Online Social Work Degree
Erika Lasrado
Erika has broad experience in counseling, psychology, and human resources. Although she has done a master’s in psychology, she is currently pursuing a master’s in educational psychology to change careers. Erika is a foodie and reader and loves to research and write about various topics when time permits.
Degrees
Master of Psychology, Master of Educational Psychology
Areas of Expertise & Credentials
None to disclose in particular; the basics are covered in the short bio.
- Best Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology Program
- Find Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology
- Types Of Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology Programs
- What To Expect From The Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology Program?
- Areas Of Specialization For Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology
- Why Should I Pursue An Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology?
- Areas Of Specialization For Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology
- Why Should I Pursue An Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology?
- Types Of Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology Programs
- Areas Of Specialization For Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology
- Why Should I Pursue An Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology?
- Areas Of Specialization For Online Bachelor’s Degree In Psychology
Social Work can be a rich and rewarding experience for those who can empathize with and relate to others, can involve themselves in solving the many complex problems individuals, communities, and society face. An Online Social Work Degree program prepares students for entry-level generalist social work practice in a range of contexts, including nonprofit, business, and government-sponsored organizations. The Bachelor’s in social work or BSW degree develops competent social workers committed to improving social work knowledge and practice and aiding at-risk populations. This includes addressing social injustice, poverty, oppression, and discrimination, among other things. The program consists of a variety of social work courses online, such as social policy and services, human behavior in the social environment, social work practice, etc. Students of this degree will get a thorough awareness of today’s numerous complex societal issues that affect people from all walks of life. With new problems and issues frequently rising, with changing times and situations, there is a rising demand for social work and social workers across the board. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social work is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, expected to grow by 12% between 2020 and 2030. This article provides in-depth information on the bachelor’s in social work degree, the types of degrees available, funding options, best schools, information on accreditation, career options, and more.
Best Online Social Work Degree
Bachelors Programs
The bachelor of social work degree program is available across universities in the United States. The best schools for social work and best online social work programs are those that are accredited and offer a good balance of all other factors, such as the institution’s reputation, the quality, and experience of faculty, infrastructure, student services, affordability, etc. To make it easy for prospective BSW degree students to find a school or program that fulfills their requirements, FBD teams have rigorously evaluated some of the notable ones in the county and drawn up a list. Consequently, here are the best online social work bachelor’s programs: *
Universities and programs are ranked by various factors, such as affordability, curriculum and coursework, reputation and availability, program length, statistics, the potential of employment, and return on investment for the students. For a more in-depth analysis, please read about our rankings methodology page.
Find Best Online Social Work Degree
Bachelors Program Near Me
Location plays a crucial role in zeroing in on a good online bachelor’s in social work degree program. The reason for this is the in-state tuition fees that differ from out-of-state tuition fees. In almost all instances, in-state tuition is typically and substantially lesser than out-of-state tuition. Fortunately, online bachelor’s degree programs usually have a flat tuition fee, irrespective of where the student resides. Nevertheless, some students may feel comfortable pursuing their degree in their home state, while others may want to look at college beyond their state. To help students with making a choice, several teams at FBD have worked to locate some of the best and most affordable online bachelor’s degrees in social work in various states. Here is a list of social work programs near me :
What to Expect from the Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Program?
Degree Format of Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Program
Area of Specialization for Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Programs
Specializations are a great way to delve deeper into the field of social work and develop specialized knowledge and abilities in a certain area. Specializing can help students of an online BS in social work or online BA social work degree stand out from the crowd and qualify them for specific careers in the social work field.
Some of the many specializations and concentrations in an online bachelor’s degree in social work are:
| Specialization | Description | Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Aging & Geriatrics | This specialization in aging and geriatrics teaches students how to assist older clients with their general health, mental health, and social service requirements. The social safety net for older individuals is the focus of this specialization, and students look at elder abuse reporting procedures and care-planning difficulties. Additionally, students learn about community services for seniors, family-centered approaches, and social justice challenges geriatrics face. | Aging & Geriatrics social workers can work as hospice social workers, palliative care social workers, or geriatric social workers, and in care homes, elderly homes, and community services. |
| Children, Families, and Couples Social Work Degree Online | This specialization teaches students how to advocate for children, offer child welfare services, and establish child and family programs. Students investigate youth development, the needs of vulnerable children, and appropriate interventions and focus on the legal and ethical standards for child and family social work. | Children, Families, and Couples social workers can work as child protective services social workers, family service workers, children’s services specialists, adoption social workers, or in youth welfare services, child protective agencies, and the juvenile justice system. |
| Clinical Social Work Degree Online | This specialization prepares students to investigate mental health interventions, diagnose and treat clients through individual and group therapy, and look at how effectively social services can be delivered. They learn case management, advocacy, child welfare, and direct assistance among the primary social work practices. This specialization leads to licensure as a clinical social worker. | Clinical social workers can work as licensed clinical social workers, and in healthcare and education settings. |
| Medical Social Work Social Work Degree Online | This specialization emphasizes the mental health and social service needs of patients in the medical system. Students learn about services for people with chronic illnesses and those in acute care settings and may focus on oncology care, pediatrics, or palliative care. They will also explore intervention research, best practices for social workers in healthcare settings, the diverse needs of varied patient populations, and how to advocate for patients in collaboration with medical professionals. | Medical social workers can work as hospice social workers, healthcare social workers, or in public health and social welfare settings. |
| Forensic Social Work Degree Online | This specialization prepares students to provide social work assistance to clients affected by legal concerns and institutions. Students study criminal behavior, how forensic populations are treated, and how to handle criminal defendants and couples and families coping with legal challenges like divorce, custody, spousal and child abuse, etc. | Forensic social workers can work as crisis workers, corrections counselors, victim advocates, or in social service agencies, government organizations, and the juvenile justice system. |
| Substance Abuse Social Work Degree Online | This specialization emphasizes addiction treatment and recovery methods. Students will learn how to conduct substance abuse disorder tests and analyze the needs of each client. They will also examine recovery services and substance-abuse treatment techniques, case-management approaches, the referral procedure, and current research. Graduates will be able to construct rehabilitation strategies and engage with clients in both individual and group settings. | Substance Abuse social workers can work as addiction social workers, substance abuse social worker, or substance abuse counselors. |
| Justice & Corrections Social Work Degree Online | This specialization prepares students for careers in the legal system. Students learn how to conduct mental health assessments and make custody and guardianship recommendations. They can also testify as an expert witness in court. | Justice & Corrections social workers can work as crisis workers, corrections counselors, or victim advocates. |
| Military & Veteran Social Work Degree Online | This specialization prepares students to assist service personnel, veterans, and their families in dealing with the stress of deployment and reintegration into civilian life. Students investigate the military’s social services network and learn how to address military concerns, such as mental trauma, anxiety, and grief. | Military & Veteran social workers can work as veteran’s affairs social workers, or military social workers. |
Why Should I Do an Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Program?
Free Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Courses
Generally, free courses and programs do not provide certificates or confer degrees equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. Nonetheless, free social work courses are a great way to pick up skills and knowledge that may not be covered in a bachelor’s program or can complement the bachelor’s degree in social work online program. Here are a few resources for bachelor’s students looking for free online classes for social work:
| Course | Description | Offered by |
|---|---|---|
Topics on Social Work | OpenLearn, from The Open University, offers free courses in social care and social work at three learning levels. Topics include ‘Caring for Adults’, ‘Race and Youth Policy: Working with Young People’, ‘Population Ageing: A Global Health Crisis?’, and more. | OpenLearn |
| Social Work Courses and Programs | EdX has about 42 programs and 325 courses related to social work, across 3 different learning levels. Topics include ‘Talk to Me: Improving Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Young Adults’, ‘Human Rights, Human Wrongs: Challenging Poverty, Vulnerability and Social Exclusion’, ‘Injury Prevention for Children & Teens’, and more. | EdX |
| Topics on Social Work | Coursera offers over 1,200 free guided projects, courses, specializations, and professional certificates in social work and topics related to social work, from reputable universities such as Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Pennsylvania, and more. | Coursera |
How to Get into the Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Program?
The general admission requirements to enroll in an online bachelor’s in social work degree program and usually standard across institutions. Nevertheless, students should check with the college’s admissions office for additional or specific social worker degree requirements, which may vary by program and school. Here are some of the essential bachelor of social work requirements:
Most colleges will expect students to have completed academic units in:
How long does an Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Program take?
Accelerated Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Program
BSW accelerated social work programs are designed for students who may have to work part-time or full-time and have family responsibilities as well. These programs save on time and educational costs and can generally be completed in about two years instead of the standard four. However, students opting for such fast-track social work degree online programs must note that they may be more demanding than regular programs.
Some schools also offer accelerated social work programs online that have an expedited 3+1 curriculum, allowing students to earn their Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) in just four years. Here are a couple of examples of accelerated bachelor’s degrees in social work:
Misericordia University
allows a BSW degree to be completed in about 2 years through a hybrid/online format.
Simmons University
combines a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work that can be completed in about 4 years.
Accreditation for Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Program
How to Pay for Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Programs?
Scholarships for Online Bachelor’s
Degree in Social Work
Students with a strong academic record should explore the several undergraduate scholarships available to them. Universities, as well as other organizations and associations, offer scholarships to meritorious students. Listed below are a few examples:
| Scholarship | Description | Amount/Award | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund | The Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund supports people who are involved in social and economic justice campaigns. Students who can conduct academic work at the college or university level or who are enrolled in a trade or technical school who are active in the progressive movement are eligible for these need-based scholarships. | $15,000 maximum | April 01, annually |
| Bob Benedetto Memorial Scholarship Fund for Social Workers | The Bob Benedetto Memorial Scholarship Fund for Social Workers awards scholarships to Ventura County college undergraduates enrolled in a BSW degree program at an accredited 4-year college or university, or to Ventura County graduates or seniors enrolled or enrolling as candidates for an MSW at an accredited college or university. | $1,000 | January 01, 2023 |
| Painter Service for Others Scholarship Fund | The Painter Service for Others Scholarship Fund scholarship program was established to provide financial aid to full-time undergraduate students in their junior or senior year of social work degrees at either the Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Denver, or Colorado State University. | $1,500 to $5,000 | Closed for 2021 | TBA for 2023 |
| Alice M. Yarnold and Samuel Yarnold Scholarship | The Alice M. Yarnold and Samuel Yarnold Scholarships are awarded to individuals pursuing post-secondary school education in nursing, medicine, or social work. Applicants must be New Hampshire residents, with the intention of working in New Hampshire. | $1,500 to $5,000 annually | Closed for 2021 | TBA for 2023 |
FAQs Related to Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Programs
How to get a degree in social work? What is a BSW degree?
What courses do you need to become a social worker?
What can you do with a bachelor’s in social work?
Can you become a social worker online?
How to become a social worker in Texas?
Should I major in social work? What colleges have social work majors?
How much does a social worker make?
Career Opportunities and Salaries after Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Program
Within the social work profession, there is a range of jobs that can be adapted to handle a variety of specialties, including public health, family counseling, substance abuse, criminal justice, and more. Although most of these jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and licensure may sometimes be required, depending on the individual’s state and employer. Undergraduates can seek some career opportunities in settings and roles such as:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary of social workers (general) is $51,760, with occupations projected to grow 12% from 2020 to 2030, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Here are some examples of careers in social work, along with their salaries and growth potential, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
| Occupation | Skills Required | Median Annual Salary | Job Growth (up to 2030) | Job Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | Interpersonal skills, listening skills, compassion, patience, speaking skills. | $47,660 | 23% (much faster than average) | Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors provide treatment and advise people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, or other mental or behavioral problems. |
| Social and Community Service Manager | Analytical skills, managerial skills, problem-solving skills, time-management skills, communication skills. | $69,600 | 15% (faster than average) | Social and community service managers coordinate and supervise programs and organizations that support public well-being. |
| Social & Human Service Assistant | Interpersonal skills, organizational skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, time-management skills, compassion. | $35,960 | 17% (much faster than average) | Social and human service assistants provide client services in various areas of psychology, rehabilitation, and social work. |
| Social Worker (General) | Emotional skills, organizational skills, problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, communication skills | $51,760 | 12% (faster than average) | Social workers work in a variety of settings, including mental health clinics, schools, child welfare and human service agencies, hospitals, settlement houses, community development corporations, and private practices. |
| Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialist | Communication skills, leadership skills, problem-solving skills, flexibility, physical strength | $55,690 | 4% (slower than average) | Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Although a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is preferred, social work undergraduates are also eligible for the job. |
Certification and Licensing for Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Program
Additional Resources for Online Social Work
Degree Bachelors Program
Author Bio:
Erika Lasrado
Erika has broad experience in counseling, psychology, and human resources. Although she has done a master’s in psychology, she is currently pursuing a master’s in educational psychology to change careers. Erika is a foodie and reader and loves to research and write about various topics when time permits.
Degrees
Master of Psychology, Master of Educational Psychology
Areas of Expertise & Credentials
None to disclose in particular; the basics are covered in the short bio.
Disclaimer:
The average tuition (based on degree type for in-state students), average graduation rates, and rankings are based on data from various sources, including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and are variable over time. All rankings and statistics are subject to change. The rankings are solely the opinion of Find Best Degrees (FBD) and are based on our proprietary methodology. They do not represent the views of the institutions or organizations mentioned, nor do they represent any official government census or survey. Furthermore, any views or opinions expressed on this page are of FBD’s researchers and teams. Unless otherwise specified, they do not represent the thoughts and opinions of the individuals, institutions, or organizations mentioned. This page’s content is provided solely for informational purposes, with data drawn from various sources, including IPEDS. FBD and its employees make no guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of any information found on this page or by following any link. FBD will not be held liable for any errors or omissions in this material nor any losses, injuries, or damages resulting from the exposure or use of this information. Although the information on this page is/was correct at the time of publication, readers should exercise caution because some or all of the provided information may have changed over time, potentially resulting in inaccuracies. For more information, please read our Terms of Service. Trademarks and logos are the property of their registered owners. | Page last updated: Dec 2023.