>> Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Programs

What does it cost?

Check out our cost calculator or visit student financial services for information on estimated costs.

How long will it take?

A minimum of 120 credit hours must be completed. A full-time student may complete this program in four years.

Where can I take classes?
Atlanta Campus, Online

Am I required to take classes at a specific location?
Atlanta Campus

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

Fall admission applications are only accepted from January 1 through July 1.

Social Work, B.S.W.

School of Social Work

Email: kseelman@gsu.edu
Phone: 404-413-1071

Social workers fight for social justice, help children and families, improve connections in communities and improve lives. It’s a noble profession and it can lead to a rewarding career for you. Jobs are numerous, including roles in hospitals, community health centers, schools, homeless shelters, nursing homes and nonprofit organizations. The bachelor of social work will prepare you for entry level work with these types of employers and also will make you ready to enter a master of social work program in the future.

Our curriculum is focused on nine competencies that are connected to our accreditation and licensure rules in Georgia.

  • You will have a foundation for understanding human behavior in a variety of different contexts and social settings.
  • You will practice methods for intervention with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations, and systems.
  • The curriculum is designed to develop your skill in:
    • critical thinking and ethics
    • intervention approaches with diverse populations
    • understanding of human functioning and the social environment
    • practice evaluation and research.

Getting started: You can apply to the BSW program for admission after you completed your lower division classes, which typically takes two years. You can start at Georgia State as an “Exploratory Social Work” status student while you gather the necessary credits and then apply to be a BSW student the spring before your junior year.

Your success matters: You will work with the undergraduate advisement center throughout your time at Georgia State to make sure you are enrolling in the correct courses.

Program Details

Students can choose between 2 options when applying for the BSW program (both options currently require students to live in Georgia while completing the program to facilitate field placements).

1) Atlanta campus option – offers a combination of in-person, hybrid and online courses to choose from, at various times of day and evening. Course selection depends on scheduling and available seats, so you may end up with courses in any of these formats. This option may require attending some courses on the downtown Atlanta campus.

2) Online option – all of your BSW courses are fully online, and you would complete a field placement in your local community in Georgia. Courses may be synchronous (requiring real-time, online sessions) or asynchronous (no required real-time, online sessions).

Courses are filled on a first-come, first-serve registration basis, based on the program option you choose.

For a student to be considered for B.S.W. status, the student must:

  1. Be in good standing at Georgia State with a minimum institutional GPA of 2.5.
  2. File a formal application in the school for B.S.W. status.
  3. Have grades of C or higher in English 1101 and 1102.
  4. Have successfully completed Areas A through F (except SW 2000).
  5. Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 or better in the lower-division courses counted for completion of Areas A-F and a minimum grade of C or higher in SW 2000, if completed.

Entry into the B.S.W. program is a selective process on a space availability basis. A student who meets only the minimum GPA or other criteria is not necessarily guaranteed acceptance. Qualified students who are denied entry at one time will be placed on a competitive waiting list in the order of their denial to await possible access to the program at a subsequent time.

Access the BSW application

Visit Bachelor’s Degree Admissions for information on applying to Georgia State.

Students admitted to the School of Social Work begin as Exploratory Social Work students and change their status only after the student has made formal application and formal admission has been granted. Exploratory Social Work status is assigned to students who have not completed all lower-division courses in Areas A-F or have not met GPA eligibility requirements. Once students are admitted they will continue with their required program courses, which include mandatory field education.

The curriculum includes:

  • 42 hours of core courses (Areas A – E)
  • 18 hours of courses related to the program of study (Area F)
  • 48 hours of major courses (Area G)
  • 12 hours of electives (Area H)
  • Total of 120 credit hours

View a detailed list of curriculum requirements.

BSW Competencies PDF Document

Georgia State BSW Assessment document

 

Georgia State University
Baccalaureate Social Work Program
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes.

Download Assessment

Download the School of Social Work Student Handbook

Description

Careers

Social workers are members of one of the faster growing professions. They are concerned with a wide variety of issues related to personal growth, the development of flexible and positive relationships, and the establishment of social justice.

Social work is a profession for those with a spark of idealism, a belief in social justice and a love of working with people. Social work offers the chance to work with and for people of all kinds: rich and poor, white and black, young and old, in hospitals, at home or at work.

Contacts

The School of Social Work
55 Park Place NE; 5th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Phone: 404-413-1050
Fax: 404-413-1075

14 Marietta St
Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.