Social Work 97.5%
of Valpo’s College of Arts and Sciences graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within nine months of graduation.
60% Valparaiso University’s bachelor of social work (BSW) turns your passion for helping others into a powerful skill set — giving you the tools to strengthen communities, stand up for vulnerable populations, and change lives for the better. A social work major at Valpo prepares you to become a skilled leader in your community — equipped to assess complex situations, communicate effectively, and advocate for meaningful change. Your coursework will deepen your understanding of human behavior, social policies and issues, and how social workers engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and more. The social work curriculum gives you flexibility to explore the issues
of recent Valpo BSW graduates continued on to graduate school within nine months of graduation. C A R E E R P AT H S Social workers are the largest providers of mental health services in the U.S. A social work degree gives students a broad and versatile background for careers that involve helping people. With a BSW, you can enter non-clinical social worker roles, including:
and causes that you care most about. And with the core major coursework
• Case Manager
typically wrapping up in three years, you can even pursue a second major or
• Child Protection Worker
a minor to complement your degree. And when you’re ready for what’s next, Valpo has you covered: our BSW puts you on a fast track to our one-year advanced standing master of social work (MSW) program. BSW graduates who continue into Valpo’s MSW can complete their master’s degree in as little
• Government Social Worker
as 11 months, opening doors into clinical social work careers. At Valpo, you won’t just earn a degree — you’ll find your people. Small class sizes and a tight-knit cohort model mean you’ll build real connections with your professors and peers that last long after you graduate. Social work students and professors regularly take trips to the Indiana Statehouse to advocate for important social issues with elected officials. You’ll also have the chance to visit places like the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum in Chicago and collaborate on research with your professors. Before graduating, you’ll gain real experience in the field through two social work internships, giving you direct insight into working in community social service settings.
• Non-Profit Social Worker • Social Services Assistant • Substance Abuse Counselor
If you’re passionate about clinical social work, a master of social work (MSW) can take you further — training you to become a licensed social worker in schools, hospitals, or public safety, or launching you into a career as a therapist, HR professional, professor, and more. Learn more at valpo.edu/msw. For more about student success, visit valpo.edu/ alumni-success.