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B.S. in Social Work (BSW)


Foster flourishing in vulnerable populations.

Grove City College offers a degree in social work that will equip you for effective and compassionate social work in a variety of professional practice settings. You will have access to real-world field experience and research opportunities, passionate faculty mentors, and a robust curriculum grounded in the conviction that every individual has great value and potential to flourish as an image-bearer of God. We want to provide students the tools to think, cope, and respond well to difficult situations and Christ’s transcending hope into their work. By earning a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW) through our CSWE-accredited degree program, you will also have the unique opportunity to earn advanced standing for graduate school, enabling you to expand your career options and sphere of influence.

Program Distinctives
    • Rigorous education from a Christ-centered perspective.
    • Accessible faculty – You will be guided to pursue your calling by highly accomplished Christian faculty mentors with many years of social work experience and a genuine care for their students.
    • Be equipped to handle dark realities – You will gain the skills to think, cope, and respond wisely while protecting yourself and those in your care.
    • Learn a compassionate approach – Understand human behavior from a Christian perspective and recognize all people as valuable and created in the image of God.
    • Join a supportive community – Connect with faculty and peers and enjoy relationships that last beyond graduation.
    • High-level, professional courses available to undergrads – Unlike most undergraduate programs, you will study relevant courses such as International Social Problems and Social Service Programs and Grants. See the Course Catalog for more information.
    • Advanced standing opportunity – With a degree from our CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree program, you will be able to receive advanced standing in any CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) program, graduate with your MSW in as little as 12-18 months, and then work toward licensure.
    • Exceptional counseling preparation – Your BSW from Grove City will equip you for excellence as you earn your MSW and apply your knowledge and compassion to a broad range of professions, including mental health counseling.
    • Customize your education – Broaden your reach with options to double major or minor in complementary disciplines like biblical & theological studies, pre-law, business, and Spanish.
    • Student-led organizations – Grow in community and servant leadership with active on-campus groups such as the Sociology, Social Work, and Psychology Association.
    • Vocation-enriching humanities core classes – Deepen your critical thinking, writing, and other communication skills while cultivating empathy and a well-rounded worldview.
    Career Opportunities & Outcomes
    • Career paths: case manager, behavioral health technician, program director, human services specialist, therapist, licensed mental health counselor, policy analyst or advocate, social welfare advocate, behavioral consultant, social worker in various settings, and more.
    • Like 100% of our 2023 and 2024 social work graduates, you will be prepared to enter full-time employment or pursue graduate-level education at some of the top schools nationwide – within six months of graduation.
      • Our social work graduates pursue careers in a wide range of professional settings — including adoption services, education, mental health services, health-care facilities, public welfare agencies, disability services, human services, family services, aging services for the elderly, public policy advocacy organizations, immigration resettlement agencies, and faith-based nonprofit organizations, as well as international NGOs that support survivors of human trafficking.
      • Our graduates who pursue further education have been admitted to such institutions as the University of Pittsburgh, Case Western Reserve, University of Michigan, Columbia, Boston College, University of North Carolina, Roberts Wesleyan, and Dordt University, where we have an affiliation agreement.
      • If you choose to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW), you will benefit from advanced standing to enter a program with half of your advanced degree already earned, graduate in 12-18 months, and obtain licensure — thanks to master’s-level prerequisites integrated into our curriculum.
        Grove City College’s affiliation with Dordt University in Iowa means students can seamlessly transition to online graduate school for continued education.
        • Licensure requirements vary by state. In Pennsylvania, there is an optional licensure exam that may be taken upon earning a BSW, but most students pursuing an MSW take the licensure exam upon obtaining a graduate-level degree.
    • Regardless of your position title or career destination, you will possess the solid foundation, real-world experience, and Christ-like ethic of care to effectively handle mental health and social problems and implement positive change in the lives of people of all ages.
    Program Specifics
    • 53 major credit hours of coursework that will build your foundation in this rewarding discipline, prepare you for micro- and macro-level social work, and allow you to enter an accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) program with advanced standing to graduate early, save money, and begin your career sooner. For detailed course descriptions and a comprehensive list of required credits to earn our undergraduate bachelor of arts degree, refer to the College Catalog.
      • Social work core requirements include courses in Foundations of Social Work, Social Service Programs and Grants, Human Behavior in the Social Environment I and II, International Social Problems, Generalist Practice with Individuals and Groups, Child Welfare, Social Welfare Policy Analysis, Human Diversity in Social Work Practice, Statistical Methods, and Research Methods.
      • Social work elective options include Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Macroeconomics.
      • Research projects and grant-writing assignments are also woven into the curriculum to cultivate important skills you will need to take on leadership and development roles in the field.
    • 400-hour field placement to gain practical experience with case management, client care, and behavioral interventions while building confidence to handle sensitive issues like substance abuse and addiction.
      • Placements are typically completed over the course of two semesters during the senior year with a local Pennsylvania social services agency or through a semester abroad with a faith-based partner program in Uganda, Ecuador, Chicago, or Baltimore.
      • Recent field placements have taken our students to organizations including Bethany Christian Services, Glade Run, Lawrene County Community Action Partnership, UPMC Children’s Advocacy Center, and Lighthouse Foundation.
      • Learn more about the field placement by viewing our Field Placement Manual and Student Handbook.
      • Student & Alumni Stories

      Grace Anne Shaw '24
      B.S. in Social Work

      John Paul Roboski '23
      B.S. in Social Work

      Katelyn Bartley '21
      B.S. in Social Work

      “Of all the things that this program has provided, creating a field placement for a whole year definitely lets us put our skills to use.” — Amy Knecht ’20, BSW in Social Work

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