About the Social Work Degree at TROY
Do you dream of a career that will allow you to empower and change lives for the better? Turn your passion into a rewarding career as a social worker with a bachelor’s degree in social work from Troy University.
With a bachelor's degree in social work from TROY, you acquire the knowledge and skills you need to enter a diverse, rewarding career of helping others thrive. With the guidance and tutelage provided by TROY’s experienced instructors, you will develop the abilities to become an empathetic, proactive professional.
As a social work student, you can rest assured that your coursework reflects the goals and objectives set by the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting body that oversees all schools of social work. Once accepted into the program, the assignments and tasks you’ll complete will prepare you for real-world experiences upon graduating from our nationally accredited program. Upper-level practice courses, community projects and a hands-on, 400-hour practicum spent in a supervised environment prepare you to step off the graduation stage and into a purpose-filled career.
Expanding Your Horizons As a Social Work Professional
TROY’s professors know that in order for you to bring comfort and care to those who need it the most, you must step out of your comfort zone. That’s why, as part of the program, you’ll have the opportunity to visit agencies that serve people of all ages, nationalities and economic backgrounds, and attend political events to see how a social worker can assist in the legislative process.
You’ll also get to meet and interview professional social workers in a variety of different settings to help you narrow your professional focus and see how social work skills are applied in real-world settings. Whether it’s working with domestic abuse survivors, helping children in neglectful and abusive situations or supporting the elderly in nursing home facilities, social work graduates will engage in a variety of different settings helping a wide array of people.
The Bachelor of Social Work Curriculum
Students in the undergraduate social work program focus on developing skills and knowledge in a variety of topic areas that inform the work of social work professionals.
While specific courses may vary from year to year, coursework may include but is not limited to:
Courses
“ My experience in the program was an eye opener. I didn’t know that the field was as broad as it is. I didn’t know how many amazing opportunities there were in the field. It made me realize how much of a perfect fit it was for me. I love people and I love helping them. The program prepared me for my career because I am now able to properly assess individuals. I have the ability to go the extra mile to help my residents when something about them seems out of the norm. The advice I would give someone entering this career is to have patience, be flexible (because things don’t always go as planned), and to not be so hard on yourself. ”
Tamra J. Carter | Masters in Social Work '20Social Work Careers
Social work skills are applied in various public health and social welfare environments, making social work a broad career field. There are many types of social work jobs to explore, depending on your personal career interests. Here are some examples:
Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families, and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.
Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.
Conduct religious worship and perform other spiritual functions associated with beliefs and practices of religious faith or denomination. Provide spiritual and moral guidance and assistance to members.
Diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral, within the context of marriage and family systems. Apply psychotherapeutic and family systems theories and techniques in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of treating such diagnosed nervous and mental disorders.
Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.
Teach courses in social work. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Plan, direct, or coordinate the activities of a social service program or community outreach organization. Oversee the program or organization's budget and policies regarding participant involvement, program requirements, and benefits. Work may involve directing social workers, counselors, or probation officers.
Assist in providing client services in a wide variety of fields, such as psychology, rehabilitation, or social work, including support for families. May assist clients in identifying and obtaining available benefits and social and community services. May assist social workers with developing, organizing, and conducting programs to prevent and resolve problems relevant to substance abuse, human relationships, rehabilitation, or dependent care.
Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can work at public welfare agencies as a case manager. You may also work within the school system as a school social worker. Within criminal justice agencies a number of job opportunities exist for those with a BSW such as a rehabilitation counselor, probation officer, parole officer, youth/ detention services worker, a victim's advocate and drug prevention specialist. You can also land a job in a variety of settings as a crisis intervention worker, group counselor, hospice care worker, wellness counselor, grant writer, and advocate.
A good social worker is someone with the ability to empathize with others and have great listening skills. Additionally, a good social work is able to communicate well verbally and in writing. A social worker should have great social skills since you will be engaging with others quite often. Lastly, a social worker should be be able to promote social justice for all.
Getting a social work degree consists of coursework and a required 500 hour internship. It takes time and commitment in studying how to work with others. The ability to critically think and work well with others is essential.
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
At minimum, completion of coursework, and a practicum/ internship that meets the degree requirements for a BSW. It's also recommended that students obtain a license to practice social work. Licensure requirements vary by state.
Social workers, plan, perform research, provide instruction, refer, provide therapy, assess, advocate, and generally anything that provides assistance to others in need or crisis.
There's no one type of social worker that gets paid the most. Typically the more credentialed you are coupled with experience, the higher the pay.
Yes, social work is a good career choice due to work versatility. Each day brings something new. It's always rewarding to assist and aid others.
Hospitals, community centers, local, state, and federal government, schools, community organizations, non-profit organizations, religious organizations, colleges and universities, research institutes, advocacy organizations, schools, residential facilities, adoption and foster care agencies, child daycare centers, employee assistance programs, nursing homes, labor unions, large corporations, and the list goes on.
Yes, Troy offers a BSW online program and a MSW online program.
What is Social Work? Looking Beyond the Stereotypes
Interested in Applying to TROY?
Program Locations
- Troy Campus
- TROY Online
- Dothan Campus
- Phenix City Campus