Social Work, B.S.W. – Online

Total upper division credits: 60

Total credits in major: 80

Total credits to graduate: 120

Upper Division Curriculum

• SOWK 2184 – Writing for the Social Work Profession
• SOWK 3120 – Diversity and Populations-at-Risk
• SOWK 3180 – Case Management
• SOWK 3199 – Professional Behaviors, Ethics, and Communication
• SOWK 3201 – Foundations of Social Welfare
• SOWK 3202 – Social Welfare Policy
• SOWK 3133 – Community Engagement and Outreach
• SOWK 3181 – Practice Methods I
• PSYC 2151 – Psychology Distress, Dysfunction, and Disorders
• SOWK 3182 – Practice Methods II
• SOWK 3482 – Social Work Practicum I
• SOWK 3900 – Social Work Research I
• SOWK 3184 – Practice Methods III
• SOWK 3484 – Social Work Practicum II
• SOWK 3988 – Social Work Research II

Population Courses: Students are required to complete 12 hours in populations courses.

Criteria for Admissions to Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Upper Division

• Minimum cumulative GPA 2.5 or higher
• Course Credits and prerequisites
  • 60 earned credits or will have completed 60 credits by the start of Upper Division
  • Completed and earned a C or better in the following courses: BIOL 1110, BIOL 1110L, POLS 1511, PSYC 1101, STAT 1222, SOCY 1101, SOWK 1511, SOWK 2182, and SOWK 2183
  • Completion of all general education requirements by the start of upper division
• Resume
• Essay
  • 4-5 double-spaced pages; APA 7th ed format
  • Discuss reason for seeking BSW and career goals
  • Describe a social problem social workers might address through their work. Include research that helps readers understand the problem.
  • Discuss what a social worker might do to ensure they help and do not cause harm to those they serve.
  • Students in the BSW program must complete coursework along with a practicum during the final year of the program. The practicum will be 16-hours per week in both fall and spring. Share your plan for being able to fit the BSW program, including the practicum into your life. Be specific in your plan of how you will accomplish your practicum placement, classes, and other responsibilities (e.g., working, family).

Admission offers are conditional until verification of the satisfactory completion of prerequisites, general education requirements, and GPA. Occasionally, in an effort to help students stay on track for a timely graduation, students may be admitted who are missing a prerequisite. If an exception is made, the student must be able to outline a plan for completing the requirement.

Students who don’t immediately qualify for the Upper Division can still apply for admission to the Social Work Lower Division provided they have a minimum 2.0 gpa and minimum of 24 transferable credits. The application can be found on the Future 49er portal. Once the Lower Division criteria is satisfied, students can apply for the Upper Division. Please visit the Social Work website or contact an Enrollment Specialist for more information.

Application Submission Timeline

Applications for upper division are accepted December 15 – July 15. Priority deadline March 1. Decisions are released on a rolling basis until August 1.

Lower Division application deadlines mirror the general undergraduate admissions timelines.

Overview of Selection Process

The application process for upper division is competitive and not all applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be accepted. Applications are reviewed by the BSW Admissions Committee which is composed of full-time social work faculty members who regularly teach in the BSW program. Application elements (academic preparation, experience, and essay prompts) are scored using a BSW rating rubric which is based on a point system. Competitive applicants (those with highest scores) are selected until all seats are filled. Applicants are notified of the decision of admission or denial on a rolling basis, but no later than August 1st. There is not a waitlist for Upper Division. Applicants who have been offered admission to the BSW Program and who wish to accept the offer will need to submit their electronic enrollment form by the deadline identified in the acceptance letter. If the form is not returned by the deadline, it will be assumed that the student has declined the offer.

For additional questions, contact sswadmissions@charlotte.edu.

What can you do with a BSW degree?

Charlotte BSW alumni are employed in a variety of areas such as child protective services, substance abuse treatment, hospitals, youth and children services, criminal justice, adoptions/foster care, hospice, and long-term care.

Other BSW graduates choose to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Many apply to the UNC Charlotte MSW program or MSW programs at other universities.

Generally, alumni from the Bachelor of Social Work program are working in the Charlotte region. UNC Charlotte BSW graduates have job titles such as:

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers
• Social and Human Service Specialists
• Healthcare Social Workers
• Registered Nurses
• Medical Social Workers
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers

UNC Charlotte BSW graduates go on to work for companies and organizations such as:

• Mecklenburg County
• Atrium Health
• Novant Health
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• US Department of Veterans Affairs
• Thompson Child & Family Focus
• Cone Health

Lightcast research indicates that the average of the estimated wage for selected alumni of the BSW program, based on the median wage for their occupation in their county, adjusted for age and degree level, is $64,000 (Source: Lightcast- lightcast.io).

Why earn your Online BSW at UNC Charlotte?

Accredited by CSWE: The UNC Charlotte BSW Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national accrediting body for social work education programs. This means that the program meets the highest standards of academic quality and professional preparation.

Faculty: UNC Charlotte’s School of Social Work faculty bring a wealth of knowledge to the classroom, with diverse research interests and extensive real-world practice experience. Their expertise spans a variety of social work disciplines, ensuring students receive a well-rounded education grounded in both cutting-edge research and practical application.

Opportunities for hands-on experience: The UNC Charlotte BSW Program requires students to gain hands-on experience through practicum placements. Practicums allow students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world settings.

Strong alumni network: The UNC Charlotte BSW Program has a strong alumni network that can provide support and guidance to students throughout their studies and beyond.

Stand out with a respected, top-tier degree. UNC Charlotte is ranked #3 in the nation for online bachelor’s degrees by U.S. News & World Report.

NC Resident Tuition: $189.48 per credit hour

Outside of NC Non-Resident: $348.32 per credit hour

Non-Resident Tuition: $800.40 per credit hour