The 2022 Guide to Online Bachelor’s in Social Work Programs

When you’re comparing BSW programs, you may want to look for accredited BSW options. Accredited online social work bachelor’s degree programs indicate that those schools have met the standards set forth by a college accreditation board, which typically signifies quality assurance and holds schools accountable to the public.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation (COA) is the accrediting body for U.S. social work programs. In order to become a licensed social worker, you must have a degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program.

Since online programs may offer more flexibility for students to take classes where and when it’s convenient for them, you might be interested in exploring accelerated BSW options like a BA in social work. In an online program, you may be able to take extra credit hours, as well as take classes year-round. Additionally, some online BSW programs may offer shorter eight-week class formats, which may allow you to take more classes in a calendar year than you would during traditional semesters. 

Also, if you’ve completed prerequisites in a program like an associate degree through a community college, you may be able to apply them to an online BSW program. General education courses may account for around one-quarter to one-third of your program requirements. That could shorten a four-year online BSW program down to two years or less.

As stated above, some online BSW degree programs accept transfer college credits and associate degrees. If you’ve already studied general education and/or social work courses at a community college or university, it may benefit you to research how to move those credits over into an online BSW program. You may be able to start the social work curriculum immediately if you have an associate degree.

A BSW may allow you to become a licensed baccalaureate social worker (LBSW). An LBSW is a lower-level social work license for supportive services and casework management. An LBSW is not offered in every state, so you may need an MSW to become an LCSW, in order to practice.

Some social work jobs may require licensure. All 50 states require social workers to take and pass the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Examination to become licensed. But if you’re wondering if you need to become an LBSW to practice social work, the answer is no. For some jobs, including entry-level social work administrative positions, you may only need a BSW degree.

Social work caseworkers coordinate social care for their clients. Typical job duties throughout a career as a caseworker may include:

Caseworkers may work in fields such as foster care, adoption, healthcare and addiction.

Social work jobs in child welfare and family services deal directly with children, parents and families. These social workers help families in need due to issues such as poverty, abuse and neglect. Child welfare and family social workers may work on issues like foster care, housing and food stamp benefits.

Social workers are an integral part of the criminal justice system. They may work in roles such as court advocate or forensic social worker, providing testimony in court and serving as an expert witness.

Social workers who do work related to the criminal justice field may also work in reentry services as a prevention social worker, helping formerly incarcerated clients connect with services that help them rebuild their lives and provide alternatives to incarceration.

Social work jobs in education deal typically with parents, teachers and school administrators to help students succeed in social development and academics. Social workers in schools may provide recommendations to improve school programs or work with families of students who are dealing with problems like bullying or absence from school.

In research, social workers may assist researchers with studies. This may include interviewing subject participants and conducting surveys.

There are a variety of social work jobs in healthcare, including medical social worker, hospital social worker and pediatric social worker. Healthcare social workers work in healthcare settings like hospitals and nursing homes, providing patients with social services recommendations.

Healthcare social workers also may work with healthcare professionals like doctors to understand the social implications of medical conditions their patients are experiencing.

Social workers may also do work in social policy, government and community organizations. Community organizing careers in social work may entail identifying social causes to advocate for, gathering participants for events like protests and marches, creating written and video materials that educate the public about causes and informing people on how to get involved in policy change.