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B.S. in Social Work (BSW)


Foster flourishing in vulnerable populations.

Grove City College offers a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW) degree that will equip you for effective and compassionate 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 prepare students to think, cope, and respond well to difficult situations by bringing Christ’s transcending hope into their work.

Program Distinctives
  • Rigorous education from a Christ-centered perspective.
  • Faith Integration – Apply a Christian worldview to ethical decision making and professional practice.
  • Small classes & accessible faculty – Learn in a supportive community with personalized instruction. 
  • CSWE Accreditation – Meets national professional standards for social work education.
  • Advanced Standing Opportunity – Earn an MSW in as little as 12–18 months at any CSWE accredited graduate program.
  • Undergraduate Research – Conduct original research and present findings at professional conferences.
  • 400 Hour Field Placement – Gain hands on experience in professional social service settings.
  • 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 – Option to concentrate in psychology and mental health, global studies, healthcare, or ministry, or 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 2025 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.
      • 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 non-governmental organizations that support survivors of human trafficking.
      • Graduates have been admitted to 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.
      • Thanks to master’s-level prerequisites integrated into our curriculum, benefit from advanced standing to enter a program with half of your advanced degree already earned, graduate in 12-18 months, and obtain licensure.
      • 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.
    Program Specifics
    • 53 major credit hours of coursework prepares you for generalist practice at micro- and macro-levels, and allows 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, refer to the College Catalog.
      • Course work includes: 
      • Foundations of Social Work 
      • Human Behavior in the Social Environment I & II
      • Generalist Practice with Individuals and Groups
      • Social Welfare Policy Analysis
      • Child Welfare
      • Human Diversity in Social Work Practice
      • Research Methods and Statistical Analysis
      • Social Service Programs and Grants
      • International Social Problems

    Social work elective options include Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Macroeconomics.

    Students complete research projects and grant-writing assignments throughout the program, culminating in a senior capstone project that includes a written paper, poster, and professional presentation.

    A 400 hour senior field placement is a cornerstone of the BSW program. Students apply classroom learning in real world professional settings while developing confidence, judgment, and clinical skills.

    Recent placements include: 

    • Bethany Christian Services
    • Glade Run
    • UPMC
    • Grove City Area School District
    • Butler County Adult Probation
    • Lighthouse Foundation
    • Allegheny County CYF*
    • Lawerance County Community Services*
    • Life Steps
    • Mercer county CYF
    • Child Advocacy of Butler County
    • Echo Pines
    • Living in Liberty
    • Children's Aid Society
    • Promise of Life Network
    • State Corrections Institution Mercer County

    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.

      Student & Alumni Stories

      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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