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Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program prepares students to make a positive impact in their communities through advocacy, service, and professional practice. You'll build skills in mental health, child welfare, social services, and community engagement while gaining hands-on experience through field education.

Explore the Bachelor of Social Work

Choose Your Path to a Social Work Degree

Students can choose the path that best fits their goals and budget. Some begin their studies at Miami University Regionals and transition to the Oxford campus for the traditional college experience. Others maximize cost savings by completing Liberal Education requirements and many BSW courses at the Regionals before transitioning to Oxford for advanced coursework. 

This flexible approach allows students to balance affordability, convenience, and their desired college experience while earning a Bachelor of Social Work degree.

Preparing Future Social Workers

The mission of the Social Work program is to educate and prepare competent and effective professionals for generalist practice in social work. The program seeks to develop a solid foundation of social work knowledge, values and skills based on our competency standards, as set forth by the Council on Social Work Education and the NASW Code of Ethics.

Advantages of Miami’s BSW program

  • Miami’s undergraduate Social Work program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
  • In your senior year, you complete an internship at one or more agencies. You are placed in an internship based on your interests and career goals.
  • Graduates of our program are eligible for the “Advanced Standing” MSW program, and can complete their master’s degree in social work in only one additional year.
  • Our graduates are employed in a variety of settings including schools, mental health clinics, hospitals, military bases, public social service agencies, and corporations.
  • Graduates of our program are eligible to apply for social work licensure AND are eligible for provisional certification as a Family Life Educator by the National Council on Family Relations.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates with a bachelor’s in social work pursue careers in healthcare, mental health, substance use prevention/intervention, school-based mental health, foster care and adoption, LGBTQ+ services, case management, nonprofit services/ management, probation or parole services, interpersonal violence, food and income assistance, policy development, advocacy, grassroots advocacy, and many more. Many graduates have also gone on to pursue a master’s degree in social work.

Career Opportunities

  • Foster Care Caseworker
  • School Social Worker
  • Medical or Hospital Social Worker
  • Probation Officer
  • Child/family Therapist
  • Case Manager
  • Group Home Social Worker
  • Counselor for Persons with
  • Disabilities
  • Hospice Counselor
  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Child Protective Services Worker
  • Group Therapist
  • International Social Worker
  • Home Care Social Worker
  • Researcher
  • Family Court Officer
  • Youth Worker
  • Military Social Worker
  • Mental Health Worker
  • Geriatric Services Provider
  • Community Organizer
  • Policy Developer
  • Private Practice Therapist
  • Author
  • National Consultant
  • Agency Director
  • Domestic Violence Victims Advocate
  • Sexual Assault Victims Advocate
and more.

What Students Are Saying

What I like about being a Social Work major on the regional campus is that you feel almost like you’re a part of a super special club.

When I meet other Social Work majors here on campus, it feels like there are others here who want to be a part of the same good in society that I would like to be a part of!

Oxford campus can be a little more expensive, but doing it on Regionals is awesome because it feels super inclusive since it is a little smaller here.

I personally think that social work is hope, hope for a better life for all.

Social work is innovation — it’s constantly changing because people change and we serve people. Social work to me is a noble cause that only a person that truly cares about their community and people can do. Social work is helping whoever needs it, because many times we are the only people close enough to care or to connect them what or who they need.

4-Year Plan to Stay a Regionals Student

Miami General Bulletin

First-Year Fall Semester

  • FSW 201 Intro to Social Work & Family Life Educ. (3)
  • FSW 206 Social Welfare Policies & Programs (3)
  • PSY 111 Introduction to Psychology (3) 
  • PSY 112 Foundational Exp. in Psychology (1)
  • ENG 111 or ENG 109 English Composition (3)

TOTAL: 14

First-Year Spring Semester

  • FSW 295 Research Methods (3)
  • FSW 312 Human Behavior in Social Env. (3)
  • Miami Plan: Creative Arts (approved list) (3)
  • Miami Plan: Natural Sciences w/ Lab (approved list) (4)
  • Miami Plan: Humanities (approved list) (3)

TOTAL: 16

Sophomore Fall Semester

  • STA 261 Math & Formal Reasoning (4)
  • FSW 245 Children & Families: 0-12 (3)
  • FSW 466 Interpersonal Perspectives Adulthood & Aging† (3)
  • FSW 442 Family Resource Management† (3)
  • Miami Plan: Global Citizenship Course (approved list) (3)

TOTAL: 16

Sophomore Spring Semester

  • Miami Plan: Global Citizenship Course (approved) (3)
  • FSW 365 Family Life Sexuality Education† (3)
  • FSW 475 Family Theories† (3)
  • FSW 304* Professionalism and Ethics (3)
  • Miami Plan: Natural Sciences (approved list) (3)

TOTAL: 15

Junior Fall Semester

  • Assessment & Intervention w/ Individuals & Families† (3)
  • FSW 415 Culturally-Informed Practice† (3) 
  • FSW 481 Adolescent Development: 13-25 (3)
  • Miami Plan: Signature Inquiry Course (approved list) (3)
  • Elective (3)

TOTAL: 15

Junior Spring Semester

  • FSW 406 Group Theory & Practice† (3)
  • Miami Plan: Global Citizenship Course (approved list) (3)
  • FSW 261 Diverse Families Across Life Cycle (3)
  • FSW 418 Program Development and Evaluation† (3)
  • Elective (3)

TOTAL: 15

Senior Fall Semester

  • FSW 411 Senior Field Experience I† (4)
  • FSW 412 Senior Seminar in Social Work I† (2)
  • PSY 242 Abnormal Psychology (3)
  • Miami Plan: Signature Inquiry Course (approved list) (3)
  • Miami Plan: Global Citizenship Course (approved list) (3)

TOTAL: 15

Senior Spring Semester

  • FSW 414 Senior Field Experience II† (4)
  • FSW 413 Senior Seminar in Social Work II† (2)
  • FSW 451 Interpersonal Violence† (3)
  • Miami Plan: Signature Inquiry Course (approved list) (3)
  • Elective (3)
  • Elective (3)

TOTAL: 18

For More Information

Department of Social Sciences and Education

Hamilton Campus, Phelps Hall 103
1601 University Blvd.
Hamilton, OH 45011
513-785-3024