Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

The Bachelor of Social Work degree is designed to prepare students for service to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities as social work practitioners. Each student in the program will complete coursework, skills training, and supervised field experience. Students will receive support designed to prepare them for ethical and competent practice as professional social workers who employ evidence-based practice. Walden anticipates that graduates will be prepared to design culturally and contextually relevant generalist social services in their practice, and to provide mentoring and supervision, advocacy, and collaboration activities with their varied client populations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Social Work program, students will be able to:

Demonstrate the development of a professional orientation and identity as a generalist social worker.
Follow and apply professional and ethical standards and values as set forth by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) to social work practice.
Demonstrate a commitment to positive social change by advancing human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
Utilize evidence-based research and critical-thinking skills to serve traditionally oppressed and disenfranchised populations.
Apply theories of human growth and development to social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Demonstrate culturally competent knowledge and skills in the areas of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation as a generalist social worker.

Degree Requirements

182 total quarter credits (including 45 cr. completed at Walden)
The Walden University General Education Curriculum courses (76 cr.)
Core courses (60 cr.)
Elective courses (25 cr.)
Field Experience courses (20 cr.)
Residency Course (1 cr.)

General Education (76 cr.)

See the general education section of this Walden University Catalog.

Core Courses (60 cr.)

The following courses are required as part of Bachelor of Social Work core:

Elective Courses (25 cr.)

Students are to select 5 additional courses to fulfill the elective requirement. Students may choose courses from either general education courses or courses from any of Walden’s bachelor’s degree programs These 25 credits of electives are in addition to the 20-credit general education electives.

Field Experience (20 cr.)

Residency (1 cr.)

SOCW 4900 - Social Work Residency