The online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is designed for students looking to gain a foundational understanding of social justice issues and enter the social work practice.
Offered by the Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work & Family Science at the University of Louisville, this program focuses on the skills and knowledge related to the impact of social work on families, institutions and communities. By emphasizing social justice dynamics, as well as critical analysis, planning and implementation skills, this program educates and empowers you to effectively advocate on behalf of marginalized individuals, become an agent of change and help others live safer, healthier lives.
12:00pm - 1:00 p.m.
Join the BSW faculty & staff for a virtual information session to learn more about the program, how to apply, and get your questions answered.
Register Now!
Additional costs may include:
*Special scholarship opportunities are available to Kentucky students enrolling in this track.
START YOUR APPLICATION REQUEST INFORMATION
Complete your degree on your own time through fully online coursework and learning tools.
Learn MoreTransfer in previous credits and complete core requirements (60 credits) at UofL.
Learn MoreRaymond A. Kent School of Social Work & Family Science is rated the No.1 social work program in Kentucky by US News and World Report.
The expertise you’ll develop as an online BSW student enables you to become an advocate for individuals and communities. You’ll develop a deeper understanding of social justice dynamics, critical thinking, issues impacting human welfare and best practices within the field. Specific knowledge gained from the program includes:
Career opportunities available to Bachelor of Social Work graduates include:
The social work occupation is expected to grow 13% nationwide between 2019-2029, which is much faster than the average national occupation growth rate, and have a median annual salary of $51,760 (bls.gov).
Social Work graduates are equipped with a critical perspective that allows them to address community issues in a variety of settings including:
Application Deadline | Term | Start Date |
---|---|---|
August 1 | Fall | August |
December 1 | Spring | January |
April 1 | Summer | May/June |
Applicants are encouraged to work on and submit their complete application well in advance of the preferred deadline, as obtaining transcripts, test scores and other materials may take more time. Applications submitted or completed after the preferred deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis for the next available start/term.
All applicants are admitted first to the Lower Division, and can apply for any of the above terms. Once admitted, those eligible for the Upper Division then complete a second application directly reviewed and managed by the Kent School. Upper Division cohorts start in fall terms only.
START YOUR APPLICATION REQUEST INFORMATION
New Students and Transfer Students with less than 24 transferable credits from accredited institutions must have:
Transfer Students with 24 or more transferable credits from accredited institutions must have:
*Your Application Portal:
Once you have started an undergraduate application, you can check the status and review any additional checklist to-do items. Log in to your application using the email address you used to apply for admission and your password. Your checklist items may include additional materials or documentation that facilitate a smooth admissions process. You will also have access to important contact information and next steps after an admissions decision is made.
No ACT/SAT? Test-optional admissions are granted on a case-by-case basis and require a comprehensive review of high school transcript, including grades and college-preparatory courses. A personal statement may be requested during the admissions review process.
For more information on the admission and application process, please contact our Online Enrollment Services team at 800.871.8635 or by email at online@louisville.edu.
Additional Programs Available from the Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science
Founded in 1936, the Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science prepares students to work in a society with complex social problems and needs. Rapidly becoming one of the top research social work programs in the country, the Kent School is able to provide current research information in the preparation of its students for work with individuals, families and communities. The Kent School offers the 100% online BSW as well as an online MS in Social Work and an online Doctor of Social Work.
The online Bachelor of Social Work is a 120 credit hour program comprised of 37 credit hours of General Education (Cardinal Core), 23 credit hours Lower Division General Electives and supporting requirements, and 60 credit hours in core courses. The program is 100% online. Courses are delivered asynchronously, in standard term length.
Courses | Credit Hours |
---|---|
General Education Requirements*1 | 31 |
The following courses are required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirement: | |
BSW 201 Introduction to Social Work | |
PSYC 201 Introduction to Psychology | |
SOC 201 Introduction to Sociology or SOC 202 Social Problems | |
Some other courses approved as options for satisfying program requirements (e.g. MATH 109) may also satisfy General Education requirements. | |
Minimum Total Hours | 31 |
Courses | Credit Hours |
---|---|
BSW 101 Social Work Orientation | 1 |
BSW 201 Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
PSYC 201 Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
Select one of the following:2 | 3 |
BSW 203 Human Biology for Social Sciences (suggested) | |
HSS 202 Foundations of Anatomy & Physiology | |
BIOL 260 Human Anatomy & Physiology I | |
PSYC 305 Brain and Behavior | |
Select one of the following Sociology courses: | 3 |
SOC 201 Introduction to Sociology | |
SOC 202 Social Problems | |
Select one of the following Statistics courses:2 | 3 |
BSW 204 Introduction to Social Statistics (suggested) | |
MATH 109 Introduction to Social Statistics | |
COMM 255 Communication and Statistics | |
CJ 326 Quantitative Analysis | |
HSS 377 Foundations of Quantitative Statistics | |
PSYC 301 Introduction to Social Statistics | |
SOC 301 Introduction to Social Statistics | |
General electives3 | 13 |
Minimum Total Hours | 29 |
Courses | Credit Hours |
---|---|
Year 3: Fall Semester | 15 |
BSW 301 Human Behavior and the Social Environment I | |
BSW 302 Social Welfare Policy I | |
BSW 303 Generalist Practice I | |
Social Work Elective 300 level or above5 | |
Elective 300 level or above5 | |
Year 3: Spring Semester | 15 |
BSW 319 Human Behavior and the Social Environment II | |
BSW 322 Social Welfare Policy II | |
BSW 304 Generalist Practice II | |
BSW 307 Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice Practice | |
Elective 300 level or above | |
Year 4: Fall Semester | 15 |
BSW 405 Generalist Practice III | |
BSW 470 Generalist Practicum I | |
BSW 472 Generalist Practicum Seminar and Lab I | |
BSW 426 Introduction to Social Work Research | |
Elective 300 level or above | |
Year 4: Spring Semester | 15 |
BSW 406 Generalist Practice IV | |
BSW 471 Generalist Practicum II | |
BSW 473 Generalist Practicum Seminar and Lab II | |
Social Work Elective 300 level or above | |
Elective any level | |
Graduation requirement or culminating undergraduate experience (CUE) requirement that’s fulfilled by completing BSW 472 Generalist Practicum Seminar and Lab I | |
Minimum Total Hours for Graduation | 120 |
START YOUR APPLICATION REQUEST INFORMATION
* All degrees require the completion of the university-wide General Education Program. Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
1 Six (6) hours of Diversity (D1/D2) coursework is required. If these competency areas are not covered as part of the program requirements and/or general elective coursework, 6 additional hours will be needed to fulfill the University of Louisville competency-area requirements.
2 Or equivalent as approved/decided by the unit.
3 Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
4Students must have a minimum total of 60 credit hours to complete the Lower Division requirements.
5 Two of the five Upper Division Social Work Elective courses must be from Social Work (minimum 300 level). Please contact the BSW Advising Team should you have questions.
6 Practicum is the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) for BSW students. As such, it is intentionally designed to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the core competencies that they learn throughout the Program. Before beginning the Practicum, students are expected to successfully complete all 300-level BSW Core requirements.