Social Work BA

Total Units Required: 120

Welcome to the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BSW) at California State University, Chico! The social work profession is an exciting field of study and practice with countless career possibilities. We invite you to join our community during this critical time as we work to address complex issues such as poverty, social and economic disparities, health, mental health, housing, race, gender, and environmental justice, and the overall wellbeing of societies. We are in need of professionally trained social workers to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities. A degree in social work will prepare you to address local, state, national and global issues and to utilize practice approaches grounded in healing-centered, empowerment, and justice.

The BSW program, which is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), prepares you for beginning a professional generalist social work practice. A generalist approach requires that social workers have a foundation of knowledge and skills to engage, critically analyze, plan, evaluate, and support individuals and communities from diverse backgrounds in diverse settings and systems. In addition, as part of a professional undergraduate degree program, students in their senior year complete an internship in a non-profit organization or a health, education, or government institution. The program combines a comprehensive curriculum with practical experience in the community so future social workers wishing to work with individuals, families, groups, and communities have the tools needed to create positive change.

The faculty in the School of Social Work are engaged learners, practitioners, researchers, policy advocates, and activists within their communities and they bring years of experience to the classroom and a strong commitment to your learning. We look forward to supporting your academic and professional journey!

Two students work on an assignment in a class where social work students and students from other fields work on a project addressing the needs of the homeless.

Traditional On-Campus and Distributed Learning Programs

The School of Social Work offers two social work programs with distinct formats: (1) a traditional on-campus learning format; and (2) a distributed learning (DL) format that allows students to take courses online with periodic class time on campus. Both the traditional on-campus and DL programs are the same, fully accredited curriculum.

When all prerequisites are met, students may enroll in the professional sequence courses in the social work major. Courses in the traditional on-campus program are offered two days a week with an additional two days a week for seniors participating in a required internship. The traditional on-campus program is a full-time program completed over a year and a half.

The DL program, designed for individuals committed to providing professional social work services in our service region, is a hybrid format with students attending courses on the Chico State campus two weekends per semester and attending regularly scheduled live evening class sessions through an online platform. DL students can choose either a two-year course plan or a part-time, three-year course plan.

Students who plan to apply to the traditional on-campus program should consult with the BSW Director to review their current academic standing and courses completed, as well as to discuss an academic plan. Similarly, students who plan to apply to the DL program should consult with the DL Coordinator or the DL Advisor. Major advising is mandatory each semester to ensure successful completion of the professional sequence and on-time graduation.

Professional Standards and Disqualification

The social work degree signifies readiness to begin professional work in positions requiring trust and high ethical standards. Students are required to meet the ethical and professional standards set by the profession and the practicum agencies. 

The professional standards include the following:

  • Honoring the NASW Code of Ethics of the social work profession;
  • Receiving a satisfactory evaluation by practicum agencies;
  • Passing social work core and professional sequence courses with a C or higher;
  • Avoiding behavior that suggests potential or direct harm to others or self.

Please refer to the BSW Student Handbook for more complete information regarding these standards.

Federal Title IV-E Program

The undergraduate social work program is a participant in the Federal Title IV-E Program. Title IV-E provides stipends to on-campus social work students who commit to a minimum of one year of postbaccalaureate employment in public or tribal child welfare. Title IV-E provides financial support to distributed learning social work students who commit to a minimum of two years of postbaccalaureate employment in public or tribal child welfare. Interested students should contact the BSW Director and the Title IV-E Project Coordinators in the School of Social Work.