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Bachelor of Social Work
Director of B.S.W. Program: Patricia Stow Bolea, Ph.D., L.M.S.W.
The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work program at Grand Valley State University is to provide a comprehensive, superior educational experience that produces knowledgeable, skilled generalist social work professionals prepared for beginning-level social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. The purpose is to develop social work professionals who can capably serve people in West Michigan or in distant corners of the globe, utilizing the foundation of knowledge, skills, and values provided by the BSW curriculum. The BSW program seeks to prepare social work professionals who can meet the human services needs of diverse populations within the local community, in addition to meeting needs of agencies, organizations, communities and systems in state, national, and international arenas. It endeavors to develop social workers with excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills, a depth of professional knowledge, and a deep commitment to translate social work ethics and values into practice. Additionally, the BSW program seeks to empower and motivate students to become lifelong learners who are committed to continual improvement of the social work profession through participation in practice-based research and evaluation, and membership in professional organizations.
Career Opportunities
Bachelor of Social Work graduates have been employed in a wide range of social service agencies serving many types of people. Life consultation centers, probation and parole, mental health programs, hospital social services, children's centers, senior citizen programs, sheltered workshops, juvenile courts, protective services, programs for the developmentally disabled, and alcoholism treatment programs are just some of the areas in which our graduates are employed.
Requirements
The BSW degree requires successful completion of 120 semester hours of college credits. The program is built on liberal arts foundation plus 34 hours of cognate and international courses. These required courses augment, compliment, and supplement the 44 credit hours of professional social work courses, which include emphasis on social work values and ethics, social and economic justice, diversity, and populations at risk in the Human Behavior and Social Environment, Social Welfare Policy and Services, Generalist Social Work Practice, Social Work Research, and Field Practicum Sequences.
For a BSW Information Packet or further details on the BSW Program
Contact the School of Social Work at (616) 331-6550
GVSU Admissions Office of Financial Aid
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