Trained Social Workers Are Needed Now More Than Ever — Prepare to Impact Lives with a BSW

With complex social issues on the rise, a critical need exists for professionally trained social workers to make a difference in the lives of people and their communities. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a faster than average employment growth from 2016 to 2026 for social workers. Azusa Pacific’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program prepares you to help meet this demand through experiential learning that equips you for employment in fields such as criminal justice, child welfare, health care, schools, substance abuse, gerontology, and mental health.

Within the social work major, faculty with professional experience in the field guide you through specialized coursework that includes the study of human behavior, development of practice skills, exploration of diversity, and applied learning in a structured senior-level internship. You will benefit from learning in a nationally-accredited program committed to helping you develop the values, knowledge, and skills necessary to help enhance the lives of those most vulnerable and oppressed.

View the BSW program coursework and Student Learning and Competencies Outcomes Report (PDF).

In-Depth Learning Experience

All seniors participate in a 400-hour (or more) internship with a local social service agency. Locations include hospitals, homeless service providers, women’s shelters, schools, child welfare agencies, probation programs, developmental disability service providers, mental health agencies, drug and alcohol abuse prevention and treatment facilities, and senior centers/skilled nursing facilities. Internship opportunities provide contacts in the field and ensure that social work majors graduate with significant, relevant experience on their résumés.

BSW Program Mission, Goals, and Competencies

The Bachelor of Social Work program at Azusa Pacific University seeks to develop competent generalist social work practitioners who can apply knowledge based in scientific inquiry, professional values, and skills of social work, while ethically integrating a Christian perspective, to enhance the well-being of diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in the context of their environment toward advancing social justice and human rights locally and globally.

View BSW program goals and competencies in the university catalog.

Is This Major Right for You?

You’re a social work major if you:

• Are dissatisfied with the status quo and want to change society for the better.
• Enjoy helping people help themselves through personal interactions.
• Are passionate about social justice issues.
• Seek a vast array of job opportunities and career advancement.
• Are interested in earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.

Accreditation

Azusa Pacific University receives accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). In addition, the BSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).