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happy social worker with a client

Social Work (BSW)

Dr. Debra Gresham

TU’s Social Work program has a low student-to-faculty ratio and a flexible class schedule to meet the needs of full-time students and full-time professionals. Students now have three options to complete the BSW degree by taking courses (1) on-campus, (2) on-campus & online or (3) totally online. In addition, the BSW requires 400 field practicum hours with our community-partner agencies

TU’s program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This accreditation provides an option for BSW graduates to earn their Master of Social Work degree in one year instead of two years.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for professional social workers is forecasted to increase in the next 10 years by at least 11 percent, which is much faster than the national average, with a median annual salary of $50,470. Now is the time for students to enter our program, complete the BSW degree and embark on a rewarding career as a social worker!

I look forward to working with you as you prepare for your Social Work career.

Debra L. Gresham, Ph.D. MSW
Program Director for Social Work

Social Work is a diverse and unique profession encompassing the power to make a difference in others’ lives and in communities.  There are many areas where social workers are employed such as mental health, social justice, family counseling and legislative advocacy.  Thomas University ensures its graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills and ethics necessary to serve individuals, families, organizations and communities.

For more detailed information on practice areas, see the Information Sheet.

Completion of this degree provides students with the ability to pursue a graduate degree in Social Work (MSW) and become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Students can also apply directly to the TU Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling master’s degree program.

+Courses

General Education

  • Composition I
  • Composition II
  • Oral Communications
  • University Studies
  • College Algebra
  • Introduction to Social Work
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Math/Science electives (2 classes)
  • Social Science elective
  • Cultural Foundation electives (2 courses)
  • Creativity electives (2 courses)

Major Courses

  • Social Work Practice with Individuals
  • Social Work Practice with Families
  • Social Work Practice with Groups
  • Social Work Practice with Communities & Organizations
  • Human Behavior in Social Environment
  • Ethical Issues in Human Services
  • Social Welfare Policy
  • Research and Program Evaluation
  • Field Practicum I
  • Field Practicum II
  • Senior Seminar I
  • Senior Seminar II
  • Open Electives

TOTAL CREDITS 120

Bachelor of Social Work Curriculum PDF

CIP Code 45.0101

+Accreditation

TU’s BSW curriculum is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

CSWE sets rigorous accreditation benchmarks for all social work programs in the country and is considered the “gold standard” for social work education.

All programs (BSW and MSW) are required to have a field internship component to their curriculum. All BSW programs must have a minimum of 400 hours of field practicum experience.

Assessment of Student Outcomes:

All CSWE programs measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies that comprise the accreditation standards. These competencies are dimensions of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training.

Our assessment is the final evaluation by field placement (internship) supervisors of student performance at the end of the student’s senior year. A measurement benchmark is set by the social work programs for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent mastery of that particular competency.

Students are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5 regarding their overall competency in a given area with:

  • 1 = No or minimal competency
  • 2 = Some competency
  • 3 = Expected competency for a BSW graduate
  • 4 = Integrated competency displayed consistently
  • 5 = Role model for competency behavior

Our benchmark goal in our evaluation is to have 100% of our graduates achieve at least a 3 or above.

Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes

+FAQs

Why should I seek the BSW degree from Thomas University?
Thomas University offers the BSW degree that guarantees you a low student/faculty ratio in your classes and a flexible class schedule designed to accommodate the needs of full-time students and full-time professionals. Our faculty is experienced in supporting first generation students, working parents and other interested groups in obtaining their BSW degree.  Our curriculum is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)–which means you are receiving a degree that is as rigorous as any accredited program in the country.

What characteristics do you look for in a student who is interested in the BSW program at Thomas University?
That’s a great question! The most important characteristic is that you are interested in helping people, and you are open to learning about new ways facilitate these practices. To accomplish this, you will need to take risks and be flexible by trying new things (interviewing people, asking the correct questions) and be open to receiving feedback regarding areas of improvement. One must possess several key characteristics in order to properly excel: studious, as well as being able to critically examine research in order to discern the best ways to help people, knowledge of computers, as many of our program elements are online.  One must also be willing to work hard on developing communication skills – both written and verbal – as that is the most important quality cited by employers about valued employees in this field. Lastly and most importantly, one needs to be a responsible and ethical professional who realizes that behavior not only affects ones’ self, but those you serve.

What does accreditation do for me?
Accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) enables professionals and other schools to know that you have achieved a certain standard of excellence in your education. Accreditation also enables graduating BSW students to be considered for “advanced standing” in a Master of Social Work (MSW) program. This may allow the student to skip courses in their Master degree studies and obtain a MSW in a full calendar year (summer, fall, spring). However, please note that accreditation does not guarantee a student advance standing – MSW programs decide that on a case-by-case basis.

Thomas University’s program has been fully accredited by CSWE since 2005. A CSWE accreditation is considered the “gold standard” of social work education, entailing the achievement of numerous benchmarks and achievements.

What makes social work different than other helping professions?
All of the helping professions seek to assist persons using a knowledge base of expertise developed by researchers. Social workers use the “generalist” perspective which means using information, technology or resources that are ethical, effective and available to help the client. We utilize a “person in environment” or “ecosystems” approach which maintains that in order to help someone, you must also deal with the situation that contributed to causing their problem.

+Admissions

Students with no prior college, please provide an official high school transcript or GED. Students with prior college credit  must submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges. 

Send official transcripts to admissions@thomasu.edu.

Or

Admissions Office
Thomas University
1501 Millpond Road
Thomasville, GA 31792

+Careers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics separates social workers in to four categories:
  • Child, Family and School
  • Healthcare
  • Mental Health and Substance Abuse
  • All Other Social Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an increase of 16% in this field through 2026. The largest number of positions are expected to specialize in helping children and families or work in school settings.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Graduates of this program are also prepared to pursue master’s degrees in a variety of human service careers such as Social Work, Psychology, and Counseling.

Social Work Career Opportunities

Fieldwork Information

Thomas University

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1501 Millpond Road
Thomasville, GA 31792
229.226.1621
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