Social Work Bachelor's Degree Overview
The profession of social work is booming. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 16% growth in jobs between 2016 and 2026.
Social workers have a two-fold mission: to help diverse populations overcome challenges; and to empower social systems and communities to better respond to people’s needs.
The University of Toledo’s accredited social work degree program prepares students to live this mission and to become licensed social work professionals.
UT's social work students gain knowledge and skills in interviewing, recording and working with culturally diverse populations. Undergraduates study social policy and human behavior. They conduct research. And they gain real-world experience through field placements in social service organizations.
Social work and social justice go hand-in-hand. Our program in the College of Health and Human Services is committed to the advancement of human rights and the achievement of social, economic and environmental justice.
Social Work Bachelor's Degree Highlights
- Two mandatory internships. This field experience gives our students an edge in the job market. They graduate with 508 hours of field training.
- University Partnership Program. This statewide program provides additional training and scholarships for undergraduates who plan to serve their communities as Child Protective Services social workers.
- Active social justice groups. The social work program is in UT’s School of Social Justice, home to the Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute. The institute operates the nation’s oldest academic conference on human trafficking. It organizes efforts at the local, state, federal and international levels to advocate for those affected by trafficking.
- Strong faculty research. Many UToledo social work instructors have become experts in their research areas and offer related courses, including:
- Latino community development
- Therapeutic use of animals
- Use of art in social work
- Inter-professional collaboration
- LGBT advocacy
- Human trafficking
- Opportunities outside the classroom.
- The Student Social Work Organization is an active advocacy group of both BSW and MSW students.
- Phi Alpha Honor Society provides a forum for networking and advocacy.
- The social work program sponsors speakers and events for students to engage in social justice conversations and public service efforts.
- Accreditation. The University of Toledo BSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
- Build on your degree. UToledo offers many minors that complement a social work degree: criminal justice, women’s and gender studies, disability studies and business.
Career Opportunities
UToledo’s social work majors learn the professional skills to be change agents in the community. They are prepared to:
| Work directly with clients in the field | Document their services in multiple formats |
| Faciliate group processes | Provide professional services at all levels of care |
| Lead advocacy efforts on behalf of their clients |
Social workers are employed as:
| Community mental-health case managers | Medical social workers |
| Child and family services case workers | Family community center and school social workers |
| Probation officers |
Our graduates have been accepted into such grad schools as:
| Case Western Reserve University | Texas Southern University |
| Cleveland State University | University of Maryland |
| Georgia State University | University of Michigan |
| The Ohio State University | University of Southern California |
| Ohio University | Wayne State University |
Our Alumni
"The social work program has given me so much confidence and opportunity."
"Take advantage of what UT has to offer. I am leaps and bounds ahead of where most of my colleagues are right now in their professional development. I am a rookie, but still have people asking me questions and seeking my advice – all due, I believe, to the preparation UT gave to me."
"I feel ready to start this new adventure, thanks to such wonderful professors. You all care so much for your students. We are truly a social work family."
"You have provided us an educational experience that cannot be matched. You are a good example of what professionalism is about and what teaching effectively can do for students. I believe you’ve provided us with the first step in our careers by teaching us important information and by being role models."
"You have helped me so much to make sure I am ‘social work ready’ and prepared for grad school."
Social Work Bachelor's Degree Plan of Study
UToledo offers a strong, generalist-practice BSW curriculum, along with a research practicum sequence and field placements. Our students learn the theory, then apply that knowledge in research and in the field.
View Plan of Study
Internship Opportunities for Social Work Bachelor's Degree
All social work undergraduates complete two required internships at community agencies. Seniors graduate with 508 hours of field experience. These internships help our students gain confidence and build their resumes.
Social Work Bachelor's Degree
4-year programProgram Availability
Program Quick Links
View Admission RequirementsSocial Work
College of Health and Human Services
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