Earning this BSW will prepare you to become a social work generalist who provides services to people across the lifespan. Social workers interact with a range of people from individuals and groups to communities and larger societal systems. As a social worker, you’ll engage in direct practice with those affected by issues related to mental health, aging, child maltreatment, criminal sentencing, disability policy, human rights and more.
This program is open to those with a variety of backgrounds. Whether you work or volunteer in direct services environments or broad areas of social service, you may be a good fit for this social work degree. Standout candidates have a passion for working with people and want to address complex social issues that impact vulnerable communities.
The skills you’ll develop in this online BSW
In this program, you’ll take courses sequentially, allowing you to build a foundation in social work concepts and apply them in practice. The curriculum is designed to build your abilities as a social work generalist. Key areas of learning include advocacy, consultation and education, as well as providing direct services. Career-focused skills you’ll build center around:
- Assessment.
- Engagement.
- Evaluation.
- Intervention.
- Intake.
- Research.
This online BSW is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE). Upon graduating, you may be eligible for licensure through your state's licensing agency.
Gain hands-on experience close to home
As part of this BSW program, you’ll build tangible skills when you complete a supervised 480-hour practicum. You’ll work with the School of Social Work’s Practicum Education Office to identify a site. Because your site will be located in your geographic region, you’ll be able to immediately make an impact in your community.
The practicum will solidify your competencies as a practitioner. You’ll have the opportunity to explore your professional identity, enhance your social work skills and practice working in a professional environment. You can tailor your practicum to your interests and choose from settings including schools, hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities and more.
Additionally, if you want to pursue advanced positions in social work, you can earn an advanced standing Master of Social Work in as little as one year after graduating with your BSW. Note: you must meet all admission requirements to be admitted.
If you’re passionate about helping individuals, families, groups and communities with a variety of challenges, the online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) may be an ideal fit. Offered through Arizona State University’s School of Social Work, this program will provide you with the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to pursue a rewarding career. You’ll graduate equipped to provide direct services and make an impact in your community.
Your courses will cover a range of topics from micro and macro human behavior to ethics and whole-person health. In your last two semesters, you’ll apply the concepts and skills you’ve learned to a 480-hour practicum in your geographic region. Practicum sites can include hospices, youth organizations, community centers and other settings that involve providing support services.
The impressive faculty in the School of Social Work inspires the next generation of social workers through real-world solutions to issues in areas such as child welfare, family violence, health and mental health disparities, human trafficking and water scarcity. Our faculty are among the most prolific social work researchers in the country and many of the texts used in social work programs across the country were written by faculty who teach in the school’s online social work programs. Our faculty includes:
- 7 Fellows of the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare.
- 11 Fellows of the Society for Social Work and Research.
- 5 Fulbright Scholars.
The School of Social Work is a part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions — a comprehensive public service college dedicated to addressing social problems through teaching, research and service. Our programs, which range from public policy and social work to criminal justice and emergency management, are designed to prepare graduates to make a difference in their communities.
in social work research, according to the National Science Foundation, 2023.
best online bachelor's programs, according to U.S. News & World Report, 2025.
in the U.S. for innovation for 11 consecutive years, ahead of Stanford and MIT.
public university in the U.S. chosen by international students, according to the Institute of International Education, 2022.
best graduate social work program, according to U.S. News & World Report, 2026.
ASU's academic programs that prepare you for professional licensure or certification are designed to meet Arizona's requirements. Completing an ASU program may not fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification in other states. For additional information, visit the professional licensure webpage.
No, Arizona State University’s diplomas don’t specify whether you earn your degree online or in person. All diplomas and transcripts simply say “Arizona State University.”