Social Work
Bachelor of Science | COLLEGE FOR ADULTS
About the program
Do you have a passion for working with people and advancing social justice? Are you interested in preparing for one of the nation’s fastest growing careers?
Consider a bachelor’s degree in social work. You’ll gain the skills and experience to empower and improve the lives of individuals, groups and families.
What can I do with a degree in Social Work?
Social work is a licensed profession in which you may work, at many levels, to make our world a better place. You might work with individuals and families to meet their immediate needs. You may work with groups and organizations to build stronger communities. Or, as an advocate for regional, national, and global policies to advance human dignity and the common good. As a generalist social worker, you will be prepared for careers in:
• Child, family and school social work
• Social work within hospitals and clinics
• Community organizing
• Work within social action organizations
• Gerontological social work
• Hospice and palliative care
• Justice and corrections
• Community mental health case management
• Social services administration
• Work with military, veterans, and their families
• Chemical dependency and substance abuse
• Crisis intervention
Social work is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States. The profession is expected to grow 16% between 2016 and 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2022, according to the BLS, the median annual earnings for social workers was $61,420.
What will I study?
You will gain real-world work experience through 600 hours of fieldwork and graduate prepared to take the licensure exam required to practice social work in any state in the U.S.
In addition to prerequisite courses in psychology, sociology and biology, you’ll take social work coursework to develop knowledge and skills in:
• Social welfare policy and advocacy
• Community outreach
• Communication and interviewing skills
• Case management and basic counseling
• Social work research
• Group work
• Strengths-based intervention and support for individuals, families and communities
Graduate study: MSW program
After completing your bachelor’s degree, consider pursuing the St. Kate’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Social work majors will follow an “advanced standing” track in the graduate degree.
Class scheduling / time to completion
Social Work courses are 100% online asynchronous. Throughout the program, you may have courses that meet synchronously online on a weekday evening.
The Social Work major may be completed in 24 months. You may take longer to complete liberal arts and elective courses.
Admission process
The social work program requires students to be formally admitted to the major. This process takes place in February of the junior year. Prospective majors must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.25 and must be interviewed by the Social Work faculty.
Program accreditation
St. Kate’s bachelor’s and master’s programs in social work are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation. Learn more about our accreditation and assessment data.
