Top 10 social work programs

Students apply to the program during the second half of their sophomore year, and must have general prerequisites — including courses in sociology, biology, social statistics, and psychology. Various study abroad programs can send undergraduates to China, Israel, Yucatan, and Romania.

In addition, a Social Work and Social Justice minor is also available. The ultimate goal is to produce graduates who will positively impact individuals, families, and communities through different social work agencies. The University of Alabama's School of Social Work has developed into a successful program since its inception in It offers degrees at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels.

At the undergraduate level, hours are needed to graduate, and 48 of those must be in major courses. If a student wishes to pursue an academic field not traditionally offered by the university, he or she can arrange for an independent study within the School of Social Work.

In order for this to be accommodated, it must be signed off by a supervising instructor, the department chair, and the assistant dean.

An aim of the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas is to shape student capacities for care of others. This involves a curriculum that educates on developing human potential, bringing about justice in society, and promoting the well-being of individuals.

Attaining this certificate involves choosing a field practicum agency that is involved in the child welfare system. It additionally involves specified courses. This university also has a Multicultural Scholars Program that aids students of color and first-generation college students.

Special interest extends to transfer students from Haskell Indian Nations University and community colleges in Kansas. As it is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the program expects much of its students — not only in academics, but also in social core values and ethics.

The goal is to produce capable students who utilize methods, techniques, and technologies in the field to resolve ethical dilemmas in a culturally sensitive social practice.

Aside from a field practicum that requires hours of supervised work, students have the opportunity to develop relationships with faculty members and graduate-level researchers through research. The lab was founded in , and its projects cover issues such as juvenile justice and child welfare, intergenerational mobility, kinship care, advanced care planning, and health inequities.

Undergraduates come alongside researchers and develop skills and experience to become valuable members of the research team. Though the Midwest can have cold winters, the social work program at the University of Iowa is more than enough of a reason to learn to love them. As a large school, Iowa offers degrees at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels.

Apart from general financial aid, four scholarships specific to social work are available to undergraduates. They can also be involved in the Social Work Student Association which provides fundraising, community, social, and educational events.

On top of all these, highly-motivated undergraduates can apply for honors, and complete the vigorous requirements set forth by the university's School of Social Work. Having one of the lowest tuition rates of these top schools for social work, ASU — Tempe in an incredible value.

More so, out-of-state students from the western half of the country are eligible for reduced tuition through the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program. Students have the option to study abroad in many areas of the world due to ASU — Tempe's vast reach. A unique feature of this program is the sheer amount of research within the School of Social Work. All of this funded research gives undergraduates many opportunities to gain research experience in myriad of social work sub-fields. Prior to undertaking major-specific courses, students must take classes in general areas that include, biology, psychology, sociology, economics, and government.

This provides a stable foundation from which the study of social issues and solutions can be accessed. These inform the elective courses and field placement options applicable to students pursuing these programs. Students can work with faculty to research best-practices for improving the behavioral health outcomes of individuals and groups in different contexts. The research experience, paired with the field practicum, is a valuable addition for those looking to continue in graduate study.

The University of Pittsburgh offers a BA in Social work that has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since , and this program is consistently ranked highly at the national level. Aside from the major, this program also features the Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates and the Child Welfare Education for Leadership Programs — both of which can help prepare undergraduates for employment in public child welfare agencies.

On the other end of the age spectrum, the university offers Aging Initiatives and Programs. These prepare students to develop and support agencies focused on older adults in society. In addition, the University of Pittsburgh is a productive research institution. Undergraduates are highly encouraged to participate in the novel work taking place.

This exciting program has incredible opportunities for students on the international front. Students can study abroad in London, Prague, Australia, or Sweden. If those opportunities take longer than a student wants to be abroad, he or she can settle for an "alternative spring break" in Grenada.

The program website lists 31 scholarship opportunities that are provided to students specifically in the social work major, making this a lucrative program. Though one of the goals of the Department of Social Work is to address social work issues in the local Boone Community, the department also sponsors international trips. These can range from one to three weeks, count for elective credit, and take students to Costa Rica, Germany, India, and Uganda.

Other long-term study abroad options are available through the university, but can only count for general education credit. In order to apply to the Department of Social Work, students must have completed all the foundational coursework. Once accepted to the major, students can begin to take major courses.

This department also offers an honors program which requires a 3. Field placements are within miles of campus, and require hours during the final semester. While the Social Work program at California State University, Long Beach is the most affordable in these rankings that does not diminish the quality of its education. The program prepares its graduates well for serving communities. A perk of Cal State Long Beach is that courses are available for both a daytime sequence and an evening sequence — making it accessible to those affected by different life situations.

The program requires 80 hours of practicum during junior year, as well as hours of field work during senior year. Like other programs, this professional degree requires an application after foundational prerequisites are met; however, unlike other programs, the application is due in the Fall, as opposed to the Spring semester. San Diego State University offers a BA in Social Work that requires 65 hours of major-specific coursework, on top of a liberal arts basis that includes courses in psychology, biology, economics, and statistics.

While other programs make international opportunities available to students, SDSU makes international experience a requirement for their degree. This can take place through a study abroad, student exchange, student travel, or specific global-oriented courses. Another distinguishing feature of SDSU's program is its offering of specializations. The former studies forensic social work and criminal justice, while the latter focuses on providing equal access to quality living conditions.

The Social Work program at the University of Utah is available on campus, as well as online — making it one of only 16 accredited online programs nationwide. There are 45 required major courses to go along with a hours of field practicum. As this is a closed major, students must apply for admission during their sophomore year. Over the academic year, the department of Social Work granted financial awards to students at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels.

The department lists over 15 scholarship opportunities set apart for social work undergraduates. Mandatory academic advising takes place ensuring that all students in this program are on track to successfully complete their degree.

NYU has a history of academic excellence, so it is no surprise that it makes it in the top for undergraduate social work degrees. Located in the heart of metropolitan New York City, opportunities are vast for improving the welfare of individuals and groups. NYU's program takes advantage of this by requiring hours of field work.

The program requires credit hours — 64 in Liberal Arts, and the other 64 in the major. The program is known for its flexibility, showing care for students by providing for them in light of their needs. For instance, field placement opportunities span from the east end of Long Island to New York City — about miles. Faculty members are equipped and qualified to provide courses that are useful and relevant to contemporary issues in society.

Rutgers University — New Brunswick aspires to prepare students for developing solutions to social problems while also strengthening the wellbeing of communities, groups, and individuals. It achieves this goal by teaching a generalist intervention model.

Students apply to the program during their sophomore year, and if accepted, specific coursework begins in the Fall of junior year. While specific criteria under consideration can vary by ranking, there are a few data points that we value most highly. They are affordability, academic quality, and online enrollment. Below, we break down our algorithm to help you understand what you're getting when you use one of our rankings.

The data used in TBS rankings comes primarily from the federal government, and much of it is provided by the schools themselves. We aggregate and analyze this data to build our rankings. Its data comes from annual surveys conducted by the U. Every college, university, or technical school with access to federal financial aid must participate in these surveys, which include questions about enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty qualifications.

This is publicly available data, which you can access yourself through the College Navigator. Additionally, because we value a personal touch and the professional experience of our staff and Academic Advisory Board, we vet all results and adjust rankings as necessary based on our collected knowledge of schools and degree programs.

Depending on the ranking, we may obtain additional input from AcademicInfluence. Here at TBS, we value what you value: quality education, affordability, and the accessibility of online education.

These factors guide all of our program rankings. Each of these factors are further broken down into weighted subfactors. For example, retention rates are weighted more heavily than availability of program options because they are a better indicator of student success.

We chose the following factors for our rankings because of their influence on learning experiences and graduate outcomes. However, students should always balance our rankings against their personal priorities. For instance, a learner who needs a fully online program may prioritize online flexibility more than our rankings do. Our rankings are designed to help you make a decision — not to make a decision for you.

In all our school rankings and recommendations, we work for objectivity and balance. We carefully research and compile each ranking list, and as stated in our advertising disclosure, we do NOT permit financial incentives to influence rankings.

Our articles never promote or disregard a school for financial gain. If you have questions about our ranking methodology, please feel free to connect with our staff through contact page. There are three major types of social workers : macro, direct services, and clinical social workers. Clinical social workers may be licensed or unlicensed. Macro social workers work with communities, large groups of people, major institutions, and cities. Depending on their position, these social workers may advocate for large-scale social policy change, lobby to change healthcare laws, or organize state-wide activist groups.

They may also engage in research or work as managers or administrators for community programs. Licensed clinical social workers evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders. They may provide individual, group, or family therapy. They work in settings such as hospitals, community mental health centers, rehabilitation facilities, and private practice.

Clinical social workers often collaborate with professionals like psychiatrists, psychologists, and advanced practice psychiatric nurses. The job title for social workers with a clinical social work license varies by state. States may use titles such as licensed clinical social worker LCSW , licensed independent social worker, or licensed independent clinical social worker. These social workers are authorized to practice clinical social work under the supervision of an LCSW.

They must earn licensure to practice independently. Direct service social workers connect individuals with relevant resources and services. They may also provide limited counseling services, but they cannot provide psychotherapy. Depending on their role, these professionals may perform intake screenings, refer clients to relevant services, provide mediation services, and work in case management.

Graduates with an MSW degree can pursue careers in several social work fields , such as mental health counselor, social service manager, and marriage and family therapist.

The section below covers several common careers for MSW graduates. Marriage and family therapists help individuals, couples, and families manage relationship problems through therapy. They encourage clients to discuss their emotions, help people adjust to life changes and modify behaviors, and guide clients through decision-making processes. Marriage and family therapists also connect clients with relevant resources and services.

These professionals need a master's degree and a license to practice. A master's in social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or a related field typically meets licensure requirements.

Probation officers and correctional treatment specialists offer social services to law offenders to help them make progress toward rehabilitation. They create rehabilitation plans, connect clients with resources, and maintain case files on clients.

Most probation officers and correctional treatment specialists hold a bachelor's degree in a field like social work or criminal justice. Candidates with a master's degree may qualify for advanced opportunities. Social and community service managers oversee social service programs and community organizations. They manage program staff, analyze data to determine a program's effectiveness, suggest improvements to programs, and increase program awareness through outreach activities.

They also oversee budgets and may write proposals for funding. Most social and community service managers hold at least a bachelor's degree in a field like social work, public administration, or business administration plus several years of work experience.

Some employers prefer or require a master's degree in social work. Social workers help clients overcome short-term and long-term challenges. They help clients adjust to life changes, connect clients with community resources, and respond to crisis situations. Social workers may specialize in an area such as school social work, healthcare social work, or child and family social work.

Clinical social workers diagnose and treat behavioral, mental, and emotional disorders. Want to help patients achieve and maintain sobriety? Consider becoming a substance use and recovery treatment counselor. The profession is expected to grow as more people seek treatment for substance abuse and as drug treatment programs become an increasingly popular alternative to jail time. Mental health counselors work directly with patients to help them manage mental illness or cope with challenging life events.

They can work in a number of settings, including independently and within treatment programs. As more people openly seek counseling and treatment for mental illness, this profession will certainly grow.

Marriage and family counselors work with individuals, couples and families to address their interpersonal challenges. They play a critical role in helping couples navigate issues at all stages in their relationships, as well as strengthening healthy bonds between parents and children. Coursework includes human behavior in the social environment; social service policy; human diversity and social justice; and social work research. Advanced standing students, who enter the program with a bachelor of social work BSW degree, earn 30 credits of clinical coursework.

Enrollees without a BSW must complete 60 credits in foundational and clinical courses. In addition to a bachelor's or a BSW degree, applicants must provide evidence of a minimum 3. Advanced standing students submit copies of their final field evaluations. USC online offers a doctor of social work DSW that trains students for careers in advanced practice for social change and innovation with a focus on underserved populations.

Both pathways include a capstone project during the final three semesters. Course topics cover innovative design, leadership and management, decision-making, and communication.

Each candidate must hold a master of social work MSW from an accredited program with five years of post-MSW experience in social work. All applicants must submit transcripts, a statement of purpose, a writing sample, a resume, and three letters of recommendation.

Instruction takes place completely online, with no required visits to USC's Los Angeles campus or other in-person sites. Online bachelor's in social work require incoming students to possess high school diplomas, although some accept applicants with a GED diploma or associate degree, as well. Prospective students should submit transcripts showing passing grades, and they usually need to submit SAT or ACT scores, as well. For master's degree applicants, schools require a bachelor's degree.

While some programs prefer students with a BSW, some also consider applicants with a degree in another field. However, these students may need to take additional introductory classes.

Some schools include an interview in the admission process. Individuals applying to MSW programs do not need licensure; they earn this credential after graduating. In order to become a licensed clinical social worker, you need a master's in social work.

That said, a bachelor of social work can prepare students for entry-level jobs in the field. Professionals with a bachelor's degree can find jobs in administrative office positions or as case workers and mental health assistants.

When beginning a degree, it's important to know you will receive a quality education that adequately prepares you for your career. This is where accreditation comes into play. Accreditation is the system that evaluates higher education institutions and academic programs. Remember, if your program does not hold accreditation, you will not qualify for licensure.

Many people consider a bachelor of social work as a stepping-stone to earning a master's degree and social work licensure, but BSW graduates can also go directly into a career, as well. Many become case workers, probation officers, and community outreach workers. Several others find entry-level administrative jobs within the social work or community service industries. A mandated reporter must report child abuse or neglect to law enforcement.