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Undergraduate

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July 1 | March 1 | Oct. 1

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Put Your Values Into Practice with a Bachelor's in Social Work (BSW)

Do you have a passion for helping solve social issues? If so, Troy University's Bachelor of Social Work helps you not only understand those issues but also address them directly. Whether you're drawn to child welfare, healthcare, criminal justice or community advocacy, TROY prepares you for generalist practice across a wide range of settings and populations with a respected social work degree. Our BSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) — the nationally recognized accrediting body for social work programs. CSWE accreditation is required for most social work licensure pathways, meaning your degree in social work from TROY carries professional standing that employers and licensing boards recognize from day one. And, with three distinct application deadlines per year, you can start working toward your career without a long wait.

Social work student studying in the Jones Hall lobby.

A CSWE-Accredited BSW Program

Earn your bachelor's degree in social work from an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the standard-setting body for the profession. This accreditation validates that your BSW program follows rigorous quality, ethical and competence standards, signaling that you've received proper training to become a social worker. CSWE accreditation not only verifies a program's quality but is also mandatory for licensure in most states and a prerequisite for advanced study in a Master of Social Work program. TROY's BSW meets compliance requirements for Alabama and several other states, so wherever your career takes you, your degree is recognized.

Public Disclosure of Social Work Licensure (BSW)

Troy University's Bachelor of Social Work program is designed to meet compliance requirements for BSW professional licensure in Alabama. It also meets the requirements of several other states.

Review State Authorization

Get Real Field Experience with Real Populations Before You Graduate

As a social work major at TROY, you'll visit agencies serving diverse populations, attend political events to observe how social workers engage in the legislative process and interview practicing professionals — all before your formal practicum. You'll also complete a 400-hour supervised field practicum working directly with the communities you most want to serve, whether that's domestic abuse survivors, children in child welfare situations or older adults in residential care. By graduation, you'll have both the academic foundation and direct practice experience employers are looking for.

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Bachelor of Social Work Curriculum

The bachelor's in social work builds your foundation in ethics, policy, human behavior and direct practice across individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. You'll develop skills in communication, interviewing, cultural competency and advocacy. While specific courses may vary from year to year, your coursework may include:

Academic Catalog Degree Map

Bachelor's in Social Work Program Locations

Get the flexibility you need by earning your social work degree online or in person at the Troy Campus. For more information about program availability and delivery options, call 1-800-414-5756

Troy Campus

TROY Online

Hands-On Practicum Opportunities Across Real Communities

In TROY's social work undergraduate program, your practicum places you directly in the field before you graduate. You'll work alongside professionals in agencies serving the populations you most want to impact, applying the practice skills, ethical frameworks and cultural competency you've developed in the classroom to real situations with real people. Past students have engaged with communities across domestic violence services, child welfare, healthcare settings, elder care and criminal justice.

You'll also attend political events to see how social workers engage in advocacy and policy, and you'll have the opportunity to meet and interview professional social workers across a range of specializations. These experiences help you narrow your professional focus and build the professional network you'll need when you begin your career with a bachelor's in social work.

Careers with the TROY Bachelor's in Social Work

TROY's Bachelor of Social Work prepares you for entry-level roles across social services, healthcare, education, government and nonprofit settings. Careers with a bachelor's in social work span a wide range of organizations, from child welfare agencies and hospitals to schools, community centers and advocacy groups. For students interested in clinical practice, TROY's Master of Social Work provides a direct pathway to licensure as a clinical social worker.

Faculty Profiles

Dr. Javier Boyas

Dr. Javier Boyas is Director of the School of Social Work and Human Services at TROY. His research and teaching focus is on eliminating health and mental health disparities among vulnerable populations, with particular emphasis on the Latinx community. He teaches social research methods, human diversity, social welfare policy and racial and ethnic relations.

Learn more about our faculty 334-670-3927 swhs@troy.edu

Bachelor's in Social Work Scholarships

In addition to scholarships available to all TROY students, we offer two scholarships for social work majors to support students looking to enter this vital line of work.

Owen Wayne Lewis Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship awards $500 to first-generation college students pursuing degrees in either Social Work, Human Services, or Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management on the Troy University campus in Troy, AL. Applicants must submit a 250-400 word essay describing their need for financial assistance and the obstacles they had to overcome in order to be the first in their family to attend college. Recipients must have and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Joseph Harrington/Human Services Endowed Scholarship: This scholarship is available to current TROY seniors within one academic year of graduation and is worth up to $1,500. Recipients must be majoring in Human Services, Rehabilitation or Social Work.

Related Programs

Bachelor's in Human Services Bachelor's in Sociology Bachelor's in Psychology Master of Social Work

TROY's MSW: A Path to Clinical Practice

If you're interested in a social work career but have a bachelor's degree in another field, consider TROY's Master of Social Work program. TROY offers an online MSW for non-BSW students that can be completed in two years. If the BSW is your first bachelor's degree, you can seamlessly transition into TROY's master's program and complete your MSW in just one year.

Explore the TROY MSW

FAQ About the TROY Social Work BSW Program

Learn more about the field of social work and our program.

What does a social worker do?

Social workers assess the needs of individuals, families and communities and connect them with the services, resources and support systems that can help. In practice, that might mean advocating for a child in the welfare system, supporting an older adult navigating long-term care, counseling someone in crisis or working within a school, hospital or government agency to address systemic barriers. The field spans direct service, policy advocacy, community organizing and research — which is why a degree in social work prepares you for such a wide range of roles. At TROY, your coursework and supervised field practicum are designed to build the skills social workers use every day: communication, cultural competency, ethical decision-making and practical intervention across diverse populations.

Why be a social worker?

Students pursuing a social work major tend to have a particular quality in common: They notice what others walk past. They see a family navigating a system that wasn't designed for them, a young person without a reliable adult in their corner or a community where the resources don't match the need — and they don't look away. Social work gives that instinct a professional framework, a set of skills and a credential that makes your ability to help structurally effective. It is also a field with documented growing demand — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects growth across social work occupations over the coming decade. If you are drawn to both direct service and systems-level change, a bachelor's in social work provides one of the most versatile foundations available.

How do you become a social worker?

Becoming a social worker typically begins with earning a bachelor's in social work from a CSWE-accredited program. The BSW is the standard entry-level credential for most non-clinical social work positions and prepares you for generalist practice across a wide range of settings. At TROY, you'll complete coursework in ethics, policy, human behavior and direct practice, alongside a supervised field practicum that places you in real agency settings before graduation. After earning your degree, most states require licensure to practice — requirements vary by state, so reviewing your state's specific standards is an important part of planning your career. Students who want to pursue clinical roles, such as becoming a licensed clinical social worker, will need to continue on to a Master of Social Work after completing their bachelor's degree.

What degrees do you need to be a social worker?

A degree in social work at the bachelor's level — specifically a BSW from a CSWE-accredited program — is the standard entry point for most social work positions. A BSW prepares you for generalist, non-clinical practice across a wide range of settings and populations. For clinical roles, such as becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LMSW/LCSW), you will need to complete a Master of Social Work and meet your state's licensure requirements. At TROY, your bachelor's in social work is designed to lead directly into the MSW if you choose to continue.

What can I do with a social work bachelor's degree?

Careers with a bachelor's in social work span a wider range of settings than many students initially expect. Graduates work in child welfare agencies, hospitals, schools, criminal justice settings, nonprofits, community mental health centers and government social services. Common roles include case manager, school social worker, victim advocate, youth services worker and rehabilitation counselor. A social work degree from TROY also prepares you for graduate study, including TROY's one-year MSW pathway for BSW graduates.

How do I get a degree in social work?

Earning a bachelor's degree in social work is the most direct route into the profession. Social work undergraduate students at TROY complete coursework in ethics, policy, human behavior and direct practice, alongside a supervised field practicum in real agency settings. Troy University accepts applications on a rolling basis with three deadlines per year — July 1, March 1 and Oct. 1 — so you can start without waiting for a single annual admissions cycle.

What is a BSW?

A social work BSW — Bachelor of Social Work — is an undergraduate degree that prepares you for generalist practice across a wide range of populations and settings. It is the standard credential for entry-level, non-clinical social work positions and a required prerequisite for most MSW programs. TROY's BSW is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, meeting the quality and content standards required for professional licensure in Alabama and many other states. Students majoring in social work at TROY complete both coursework and a supervised field practicum as part of the degree.

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TROY’s social work program will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to enter a diverse, rewarding career of helping others thrive.

What is Social Work? Looking Beyond the Stereotypes

Across the country, millions of people are currently dealing with profound challenges in their everyday lives: poverty, disease, homelessness, food insecurity, addiction and more. While many rely on family, friends and other community members during difficult times, not everyone has adequate support for navigating the challenges they face. In many of these situations, social workers step in to bridge the gap.

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