Empower Others and Change Lives for the Better With a BSW from TROY
Turn your passion for helping others into a rewarding career where you can empower,
advocate and create positive change. With a bachelor’s degree in social work from
Troy University, you’ll have the knowledge, experience and skills you need for diverse
social work careers helping others thrive. Whether you want to work with individuals,
families, communities or systems, TROY helps you develop the skills you need to help
protect vulnerable populations and improve social circumstances.
A CSWE-Accredited BSW Program
TROY’s bachelor’s in social work program is accredited by the highly respected Council
on Social Work Education (CSWE). The CSWE ensures that social work programs meet rigorous
quality standards and effectively prepare students for real-world practice. A CSWE-accredited
bachelor’s degree in social work is also required for most social work careers and
licensure. You’ll benefit from the quality assurance, professional recognition and
career opportunities that come with your CSWE-accredited BSW from TROY.
Develop Practical Skills for Making a Positive Impact
At TROY, you’ll gain theoretical and practical preparation for social work careers.
In addition to rigorous study in ethics, policy and human behavior, you’ll also take
courses focused on practice, including social work with groups, individuals, families,
organizations and communities. You will also develop skills in communication, empathy,
interviewing and more. Our BSW program focuses on effectively preparing you for generalist
practice across a wide array of settings. <CTA
Get the flexibility you need by taking courses in person or online. For more information
about program availability and delivery options, call 1-800-414-5756
TROY’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.
Help Real People in Real Settings — Before You Even Graduate
In TROY’s Bachelor of Social Work program, you’ll visit numerous agencies that serve
a variety of populations, giving you exposure to social work in practice. Class assignments
and projects prepare you for real-world experiences and a hands-on, 400-hour practicum
designed to help you step off the graduation stage and into a purpose-filled career.
You’ll also attend political events to see how a social worker can assist in the legislative
process, and you’ll have the opportunity to meet and interview several professional
social workers. These experiences will help you narrow your professional focus and
see how social work skills are applied in real-world settings.
Whether working with domestic abuse survivors, helping children in neglectful and
abusive situations or supporting older adults in nursing home facilities, you’ll engage
directly with the communities you most want to serve.
Social Work Careers
After earning your bachelor’s degree in social work from TROY, you can work in
countless settings, from human services agencies to colleges and universities. Other
possibilities include hospitals, community centers, government, schools, nonprofits,
community organizations, religious organizations, research institutes, advocacy organizations,
residential facilities, adoption and foster care agencies, nursing homes and corporations.
Faculty Profiles
Dr. Javier Boyas
Dr. Javier Boyas is the director of the School of Social Work and Human Services.
His primary goal in social work and the BSW/MSW programs is to eliminate health and
mental health disparities among vulnerable populations, particularly in the Latinx
community. His teaching interests include social research methods, human diversity,
social welfare policy, and racial and ethnic relations within the U.S.
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.
FAQ About the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program
Learn more about becoming a social worker and the BSW degree program.
What degree do you need to be a social worker?
Becoming a social worker typically requires at least a bachelor’s-level degree from
an accredited college or university in social work, human services or a related field.
The most common degree for becoming a social worker is the Bachelor of Social Work,
or BSW, which prepares you for entry-level, non-clinical roles in the field, such
as case manager, referral specialist, etc.
Becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) requires a Master of Social Work (MSW) or a doctoral degree (DSW or Ph.D.) in social work.
What can you do with a social work degree?
A social work degree allows you to work in public welfare agencies, schools, criminal
justice, human services organizations and numerous other contexts. Job titles include
case manager, school social worker, rehabilitation counselor, probation officer, parole
officer, youth/detention services worker, victim advocate and drug prevention specialist.
Other social work careers include crisis intervention worker, group counselor, hospice
care worker, wellness counselor or grant writer.
Can you be a counselor with a social work degree?
Whether you can be a counselor with a social work degree depends on the position
you seek and your level of education. Generally speaking, a bachelor’s in social work
will prepare you for non-clinical counseling roles, such as crisis intervention, case
management or victim advocacy. However, if you want to treat mental disorders or provide
behavioral health services, you will need to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and meet the requirements to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
What is a BSW degree?
A BSW degree is a bachelor’s degree in social work that prepares you for a variety
of careers in social services, social welfare or related fields. A bachelor’s in social
work degree gives you a generalist perspective on social work, meaning you can work
with different populations and settings. With your Bachelor of Social Work, you can
also pursue further education, such as a Master of Social Work (MSW) or a doctoral degree, to become a licensed clinical social worker or a researcher.
What makes a good social worker?
A good social worker is someone with the ability to empathize with others, communicate
effectively and advocate for others. A good social worker should have a passion for
social justice, a respect for diversity, a commitment to ethical practice, and a willingness
to learn and grow.
Is getting a social work degree hard?
Getting a social work degree is a serious commitment consisting of rigorous coursework
and a required 500-hour internship. While challenging, social work degree programs
offer effective, robust preparation for rewarding careers.
What qualifications do you need to be a social worker?
At a minimum, completion of coursework, and a practicum/internship that meets the
degree requirements for a BSW or related degree, such as psychology or sociology, is required to become a social worker. It's also recommended that students obtain
a license to practice social work (licensure requirements vary by state).
Is social work a good career choice?
Social work is an excellent career choice for those who enjoy helping others and
making a difference in communities. Social work is a growing field with numerous benefits,
including job growth, diverse opportunities, career advancement and personal reward.
If you’re looking for a career in which you can make a positive impact and see others
grow and overcome adversity, social work offers numerous opportunities to do so.
Can I get a social work degree online?
Yes, TROY offers social work degrees online. The Bachelor of Social Work and MSW
degree programs can be completed online.
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.
