35 Best Bachelor’s in Social Work

The University of Washington has multiple campuses, but its Seattle campus is one of the most prestigious. Listed as a “Public Ivy” for its superior academic quality (comparable to that of a more expensive Ivy League institution!) This school is highly ranked by the U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, Forbes, and more.

It is a top producer of Fulbright Scholars and has received nods for its overall value and contributions to social mobility—something that’s nice to see when you’re looking for a top social work program! The Bachelor of Arts in social welfare is offered by the School of Social Work and provides a wonderful foundation for students who are interested in working as social service professionals and community organizers. 

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, this degree will enable you to go right into the workforce or to continue on with your education to earn a master’s or Ph.D. You will complete generalist coursework in a multicultural context along with 480 hours of supervised field experience, providing you with hands-on skills via two separate social work internships. 

You will take courses on topics such as Social Welfare Practice, Human Behavior and the Social Environment/Theory/Diversity and Community Service Learning. You’ll also take extensive coursework in research, allowing you to see firsthand the impact that your work will have on the community. In total, you’ll complete 180 credit hours of study.

Originally founded as the Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, Ohio State University, sometimes referred to just as OSU, now offers programs in dozens of schools and colleges, including the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, the College of Education and Human Ecology, and the Moritz College of Law. It is ranked among the top 12 public research universities in the US as well as one of the most innovative, according to the U.S. News & World Report. 

The College of Social Work at Ohio State University offers a Bachelor of Science in social work that will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. You can pursue this degree as a stand-alone program or you can pair it with one of 200 majors or 150 minors. There is even a combined 4+1 bachelor’s and master’s in social work if you want to accelerate your degree. 

To apply, you will need to submit an online application along with official transcripts and SAT or ACT test scores. You can submit an optional letter of recommendation from a teacher or counselor, too, if you wish to strengthen your application. 

An affordable program, this degree couples low tuition rates with a variety of scholarships, loans, grants, and part-time employment opportunities. There are many scholarships for social work students specifically, with the average financial aid award coming in at $2,500 to $3,000.

One of the oldest universities in the country, the University of Wisconsin-Madison was founded when Wisconsin achieved statehood in 1848. This legacy is just one reason to consider attending this premier state university, but it’s also important to recognize its academic quality. The University of Wisconsin-Madison has 20 colleges and schools and offers several hundred different graduate and undergraduate majors for students to choose from.

Among these is the exceptional bachelor’s in social work. The Bachelor of Arts or Science in social welfare is offered by the award-winning Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work. With this program, you will receive a strong liberal arts education in the social and behavioral sciences and learn how you can apply these disciplines to human problems. 

You will take core classes in things like Introduction to Social Policy; Diversity, Oppression, and Social Justice in Social Work; and Human Behavior and the Environment. 

In addition to this major program, you may also choose to pursue a certificate in gender and women’s studies, American Indian studies, business, global health, religious studies, or LGBTQ+ here. No matter what you choose, you’re sure to find that this program prepares you well for future work in human services.

Another top-ranked school by U.S. News & World Report, Rutger University-New Brunswick is one of the oldest colleges in the state of New Jersey and also highly regarded for its outstanding student life. Here, you’ll be able to join dozens of different clubs and organizations, including numerous Greek life organizations, newspapers, community service branches, and more. This school is also well-regarded for its regular events, with charming displays of school spirit like the Dance Marathon and RutgersFest occurring each year.

You’ll be plenty busy just taking classes as a student in the Bachelor of Arts with a social work major at Rutgers. This program is offered by the Mays Landing, Camden, and New Brunswick campuses and is a professional degree program that prepares graduates for all kinds of work in human services. 

Fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, this program will allow you to gain valuable hands-on mentoring experience working with diverse populations. The school partners with roughly 900 regional agencies, allowing you to gain extensive experience in your area of interest. 

To apply, you’ll need to have completed at least the first two years of your bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. You will also need to complete core coursework in subjects like psychology, sociology, biology, and statistics before you are admitted.

A public land-grant research university, The University of Georgia has a main campus in Athens, GA, where most students will study while completing their bachelor’s degrees. However, the school also operates numerous service and outreach stations around the state as well as those in places like Washington, D.C., Costa Rica, Italy, England, and more. 

Apply for a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Georgia and you will acquire the skills you need to address human needs in all kinds of social service settings, from those in school environments to those in healthcare facilities. You’ll gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of social justice, advocacy, diversity, and more. You can conduct research and even study abroad (as well as engage in local community action) as part of this program.

Curious about the classes you will take? You can choose from a long list of electives, but you’ll be required to take core classes in categories such as data and digital fluency, advanced social psychology, and environmental impacts. You will also take classes like General Practice of Social Work; Human Behavior in the Social Environment; Communication as a Helping Professional; and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 

Of course, before you graduate, you will also engage in a capstone project, which is a year-long, experiential, collaborative, and community-focused effort that will allow you to gain hands-on experience in social justice and service.

At the University of Utah, the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education, you’ll join a large student body of more than 30,000 fellow graduate and undergraduate students. Despite this large student body, you won’t feel like just another face in the crowd—this school is highly ranked by organizations like Forbes and U.S. News & World Report for its exceptional student-to-faculty ratio and the overall value of an education here. 

The Bachelor of Science in social work, offered by the College of Social Work, includes 48 credit hours in social work courses, including a hands-on practicum or internship. You’ll cover topics like Social Work and Social Welfare, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, and Social Diversity and Cultural Understanding. You will also be able to conduct significant amounts of community-based research.

In addition, this program has pathways that make it easy for you to apply for your Child Welfare Title IV-E Career Path so that you can work with children and families after graduation—and receive assistance with your job placement while you are enrolled. You can also choose to pursue certificate areas like Social Justice Advocacy and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Training.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is nationally ranked for its many quality academic programs. With a motto of “Learning and Labor,” this school truly puts its money where its mouth is, giving students ample opportunities to expand their learning outside of the classroom. 

Not only does this school have dozens of clubs and extracurricular opportunities for students to participate in, but it also operates a research park. Here, you’ll find innovation centers for nearly 100 different multinational corporations and companies, like State Farm and Yahoo. As a social work major, you’ll have access to countless community agencies and resources so that you can gain some exceptional firsthand experience—before you even graduate.

The accredited Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is designed to prepare students for entry-level, professional, and generalist practice. You’ll complete a total of 120 credit hours of study, taking classes such as Social Work Statistics, Doing Good Through the Nonprofit Sector, and Death and Dying.  

To be eligible for admission, you will need to have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher. You will also need documentation of paid or volunteer work experience in a social service agency and evidence of attributes that are suitable for social workers (including strong interpersonal and communication skills).

As the largest university in the Carolinas, North Carolina State University at Raleigh was founded in 1887 and has an enrollment of more than 35,000 students. Despite being among the largest schools in the country, this university is an excellent place to study if you want to enroll in a degree that will provide you with hands-on training in social work and related fields.

At North Carolina State University at Raleigh, you will actually have two separate social work degrees to choose from—a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work. Your courses will cover topics such as Social Work Practice, Social Policy, Human Behavior and Diversity, Community Social Services, and Research Methodology for Social Workers. 

Before you graduate, you will also complete a 420-hour agency field internship and a three-hour per week field seminar. You’ll be able to join a variety of student organizations on campus, including those dedicated specifically to social work majors, such as the Graduate Student Social Work Association, Men in Social Work, and Epsilon Kappa Chapter of the Phi Alpha Honor Society.

The flagship university of the University of Texas System, the University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883 and is one of the most selective universities in the region—despite being a state-funded public school. Here, you’ll find nearly 300 different majors to choose from, including eight extremely selective honors programs in a variety of academic fields. 

The Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin blends social work and liberal arts for a truly immersive, experiential degree. This professional program will prepare you nicely for licensure and for direct entry into in-demand human service jobs. 

You’ll take 122 credit hours of coursework along with 480 clock hours of field internship work. You will also complete 60 hours of service learning in a community agency of your choice. There is an honors track you can pursue if you are interested in a more challenging program of study, but all students will take required foundation courses such as Social Work Research Methods, Foundations of Social Justice, and Social Work Statistics. 

To apply for the practicum sequence, you must have a GPA of 2.0 or above (with 2.5 in all completed social work courses) and submit a personal statement. You will also need a reference from a core program instructor, too.

The University of California-Berkeley, or UC Berkeley, plays host to many leading research institutes, including the Space Sciences Laboratory and the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute. However, you don’t need to be planning a career in the “STEM” disciplines in order to succeed here. This university’s 14 colleges and schools also offer exceptional programs in community-oriented professions like social work.

This program has existed since 1942 and is a group major grounded in the liberal arts. You’ll declare a major in social welfare as a student in this program and be able to pursue all kinds of special studies courses and even a senior honors program. You can choose to take elective courses in the summer to give you more flexibility during the rest of the school year, too. 

You will take core classes like Social Work as a Profession, Social Welfare Policy, and Practice in Social Work. In addition, you can choose to participate in customized learning experiences abroad, each of which varies in length from one week to 16 weeks. In this experience, you will work with global leaders in social work and social welfare, receiving a certificate after you complete your individually tailored program.

Choose to study at Florida State University and you’ll become a Florida State Seminole, joining a large student body of more than 40,000 other students working to live out the motto of “Strength, Skill, Character” to the best of their abilities. 

You’ll find no better program to fulfill that motto than the quality bachelor’s in social work. Courses in this program are offered in Tallahassee and in Panama City, allowing you to take classes wherever it’s most convenient for you. You’ll enjoy courses that offer quality preparation songs with extensive on-the-job training opportunities, enabling you to work with diverse clients and to help them solve unique problems. 

Choose to accelerate your degree, and you can pair your studies in this baccalaureate program with the Master of Science in social work, taking just five years to complete both degrees. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of focus areas as you customize your degree, with options including health and wellness, military social work, international social work, gerontology, children and families, administration, criminal justice and social work, and advocacy and social justice.

Founded in 1847, the University of Iowa is the oldest (and second-largest!) university in the state. It is organized into 12 colleges with more than two hundred areas of study and seven professional degrees. The first public school to become coeducational at its inception, this school has a large alumni network spanning more than a quarter of a million graduates. 

As a social work major, you’ll benefit from that alumni network time and time again as you search for employment and postgraduate support. With courses available in both Des Moines as well as in Iowa City, this program will prepare you to work with public and private social services in both community- and home-based settings. 

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, this degree includes classes such as Interpersonal Skills, Fundamentals of Social Work Practice, Social Justice and Social Welfare in the United States, and Human Behavior in the Social Environment. You will complete a total of 120 credit hours of study.

Stony Brook University may not be the largest public university in the state of New York by population, but it has the distinctive reputation of being the largest public university in the state by area. This school owns more than 1454 acres of land in Suffolk County, on Long Island, and offers dozens of majors for aspiring students to choose from. 

One of these in-demand majors is the bachelor’s in social work. A two-year, upper-division program, this full-time degree is ideal for students who are interested in pursuing careers in the health and social welfare fields. You’ll be able to participate in a field placement two days per week in a hospital, school, nursing home, youth service, and a wide variety of other social welfare organizations.

In fact, you’ll complete 12 credit hours in supervised fieldwork as you complete your studies, enabling you to begin applying concepts learned in your classes to your work almost immediately. You will take classes such as Contemporary Social Justice, Human Behavior and the Social Environment, and the Political Economy of Social Welfare, just to name a few.

Arizona State University-Tempe isn’t small by any means—with its urban campus located in the heart of Tempe, this school is the largest of the four campuses that comprise the massive Arizona State University web. The campus is arranged around large pedestrian malls and encompassed by an arboretum. Choose to study here and you’ll have plenty of space to roam on this one-of-a-kind campus.

The social work major here is truly one-of-a-kind. In this degree, you will take classes offered by the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, with courses provided on-campus in Tucson as well as online. You will take core classes such as Social Service Delivery Systems, Human Biology for Social Workers, Foundations of Social Work Practice, and Ethics in Social Services. 

An affordable degree, this program has low tuition and many financial aid options. Just about every student will qualify for some form of financial aid. In fact, 70% of all ASU students receive some kind of financial assistance each year!

With 82 bachelor’s degrees, 65 master’s degrees, and four doctoral degrees to choose from, California State University at Long Beach is large—but not so large that students who choose to study here feel like they can’t make a difference. This school is home to nearly 40,000 students, all of whom benefit from one of the lowest student tuition rates in the country.

Because of this low price, you’ll get an excellent return on your investment when you decide to study social work here. The Bachelor of Arts in social work is a two-year professional program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Courses are offered during the day as well as in the evening to accommodate busy working adults. 

In addition to your core courses, you will be required to complete an 80-hour practicum at a community agency of your choosing along with 450 hours of fieldwork throughout the senior year. 

To apply, you will need to have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. In addition to a formal application for admission, you will also need to submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, an autobiographical statement, and a resume.

Michigan State University was founded in 1855, originally opening its doors as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. Once dedicated solely to providing training in scientific agriculture, the school is now coeducational and offers a curriculum that spans dozens of other disciplines. It is ranked as having some of the best programs in public service, including those in teacher’s education, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, and of course, social work.

The Bachelor of Arts in social work at Michigan State University is grounded in the social sciences and liberal arts, emphasizing a hands-on approach to social work education. In this program, you’ll learn more about social justice and community service as you prepare for a life of public service. 

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the program includes core classes such as Foundations of Social Work Practice, Research Methods in Social Work, and Ethnic Families in America. You’ll also participate in several different field education experiences and seminars to give you more in-person training.

To apply, you will need to submit a formal application, official transcripts, and an admissions essay. You will also be asked to submit a resume.

Originally founded as the San Diego Normal School in 1897, it’s easy to see how San Diego State University has evolved to offer some of the best programs in community-focused degrees. The bachelor’s in social work here is one of the very best in the entire country. 

The Bachelor of Arts in social work, offered by the School of Social Work at San Diego State, will provide you with the foundational knowledge and training you need to be successful in a variety of settings. It has a strong liberal arts core that includes classes in psychology, biology, economics, sociology, public health, and statistics. 

Progress to your elective courses, and you’ll be able to take seminars in more specialized areas, choosing from topics like aging, child welfare, family studies, and alcohol and other drugs to further round out your degree. You can also elect to further customize your studies by tacking on an area of specialization. San Diego State offers specializations in topics like Community Corrections Case Management and Environmental Social Work.  

You’ll be required to complete a fieldwork practicum but may choose to pair your degree with any one of the school’s many minors or certificate pathways. Your options will be endless in this hands-on program!

Located in Durham, NH, the University of New Hampshire was originally founded as a land grant college in Hanover, NH in 1866. It moved to Durham in 1893 and currently comprises six separate colleges. The largest state university in New Hampshire, this school enrolls more than 15,000 students.

In the social work program at the University of New Hampshire, you’ll gain extensive hands-on experience, both through your classes as well as through a required 40-hour human service experience at a local social service agency. In addition to that experience, you will also be required to complete a 450-hour internship and will have the option to participate in faculty research projects.

Because of this broad access to hands-on opportunities, you’ll enjoy ample career opportunities when you graduate. The degree boasts a 95% placement rate, going on to work in the field immediately after graduation or to pursue further education. 

With a low student to faculty ratio, this program includes 64 total credit hours of major coursework. You’ll take classes such as Race Matters; Feminist Thoughts; Gender, Race, and Class in the Media; and Juvenile Crime and Delinquency.

With more than 300,000 alumni worldwide, the University of Central Florida is known for churning out graduates who go on to make a serious difference in the world. In fact, this school’s motto is “Reach for the Stars,” a testament to its ability to provide educational opportunities to students who might not otherwise be able to attend college. 

Graduate from this school’s bachelor’s in social work, and you’ll accelerate your own career—and help countless others “reach for the stars” in their own lives as well. At the College of Health Professions and Sciences you’ll take core classes such as Micro-Level Roles and Interventions in Social Work, Social Welfare Policies and Issues, Documentation in Social Work Practice, and Culturally Competent Social Work Practice. 

An affordable degree, this program features low tuition rates starting at just $212.28 per credit hour. To apply, you will just need a 2.5 overall GPA and to submit both an online application for admission and official high school transcripts.

A public research university in Lawrence, KS, the University of Kansas has numerous satellite campuses, medical centers, classrooms, and educational centers around the state. It was founded in 1865 and currently enrolls more than 28,000 students across its three primary campuses. 

Offered by the School of Social Welfare, the Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Kansas will give you the foundational education and hands-on experience you need to pursue a  rewarding career in social work. You’ll take 120 total hours of coursework, including a whopping 12 hours of field practicum in your senior year alone (with other clock hours spent in practicum throughout the rest of your college career). 

During your practicum, you’ll attend classes just two days per week and your practicum two days per week. For this experience, you’ll be able to specify your field of preference so that you can match your experience to your career goals. 

Some of the other classes you will take will fall into categories such as child and adolescent development, intercultural studies, biology, political science, and sociology. You may also choose to pursue an additional certificate in child welfare to further round out your degree—and to make yourself more marketable when it comes time to search for a job.

Founded in 1956, the University of South Florida is one of the largest universities in Florida—and the seventh-largest public university in the United States. It has three campus locations in Tampa, Sarasota-Manatee, and St. Petersburg and is home to 14 colleges with more than 180 different majors to choose from.

Among these is the award-winning bachelor’s in social work. This degree includes core classes in subjects such as Human Behavior and Social Environment, Social Work Practice in Mental Health and Health Care, and Case Management. 

You can be admitted in either the fall or spring semester. A full-time, campus-based program, the degree includes a 32-hour-per-week field placement in the final semester. To be eligible for admission to this program, you will need to have a minimum 2.0 GPA in all prerequisites and submit the Bachelor of Social Work application, which includes a reference from a social work instructor and a personal essay.

A public research university located in Pittsburgh, PA, the University of Pittsburgh was first founded in 1787 as the Pittsburgh Academy. Today, it has four branch campuses in western Pennsylvania along with its main campus in the heart of the city.

The Bachelor of Arts in social work at the University of Pittsburgh prepares graduates to work in entry-level generalist social work roles with organizations, families, and individuals. It includes core courses such as Introduction to Social Work Research, Generalist Practice with Communities and Organizations, and Ethnicity and Social Welfare. 

You’ll also be able to work closely with the university’s many other initiatives, including those with supporting agencies designed to serve older adults and those that facilitate research in child welfare and related programs.

The University of Pittsburgh has a rolling admissions policy so you can apply whenever you are ready. You’ll need to submit an online application and transcripts evidencing a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher. You should also submit an SAT score of 1270 or an ACT of 27 for guaranteed admission. Not to worry if your scores aren’t that high—you can still complete an application for the admissions department to review. 

Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, the University of Cincinnati, also known as UC, is a public research institution that is the second largest in the state of Ohio. With a motto of “strength in unity,” this school offers some of the best and most community-centric programs in all of the state.

The College of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Cincinnati offers both an on-campus and an online Bachelor of Social Work degree. Both are four-year programs that are perfect for aspiring social work professionals. You will take courses such as Success in Allied Health, Introduction to Social Welfare, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, and Mental Health Perspectives in Social Work. 

To apply, you will need to submit the Common Application along with a $50 application fee. SAT and ACT scores are optional but you will need to submit official high school transcripts and one letter of recommendation.

A public land-grant research university, the University of Missouri-Columbia is Missouri’s largest university. The first one to be founded west of the Mississippi River, this public school has more than 300 degree programs in 13 major academic divisions.

Offered by the School of Health Professions, the Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Missouri-Columbia is a professional program that will prepare you for direct human service professional positions and graduate programs. You’ll begin by taking prerequisites in the liberal arts before you go on to core courses, electives, and finally, a practicum experience. 

As part of this practicum, you’ll spend 24 hours per week (400 hours total) in a field placement agency selected by the director of field education. You will take core classes in subjects like Human Behavior and the Environment, Comparative Social Policy, Understanding Personality in a Social Context, and Medical Social Problems. 

An excellent pathway to the school’s master’s and Ph.D. programs in social work, this degree can be completed on its own or with the addition of a graduate certificate in gerontological social work, too.

Founded in 1884 by Baptist minister Russell Conwell, Temple University is one of the world’s largest providers of professional education in topics like medicine, law, podiatry, dentistry, pharmacy, architecture, and engineering. In fact, it prepares the largest body of professional practitioners in the entire state.

Because of this, you will also find an exemplary bachelor’s in social work here. It is offered by the School of Social Work at Temple’s College of Public Health and will prepare you for all kinds of entry-level social work careers that will prepare you to work with individuals, communities, and families in need. It focuses on societal transformation with a special emphasis on improving the quality of life and relieving health disparities and institutional racism and poverty in the Philadelphia area in particular. 

You’ll be able to participate in all kinds of hands-on fieldwork and internships as part of this program, a feature that will enable you to integrate theory with practice. You’ll complete at least 400 hours of fieldwork at a social services organization in the Philadelphia region, with more than 500 different agencies providing internship and training opportunities for students. 

You might engage in the Capital Semester rogram, which will allow you to spend a fall semester in a government-related internship in Harrisburg, or you could work in the Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureate program, which will let you work with a child welfare agency in Philadelphia or the nearby area. Whatever you choose, you’ll find that your fieldwork in this program adequately prepares you for a life of leadership and service.

George Mason University is named after Founding Father George Mason, the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. With four campuses in Virginia, including those in Front Royal, Prince William, Arlington, and Fairfax, this school is one of the best when it comes to programs in the humanities and public service disciplines.

The Bachelor of Social Work at George Mason is a four-year degree that includes 450 hours of supervised field practicum experiences. You will take core classes such as Changing Social Policies and Systems, Research in Social Work, Methods of Social Work Intervention, and Knowledge Building for Helping Professionals. 

The degree is effective enough on its own, but if you want to make your degree even more marketable, you might consider adding a minor to your degree. George Mason has several that are perfect for aspiring social workers, including those in Health and Social Policy, Social Work, and Aging Studies. 

To apply to become a social work major, you must have completed at least 45 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.50 or higher. A personal interview is sometimes required as well.

One hundred fifty-two baccalaureate degrees. One hundred sixty master’s degrees. Hundreds of student activities, clubs, and athletics to choose from (including an impressive and nationally-ranked Army ROTC program). Whatever it is you are seeking, you are sure to find it at the University of Oklahoma-Norman campus.

The Bachelor of Arts in social work at the University of Oklahoma’s Norman campus is offered by the Anne and Henry Zarrow School of Social Work. This program, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1974, continually offers high-quality education that prepares students for work in a variety of nonprofit agencies. 

This degree can be completed by itself or with additional minors in related fields such as African and African American Studies, Social Justice, Native American Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies. Additional focus areas are available with concentrations including Political Science, Non-Profit Organization Studies, Public Affairs and Administration, and Non-Governmental Organizations, too. 

As a student in this program, you will have plenty of opportunities to engage in field education. You can choose to engage in field opportunities at a vast array of organizations, including public health and assistance, children and family services, corrections, disabilities services, and more.

The University of Tennessee-Knoxville has ties to, and partnerships with, countless resources and facilities for students. From connections with the nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory to affiliations with the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy and the University of Tennessee Medical Center, you’ll find plenty of places to explore—and ways to improve your career opportunities—when you decide to become a student at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

The Bachelor of Science in social work at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville includes both internship experiences as well as a curriculum rooted in community service. It is available both online and on-campus with optional honors programs and 4+1 combined degrees as well so that you can earn both a master’s and bachelor’s in just five years of study. 

The degree includes core classes such as Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families, Social Work Practice with Groups, Organizations and Communities, and Interviewing Skills and the Helping Relationship in Social Work Practice, just to name a few. 

To apply for admission, you will need a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher and to have completed at least 45 credit hours of study. You’ll need to submit a personal essay and pass a criminal background check as well.

Appalachian State University is a public university located in Boone, NC. This school was originally founded as a teacher’s college in 1899, eventually growing to include other programs in 1967. One of these programs is the now nationally-regarded program in social work.

The social work major is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and is available in the form of a minor as well. A challenging and interactive program, it includes core classes such as The Sociological Perspective, Social Problems in American Society, and Understanding Culture. 

You’ll gain the skills you need to work with diverse clients in all kinds of human services agencies. The degree includes an extensive service-learning component in which you’ll complete at least 30 hours of human service agency fieldwork. There is also a field placement and seminar during the final semester of study. 

Of course, as a student in this program, you will be able to participate in all kinds of student groups and honor societies and apply to social work scholarships offered by the department as well.

Often referred to simply as LSU, Louisiana State University and A&M College is a public land-grant research institution located in Baton Rouge, LA. This school was founded in 1853 as a seminary school and military academy, but today offers degrees in more than 100 different disciplines. 

The Bachelor of Social Work at Louisiana State University and A&M College will prepare you for an entry-level career in a school, social service, or criminal justice fashion. It can be completed by itself or in combination with the university’s master’s degree, allowing you to reduce the overall amount of time it takes for youth to earn a degree.

As a student in this program, you will be able to participate in active faculty research projects in children and families, gerontology, poverty, addictive disorders, LGBT studies, and more. An education from this program will also enable you to pursue generalist social work practice and licensure. 

To apply, you will need to have already completed at least 24 semester hours of credit and have a cumulative GPA at LSU of 2.5 or higher. You can submit an application directly to the School of Social Work, with forms found online.

If you want to study social work, there is perhaps no better place to do it than in the heart of the Big Apple. After all, New York City is one of the world’s largest and most densely populated cities, meaning you’ll have plenty of places to gain hands-on experience in social work and public policy.

New York University is located smack dab in the middle of Manhattan, giving students exclusive access to the very best resources—and this school offers an impressive curriculum in social work to boot. The Bachelor of Science in social work will provide you with the knowledge and unique skills you need to be successful in generalist social work. It has a 96% job placement rate with many students choosing instead to go on to earn a master’s degree at NYU (it requires just one additional year of study). 

As a student in this program, you will complete 64 credits in your major along with 64 credits of liberal arts core courses. Some of the classes you will take include Human Behavior in the Social Environment; Skills in Interpersonal Communications; Diversity, Racism, Oppression, and Privilege; and Social Work Research. 

Originally founded as a state normal school, James Madison University now offers coeducational programs in plenty of fields besides just teaching. If your heart lies in the classroom, though, you can still complete a program in social work here that will enable you to work as a school social worker, too. 

In addition to completing thoughtful class discussions and engaging in transformative lectures, this program will also enable you to work in the community through service learning, interviews, conferences, and policy forums. You can pursue this degree by itself or with an additional minor in family studies, nonprofit studies, or gerontology. 

Core classes include Social Work Practice in Macro Systems, Human Behavior in the Social Environment, and Skills for Generalist Social Work. You’ll complete a total of 50 credit hours of major courses but also have the opportunity to participate in courses and field experiences that prepare you for professional practice. The curriculum map for this program includes plenty of time for faculty-aided research, too, if that’s something you’re interested in!

A public research university located in Portland, OR, Portland State University was first founded as a postsecondary institution for World War II veterans. Now a four-year college, this school offers undergraduate degrees in more than 120 different majors.

One of the most popular is the bachelor’s in social work. This degree offers a “21st-century education in social theory with hands-on experience.” You’ll be prepared to work with families, individuals, organizations, groups, and even entire communities after completing this program, which is available as both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science. You can even take classes online, if you choose!

You will complete 75 credit hours of study in addition to a 500-hour field placement. Some of the classes you will take include Social Justice Practice, Human Behavior Through the Lifespan, and Social Work Research and Evaluation. Of course, this degree also includes ample opportunities for you to engage in field placements, too.

The flagship university of the Colorado State University System, Colorado State University-Fort Collins is a large university with more than 34,000 students, many of whom choose to study online in addition to those learning on-campus. You’ll be able to choose from more than 65 different majors here, but if your heart is set on making a difference in your community, you may want to consider this school’s bachelor’s in social work.

The Bachelor of Social Work at Colorado State University is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. It prepares you for real-world work with a whopping 450 hours of field internship education, with many students choosing to go on to earn their master’s or doctoral degrees in social work. 

You can complete this degree by itself or choose to add on an optional concentration in addictions counseling, which will help you meet the course requirements to become a certified addictions counselor in the state of Colorado. Of course, you’ll be paired with an academic advisor who will guide you toward the best classes you should take for your career path of choice. 

An affordable degree, this program has low tuition rates and several scholarships available specifically for social work majors. Plus, as a social work major, you can join the Honor Society, be active on the department’s social network, become a Social Work Ambassador, or even choose to study abroad! 

The largest university in the state of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas was first founded as Arkansas Industrial University in 1871. Noted for its strong programs in agriculture, architecture, creative writing, and Middle Eastern studies, this school also has one of the nation’s best bachelor’s in social work.

The Bachelor in Social Work at the University of Arkansas has been around since 1940, making it one of the oldest programs of its kind in the United States. This degree will prepare you for a wide variety of careers in social work as you take core classes such as Human Diversity and Social Work, American National Government, Social Welfare Policy, and Human Behavior and Social Environment. 

Of course, this degree, like all of the rest, will also provide you with plenty of opportunities to get involved. You will be required to participate in several social work internships and practice experience in the community. You can also pursue elective coursework to help you hone your studies in an area of interest, such as juvenile justice, child welfare, aging, and more.