Penn State Greater Allegheny students can complete a 4-year social work degree program at our campus.
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is offered exclusively at
Penn State Greater Allegheny.
Overview
Our BSW program equips graduates to work effectively with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and diverse community populations. Grounded in diversity, ethical practice, field education, technology, and theory, our graduates become professional, generalist social work practitioners ready for various entry-level settings. Perfect for students interested in public and private sectors, our program teaches critical engagement with social problems, understanding cultural, economic, environmental, and historical conditions. Upon earning the BSW, students are prepared to promote individual, family, and community well-being through classroom and clinical experiences in community-based organizations, health care, government, and schools.
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The BSW degree prepares generalist practitioners to enhance human well-being and eliminate social injustices through advocacy, cultural humility, global citizenship, scholarship, and service. Graduates are equipped for various settings such as:
Such generalist practice settings at the BSW level include:
- Case management
- Activism
- Advocacy
- Hospice and palliative care
- Residential and transitional care
- Child welfare
- Criminal justice
- Adoption and foster care
- Substance abuse and intervention
- School social work
- Domestic violence
- Research
- Public policy
- Restorative justice
- LGBTQ+
- International social work
- Health care
- Individuals with disabilities
- Philanthropy
- Workforce development
- Community organizing
As a BSW student at Penn State Greater Allegheny, you can:
- Prepare for professional licensure in social work at the bachelor's level
- Receive a high-quality social work education at a world-renowned university with over 700,000 living alumni
- Collaborate with faculty on research projects and journal articles for publication
- Engage in student organizations to refine your leadership and organizing skills
- Learn more about diverse populations and cultures from around the world
- Participate in a variety of diverse community service, internship, and service-learning opportunities
- Access one of the largest university library systems in the nation
- Prepare for graduate education in social work and other related fields
- Receive hands-on technical support in and outside of the classroom
- Receive individualized academic advising and mentoring from experienced, licensed social work faculty who work in the field
Accreditation
Our BSW program was granted accreditation candidacy status by the Council on Social Work Education in October 2023, ensuring the quality and competence of our graduates. For more information about social work accreditation, you may contact Accreditation.
Students who enter programs in Pre-Candidacy that attain Candidacy in the academic year in which they begin their program of study will be retroactively recognized as having graduated from a CSWE-accredited program once the program attains Initial Accreditation. The Candidacy Process is typically a three-year process and there is no guarantee that a program in Pre-Candidacy will eventually attain Candidacy or Initial Accreditation. Candidacy by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation applies to all locations and 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.
The official course requirements for this degree can be viewed in the online Undergraduate Bulletin under the suggested academic plan.
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