BSW Program Mission

BSW Program Mission

As an established School of Social Work in the region, the mission of the GVSU BSW program is to develop well-rounded generalist social workers who recognize and understand the worth of all people, and are prepared to address the unique needs of vulnerable individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in West Michigan, the State, the Nation, and globally. We value diversity, serving our community, scientific inquiry, relationships, and ethical practice and are united by a commitment to our students, the profession, and the University. Graduates will be lifelong learners, prepared for advanced studies and a values-driven, service-oriented professional life. Through our ecologically-minded, research-informed, rights-based, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and social justice approach to education, graduates will be skilled and knowledgeable in ethical practice, comprehensive justice, cultural competence, and inclusion. Graduates will be prepared to apply their knowledge to serve their communities, enhancing human rights and relationships and fighting poverty. Our high-impact generalist curriculum, including field education, will produce skilled social workers with a well-rounded liberal arts foundation who are committed to enhancing the well-being and equity of all people and reflecting the values of the profession. (Adopted 12.2.2024).

 

BSW Program Goals

The BSW program’s goals are derived directly from its mission statement and are designed to meet the social service needs of its Program location and beyond. They are:

1. To provide a generalist BSW curriculum in a high-quality learning environment that prepares students for entry-level social work practice and graduate education.
2. To prepare graduates for bachelor’s level practice that promotes social, economic, racial, and environmental justice and endeavors to address poverty and other social problems within individual, family, group, organizational, and community contexts in local, regional, statewide, national, and international settings focused on improving the quality of life for all persons.
3. To award the undergraduate degree to individuals who are competent generalist practitioners, adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics, promote human rights, incorporate anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion into their practice, and advance the profession’s reputation and knowledge base locally, nationally, and globally.
4. To instill the value of lifelong development of professional social work knowledge and practice through supervision, scholarly inquiry, research, and ethical use of emerging technology. (Adopted 3.18.25)

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. 

The links below are designed to give you a better understanding of the social work profession as well as a glimpse of what a social worker does. We hope they are both informational and helpful for you in your quest for answers.

• Social Work, What can I do with this degree? - This handout breaks down the profession by areas of practice. Very useful for those who are still unsure on what this profession can lead you.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook - This document assist prospective social workers in understanding the current occupational opportunities in this field of practice.