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Social Work

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Degree Type:
Undergraduate
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Empower Others and Change Lives for the Better With a Social Work Degree (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.

Academic quad on the Troy, Alabama campus

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. 
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Bachelor of Social Work Curriculum

While specific courses may vary from year to year, your coursework may include:
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Social Work Program Locations

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 Campus
TROY Online

Public Disclosure of Social Work Licensure (BSW)

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.

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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.

TROY Campus academic quad

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

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

Related Programs

Bachelor's in Human ServicesBachelor's in SociologyBachelor's in PsychologyMaster 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.

Learn more about the TROY MSW.

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.

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News

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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