Online Bachelor of Social Work Program

The mission of the Online Bachelor of Social Work Program (Online BSW) is to prepare students for beginning professional generalist social work practice in a wide range of settings and with diverse populations through education, research, and service with special appreciation for the peoples and institutions of West Virginia, Appalachia, and other rural areas. The Council on Social Work Education has accredited the Online Bachelor of Social Work program since 2022. The accreditation applies to beginning-level generalist social work practice. Upon completion of the Online Bachelor of Social Work degree requirements, the National Association of Social Workers will accept graduates as regular members of the Association. Additionally, graduates will be allowed to sit for the Social Work Licensure Exam.

Graduates of the four-year online program will be prepared for:

  • Beginning level professional generalist social work practice;
  • Graduate social work education.

A basic arts and sciences education is essential to professional social work education. There is no foreign language requirement. All courses require letter grades except SOWK 4601/SOWK 4602, Practicum Instruction, which is a pass-fail evaluation due to the nature of field experience. There are no provisions for awarding academic credit for life experience or previous work experience in lieu of the practicum placement requirement or to fulfill any of the foundation course requirements.

Beginning with the introductory class, there are opportunities for field experience in many of the required social work courses.

Educational Requirements for State Licensure Report

The Social Work profession focuses on issues of equality and social and economic justice while working to strengthen individuals, families, and communities. Here at Concord University, you will develop the knowledge and learn the skills to work in various settings.

Our professional social work education includes courses on social work values and ethics, diversity, social and economic justice, populations-at-risk, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social work practice, research, and field practicum. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and upon graduation, students are qualified to become licensed social work practitioners.

Concord’s Online Bachelor of Social Work program offers a specialized degree that prepares its graduates for immediate entry into professional social work positions or graduate school. Graduates of our program are well-prepared to enter the field. In fact:

  • Graduates are either employed in the social work field (most either during or after completion of their internship) or accepted to graduate school.
  • Public Service Scholarships are available, and upon graduation, provide direct access to jobs with the state-wide Department of Health and Human Resources.
  • Students may be eligible for assistantships to work with faculty on research projects.
  • Continuous and ongoing contact with community agencies and organizations.
  • BSW’s are given special consideration for civil service ranking.
  • Graduates are allowed to take the Social Work Licensure Exam.
  • Fully Accredited since 2022 by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Graduates of the online social work program are trained as generalist practitioners through a wide range of courses, enabling them to work effectively with a variety of issues and people.

Core Courses Include:

  • Introduction to Social Work
  • Group Dynamics and Interviewing Skills
  • Human Behavior in the Social Environment
  • Social Policy and Services
  • Human Diversity
  • Social Work Research Methods
  • Field Instruction Internship

Elective Courses Include:

  • Health and Human Resources Administration
  • Working with Children and Adolescents
  • Gerontology and the Field of Aging
  • Health Care
  • Corrections
  • International Social Work Addictions
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Social workers are highly sought after in a wide variety of occupations. Generalist social work practitioners can work in a variety of fields and settings dealing with human behavior. Below are just a few of the many career choices that are possible with a degree in social work.

  • Abuse Centers
  • Adoption and Foster Care
  • Adult and Child Protective Services
  • Advocacy Organizations
  • Civil Rights and Social Justice Services
  • City and County Departments of Social Services
  • Community Action Agencies
  • Community Planning and Development
  • Corporate & Industrial Settings
  • Correctional Institutions
  • Counseling
  • Department of Health and Human Resources
  • Developmental Disabilities (Children & Adults)
  • Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Programs
  • Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers
  • Employee Assistance Programs
  • Employment Counseling
  • Family Social Services
  • Hospice Programs
  • Hospitals (Medical & Psychiatric)
  • Human Relations Work
  • Juvenile and Adult Probation
  • Juvenile Services
  • Nursing Homes
  • Public Assistance Programs
  • Public Housing Authority
  • Public Schools
  • Rehabilitation and Vocational Services
  • Substance Abuse
  • Veteran’s Affairs