Preparing Social Workers as Agents of Change
The undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW) degree prepares students for entry-level professional social work positions. Students who successfully complete the social work major (BSW) are also eligible to apply for Southern’s accelerated one-year Master of Social Work (MSW) program. The social work faculty, with extensive experience in clinical and policy practice, are committed to providing a rigorous yet supportive learning environment with small classes and collaborative research opportunities.
Students enjoy a wealth of experiential learning opportunities through practicum in the city of New Haven and throughout Connecticut. The program’s wide range of internship placements means that students can begin to make a positive difference with clients and communities while earning their degrees. BSW students gain important experience in their practicum, the cornerstone of a social work education, which consists of an academic year-long, 400-hour on-site internship.
Southern is the only university in Connecticut to offer the Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW), the Master of Social Work (MSW), and the Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degrees.
Careers
The Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW) degree is a gateway to professional positions across a range of health and human services settings. They generally work full-time and may need to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Typical Job Titles
- Child Welfare Case Manager
- Community Organizer
- Youth Services Coordinator
- Social Service Case Manager
- Community Outreach Specialist
- Substance Use Counselor
- Medical Care Coordinator
- Residential Counselor
Applying
If you have any questions, contact the School of Social Work Admissions office at SocialWork@SouthernCT.edu. Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment.
- Students who apply between December 15 and February 15 will receive an admissions decision via email by March 31.
- Applications received after February 15th will be considered only if space is available.
To apply to the BSW Program (in order to enroll in 300-level and above social work courses), applicants must have earned a minimum grade point average of 2.50 and good academic standing at the time of application.
Additionally, the following prerequisites must be completed by the end of the spring semester in which the application is submitted:
- Completion of 57 credits of university requirements and cognate courses.
- Successful completion of SWK 200 or its equivalent, with a minimum grade of “B-”.
- Successful completion of ENG 112.
- Successful completion of Quantitative Reasoning LEP Requirement (e.g., MAT 103, 104, 106, 107, 108, 120, 122, 124, 125, 139 or 150).
Students may be enrolled in these credits/courses during the spring semester of the application period. Such students will be conditionally accepted, pending successful completion of these requirements by the end of the spring semester.
Admission to the BSW Program is competitive. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria described above in order to apply. However, meeting the minimum requirements described here does not guarantee acceptance. The BSW program only accepts 70-80 students per year, depending on departmental resources.
The application process occurs once a year: Applications are submitted by February 15th and accepted students begin the program in the following fall semester. The following criteria are used to evaluate students for acceptance: GPA, completion of prerequisite courses, and completion of university graduation requirements.
Consistent with SCSU admission requirements, candidates who, in the judgment of Social Work Department faculty, present strong academic qualifications, as well as the greatest potential for program success, gain preference.
Admissions decisions are made by April. All applicants are informed of admissions decisions via email. Note that students who are accepted provisionally in March and are officially accepted at the end of the Spring semester, provided that those criteria continue to be met.
Transfer Students
The Social Work Major is a competitive program at SCSU. Transfer students who would like to study Social Work at SCSU must submit two applications.
SCSU Transfer Student Application: Learn about the application process, apply, or find out how your courses from another Connecticut school will most likely be applied to SCSU course requirements.
Social Welfare Organization (SWO)
Students who are accepted into the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program automatically become members of the Social Welfare Organization (SWO), the official undergraduate student organization for social work majors.
As SWO members, students have the opportunity to engage in a variety of meaningful activities, including:
- Volunteering with local social service agencies
- Organizing clothing drives during the fall holiday season
- Attending presentations by representatives from regional graduate programs
- Participating in the annual spring conference hosted by the Connecticut Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- Hosting educational presentations on current social work issues
Accreditation
The BSW Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
School / College
College of Health and Human Services
Department
Social Work