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Online Bachelor's in Social Work

Bachelor of Science in Social Work

Become a change agent by actively contributing to solutions for social issues, using your voice to advocate for those who are underserved. A Bachelor of Science in Social Work prepares you with the skills to advocate for people in need. From individuals and families to neighborhoods and communities, our program takes an innovative approach to assessing, intervening, and evaluating across diverse social scenarios. Take the next step to make a difference in the lives of others. 

To learn more about class requirements and to gain a general program overview, view the BSSW Program Handbook. opens in new window

Ignite Your Passion

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Courses

Browse courses for your social work degree online

The program includes core courses for your foundational knowledge as a case worker addressing human services across diverse communities.  General education courses and electives are also required to enhance the soft skills like critical thinking and diversity training you’ll need as a social worker. 

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Requirements: 120 credits

You’ll need 120 credits to complete this Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree.  Your course schedule may vary based on transferable credits or credits earned through the University’s Prior Learning Assessment.

As part of your 14 core courses, you’ll be required to complete 400 hours of field education experience over two 15-week courses, Field Education I SWRK 405 and Field Education II SWRK 420. To learn more about field education, preparation and placement, view the BSSW Field Education Manual opens in new window. There is an in-person field component (at an approved site). 

Schedule

Your academic counselor will help you schedule your classes for your social work degree online.

Social Work Licensure

The Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) is an undergraduate degree program that provides a foundation in social work theory and teaches the application of professional social work values, principles, standards and techniques to educationally prepare graduates to pursue state licensure or certification as a bachelor’s-level social worker in the states in which the program is offered.  

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Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years.

Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every five- to six-week course.

We’ve worked with the labor market researcher Lightcast to identify in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our related associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

Tuition

Paying for school

Tuition is based on number of credit hours per course. Courses are typically 3 credits, but can range from 1-6 credits. Costs do not include savings opportunities like transfer credits and scholarships.

Undergrad cost per course

$1,364 / course

Cost per credit 

Credits per course

Resource fee

$398

x3

+ $170

Estimated cost per course

$1,364

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What affects the overall cost of my program?

Your full program cost can vary by: 

  • Savings opportunities. Your cost could be reduced with eligible transfer credits, scholarships, employer discounts and more. Students with eligible credits and relevant experience on average saved $11K and 1 year off their undergraduate degree at University of Phoenix.

With our Tuition Guarantee, you pay one flat, affordable rate from the moment you enroll to the day you graduate from your program.

Discover ways to save time and money on your degree with our Savings Explorer® tool:

Other ways to save on time and tuition

Because we believe everyone deserves an affordable education, we work hard to help our students achieve one. Here’s a few ways you can save time, save money and avoid starting from scratch. 

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Budget & borrow

How to pay for college

Paying for school can be intimidating, but we’re here to help you make sense of it. Our finance advisors can walk you through your options like federal financial aid and savings opportunities to minimize your debt. Plus, we can help you figure out your financial plan.

Careers & Outcomes

What can you do with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work?

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8% growth

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics opens in new window, job growth for social workers is projected to be faster than average between 2023 and 2033. However, it is important to note that this job growth accounts for career outcomes for professionals in bachelor’s and master’s prepared roles.

The BLS Projected Growth for 2023-2033 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.

Admissions

Apply for free – no application fee, no obligation.

Starting your degree is a big decision — and we want you to feel great about it. That’s why we remove obstacles from your application.

  • No SAT/ACT required 
  • No essay required 
  • No cost, risk-free trial for eligible students
  • We’ll request transcripts at no cost to you, when possible, and we accept eligible credits from over 5,000 accredited institutions.

Receive 1-on-1 support

You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 90% of our surveyed students.[1] Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.

[1] Transactional Survey, August 2021-22 (18,645 respondents)

Gabriel G., Enrollment Representative

Call or chat with us 7 days a week.

G. Galindo - Enrollment Representative

Gabriel G., Enrollment Rep

Receive 1-on-1 support

You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 85% of our surveyed students.[1]

[1] Transactional Survey, September 2022-August 2023 (23,739 respondents)

Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.

Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.

Student Experience

An education that fits your busy life

Balancing family, work and school

Work toward your BSSW degree without giving up what matters most. Start your degree year-round and take one class at a time.

Online learning

Your program gives you flexibility. Enroll in online classes and attend class whenever it fits your life, day or night.

Support and resources

You have a support team available up to 14 hours a day, 5 days a week. 

Phoenix provides support and resources for busy students

Industry Spotlight

The need for social advocacy today places the social worker at the forefront as champions of human rights, and advocates for equity across social, racial, economic, and environmental spheres. Case workers frequently assume a pivotal role as catalyst of positive change, advocating and empowering individuals as they navigate through challenges exacerbated by complex social dynamics. 

Faculty Spotlight

Social service professionals dedicated to you

All social work faculty at University of Phoenix have a master’s degree in social work (MSW) that was granted by an institution accredited by the Council on Social Work Education opens in new window. All faculty are practitioners in social work, in many diverse fields, ranging from child protective case workers to executive directors.

Sheila A.G. Hebers, PhD, LCSW
I’ll be cheering you along your journey to be an agent of change and a service to others.

Sheila A.G. Hebers, PhD, LCSW
Full-time faculty in the social work program, University of Phoenix

I’ll be cheering you along your journey to be an agent of change and a service to others.

Accreditation

Count on the quality of your education

University of Phoenix’s Bachelor of Science in Social work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation.  

The accreditation of the Bachelor of Science in Social Work demonstrates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process.

An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Commission on Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. 

Accreditation applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program.  Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. Learn more about the CSWE opens in new window.

Frequently asked questions about the Bachelor of Science in Social Work

The BSSW program provides the academic preparation for bachelor’s level social work licensure or certification in states in which the program is offered. 

Bachelor’s level social work licensure or certification requirements vary by state. Program requirements may change based upon your home state’s agency licensure requirements. Please visit the social work licensure page for state specific requirements prior to reaching out to your state agency.

While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.