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Social Work, B.S.W.

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The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Shippensburg University prepares you for a variety of careers in the field as well as further study. Our program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and helps you develop social work knowledge, skills and values. 

The mission of the Shippensburg University BSW program is to provide comprehensive preparation for competent entry-level social work practice and/or graduate study. This program includes:

  • A curriculum grounded in the generalist approach
  • A special emphasis on the respect for diversity and human rights
  • Involvement and leadership in the practice community from the local to the global level
  • Elective courses may focus on a particular setting or issue in social work practice.

Upon graduating from the program, following steps to register with the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Licensed Professional Counselors, and passing the accompanying Association of Social Work Boards exam, students can earn the Licensed Bachelor of Social Work credential in PA.

Employers in the region regularly recruit and hire our graduates because of our program’s excellent reputation. Alumni of our program help others through their careers in these areas and more:

  • Child welfare
  • Health care
  • Programs for older adults
  • Behavioral health
  • Mental health
  • Substance use
  • Educational settings
  • Business and industry
  • Community organizing
  • Public policy
  • Program development

Many students use their degree as a springboard to graduate school for a Master of Social Work program which can lead to additional career opportunities that include providing clinical mental health services or serving as agency administrators.

Our department has several unique affiliations that provide great opportunities:

  • Shippensburg Community Resource Coalition (SCRC) - This is a community-university partnership social services agency. Ship is the only institution in Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education that operates a social service agency to provide services to the community and learning opportunities for students.

Accreditation and Student Resources

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The Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs offered by the Ship’s Social Work and Gerontology Department are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Course work for Social Work, B.S.W.

The program requires 120 credits including the university's general education curriculum and 20 credits in free electives. For full course descriptions, please visit the undergraduate catalog.

The Shippensburg University General Education Program is the university curriculum that is shared by all undergraduate students. Details for courses you will take can be found here.

General Education requirements specific for this major

  • Quantitative (Q): MATH 117 
  • Diversity (D): SOCI 101 
  • Citizenship (S): POLI 100 
  • Critical Reasoning (R): SOCI 101 
  • Natural World (N): BIOL 100 or BIOL 150 
  • Natural World (T): PSYC 101 

Students must earn a C or higher in Social Work courses in order for them to count as prerequisites and towards program completion. 

  • SOWK 102 - Social Work in Social Welfare 
  • SOWK 150 - Human Relations Lab 
  • SOWK 250 - Assessing Individuals in the Social Environment 
  • SOWK 265 - Understanding Human Diversity for Social Justice 
  • SOWK 270 - Social Work Practice with Individuals 
  • SOWK 375 - Social Work Skills for Working with Groups 
  • SOWK 327 - Social Work Practice with Families 
  • SOWK 340 - Assessing Organizations and Communities in Society 
  • SOWK 360 - Research Techniques for Social Workers 
  • SOWK 370 - Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities 
  • SOWK 420 - Gender Issues for Helping Professionals 
  • SOWK 450 - Social Welfare Policies and Services 
  • SOWK 388 - Preparation for Practicum 
  • SOWK 462 - Seminar in Social Work Methods 
  • SOWK 460 - Field Work in Social Work I 
  • SOWK 461 - Field Work in Social Work II 

Note: Field work in social work and the Seminar in Social Work Methods are taken for 15 credit hours with no additional course work during the last semester in the senior year. Students must have earned a C or better in all required social work courses and full faculty approval before they are eligible for field work and Seminar in Social Work Methods.

One of the following courses is required:

  • SOWK 262 - Social Work Elective: Introduction to Child Welfare Practice 
  • SOWK 347 - Special Fields of Social Work: Behavioral Health 
  • SOWK 348 - Special Fields of Social Work: Substance Abuse 
  • SOWK 351 - Social Work Elective: Aging 
  • SOWK 356 - Social Work Elective: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 
  • SOWK 357 - Special Fields of Social Work: Health Care 
  • SOWK 359 - Social Work Elective: Violence in Interpersonal Relationships
  • SOWK 383 - Selected Topics in Social Welfare 
  • SOWK 490 - Selected Topics in Social Welfare 

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Contact the Social Work and Gerontology Department

382 Shippen Hall 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: 717-477-1717 Fax: (717) 477-4051