing status in a MSW degree program.
Social Worker License
Many states license baccalaureate social workers. If a state does not have a license for baccalaureate social workers, it doesn’t necessarily mean the state prohibits practice.
Every state has adopted Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) licensing examinations. The four levels are bachelor, master, clinical and advanced generalist. Some states use all four exams, whereas some states require only one exam. Look for social work license requirements by state.
The National Association of Social Workers’ ACSW certification is not the same as licensing, rather it typically indicates accomplishment. However, some states have indicated they accept the credential as evidence a candidate has met their own supervised practice requirements.
The National Association of Social Workers provides specialty certifications at the bachelor’s level.
Online Bachelor’s in Social Work Degree Program Ranking Guidelines
We selected the degree programs based on the quality of program and range of courses provided, as well as school awards, rankings, and reputation.
What Are the Best Online Bachelor’s in Social Work Programs?
1. Troy University
A comprehensive public institution in southern Alabama, Troy University boasts a popular virtual campus. The school hosts dozens of programs online, from the undergraduate to the doctoral levels, including an online degree in social work. Built using standards set by the industry-leading Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Troy’s undergraduate program in social services lays the groundwork for a career in the profession or for graduate study.
Troy’s online bachelor’s in social workrequires students to earn a total of 120 credits. Degree candidates must complete the school’s general education program in addition to earning 27 credits in the social work core and 25 more in the social work professional program. Troy recommends that undergraduates declare their major as early as possible to give them time to earn the required credits for admission into the social work program. Individuals must maintain a GPA of 2.25 or higher on their first 30 credits to enter the program. Faculty deliver most coursework asynchronously.
Distance learners progress through advanced topics in their junior and senior years, preparing them for generalist social work practice. Courses include a seminar and a practicum, which requires students to spend 400 hours working at a social work agency, gaining valuable professional experience.
Admission to Troy requires a high school diploma or GED certificate. The university accepts transfer credits earned with a 2.0 GPA or better from an accredited college or university. All online students pay the same flat-rate tuition.
Accreditation
Troy University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The online social work program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
2. University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
The flagship public institution of higher learning in the state, the University of North Dakota offers an online social work degree in the form of a bachelor of science in social work. This degree track prepares students for initial licensure in the field. UND designed this program for distance learners with associate degrees or some college credit; however, students without previous college experience can still earn most their credits online. The program requires students to visit campus once during their studies; this visit is usually carried out in their first semester.
UND’s 39-credit social work program readies students for careers at social work agencies, hospitals, mental health centers, and community health centers. The curriculum revolves around live weekly web classes, typically held on Tuesday or Thursday evenings. It includes coursework in human behavior and the social environment, social policy, and research methods. All degree candidates must complete a 450-hour practicum in the field in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, eastern Montana, or southern Manitoba.
Admission to the program requires an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75 and compliance with the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics. Students should also hold at least 45 credits before they apply. All distance learners pay in-state tuition.
Accreditation
The University of North Dakota is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The online social work program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
3. Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, Indiana
Indiana Wesleyan University is a private, evangelical Christian school based in the city of Marion. The university integrates its Christian convictions into its online degree in social work. This program takes a generalist approach, readying graduates for licensure in any state or to pursue an advanced degree in a master’s programs.
Students enrolled in this online bachelor’s in social work program enter a supportive cohort and progress through the curriculum with their peers. Learners take courses one at a time in succession. Classes cover topics such as psychology, sociology, social welfare organizations, social policy, statistics, and human behavior and the social environment.
Distance learners must earn 120 total credits, including 30 in general education. Participants need to maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher throughout the length of the program and earn at least a 2.75 in all in-major classes. Additionally, accumulate 400 hours of supervised field experience before earning their diploma.
Admission into the program requires a high school diploma or GED certificate. Indiana Wesleyan requires applicants to complete at least 45 transferable credits before beginning the bachelor’s core. Students may earn up to 40 credits using the school’s prior learning assessment tool. All online learners pay the same flat-rate tuition.
Accreditation
Indiana Wesleyan University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The social work program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
4. Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Set on a hill overlooking the port of Natchitoches, Northwestern State University of Louisiana hosts an online social work degree as part of its eNSU Global Campus. A mid-sized public university, NSU designed its social work program as a generalist degree, preparing graduates for direct entry into a variety of social work positions.
The 120-credit curriculum typically takes full-time distance learners four years to complete. Degree candidates must fulfill all of the university’s general requirements, which is typically done during the first two years of the program. The curriculum covers all aspects of social work, investigating policy, individual and group dynamics, cultural diversity, social research, interview techniques, and even economics of the field. Students may complete a mandatory practicum in one semester or across a whole year. Most classes run asynchronously. The university schedules courses in accelerated, eight-week sessions in the fall and spring and in four- and eight-week terms in the summer.
Students at NSU can earn credit for work and life experiences using the school’s prior learning assessment tool. The university boasts a generous transfer policy, but all degree candidates must earn at least 25% of their required credits through NSU. All online students pay a flat-rate tuition.
Accreditation
Northwestern State University of Louisiana is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The online BSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
5. Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona
Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a large public institution with an active digital campus — NAU Online. The school offers 80 programs to distance learners, including an online degree in social work. This program grounds students in the basics of social services and allows them to customize their degree with cognate areas in ethnicity, gender, human biology, social and economic justice, and the human populations of the Southwest. The degree also emphasizes working with rural indigenous peoples of the region.
NAU’s curriculum requires students to complete 120 credits and includes courses in liberal studies, diversity, writing, and a capstone project. The social work major consists of 75 credits, 30 of which must be upper-division classwork. Half of the program’s curriculum consists of professional courses. Because of the advanced nature of these classes, graduates leave with a significant number of master’s-level credits.
Students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher while progressing through the program. Most classes run asynchronously, and NAU allows degree candidates to apply as many as 64 transfer credits toward online social work programs. Distance learners pay a flat-rate tuition.
Accreditation
Northern Arizona University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The online BSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
source : https://thebestschools.org/rankings/best-online-bachelors-social-work/