Online Bachelor’s in Social Work

Develop your abilities to make a difference in the world.

The online bachelor's in Social Work will teach you how to work with individuals, families, organizations and communities.

If your goal is to help others and make the world a better place, the study of social work can be your pathway. In the Bachelor of Social Work degree program at PennWest Global Online, you will learn how to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities to restore and enhance social functioning.

The fully accredited bachelor's degree program is specially designed to:

Help social work majors focus on how to improve the quality of life for at-risk people in the nearby region and throughout Pennsylvania.
Enable social work majors to participate in a one-semester practicum in a social services or human services agency.
Ensure full understanding of the role of a social worker by placing students in the field for 480 hours in their last semester.
Encourage students to practice interpersonal skills in our lab and be videotaped for feedback from peers and faculty in the program.

View courses

View the BSW Student Handbook

View the BSW Student Outcomes Assessment

Online flexibility

Flexible learning options mean you can earn your degree on your time and on your terms. As the only BSW in western Pennsylvania offered 100% online, our program fits your busy lifestyle with a flexible, asynchronous delivery method.

Internships

During your final semester of the Bachelor of Social Work program, you will have the opportunity for extensive hands-on learning through an internship with a social service organization. This experience not only enhances your education but also provides networking opportunities that often lead to full-time employment after graduation.

Professional Opportunities

Graduates of the social work program are eligible for membership in the National Association of Social Workers and receive advanced standing in many accredited graduate social work programs.

Fast Facts

Oldest in PA

The bachelor's degree in social work at PennWest University is one of the oldest, accredited undergraduate social work programs in Pennsylvania.

Credits:

120

Format:

100% online

Contact:

Kim Hardner
khardner@pennwest.edu
814-732-1521

Careers and Salaries

PennWest’s bachelor's degree in social work prepares beginning social work practitioners to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities to:

Improve the quality of life for at-risk people in the surrounding Pennsylvania region and broader global society.
Foster social and economic justice, human rights and respect for diversity.
Enhance existing social services through research, continuing education and service.

Within the ever-growing field of social work, students will be able to help people in a variety of settings including:

Early intervention
Public welfare programs
Child welfare
Foster care and adoption
Schools
Programs for individuals with disabilities
Community centers
Hospitals
Mental health clinics
Nursing homes
Drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs
Political offices
Community advocacy programs
Prison and re-entry program

Social work students report they are well prepared to enter the workforce and the profession. Alumni hold career positions in a wide range of organizations in the region and throughout Pennsylvania at:

American Red Cross of Western Pennsylvania
Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, Inc.
Twin Lakes Center for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Veterans Administration
Washington County Children and Youth Services

Graduate Outcomes

Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior
Engage diversity and difference in practice
Advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
Engage in practice -informed research and research - informed practice
Engage in policy practice
Engage with individuals, families, groups organizations, and communities
Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities