Program Overview

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Social Work (BSW)

At a Glance

• Offered as: Major & Minor
• Format: On Campus
• College/School: College of Health & Human Services
• Affiliation: Center for Social Work Education
• Campus Location: Chester, PA

Program Overview

In our undergraduate social work (BSW) program, you’ll experience an education rooted in social justice, real-world experience, and civic engagement that will prepare you to be a leader in the social work field.

Why Major in Social Work?

Social work is a professional career that is filled with meaning, passion, diversity, and action. As a social worker, you will have a direct positive influence on the well-being of others. Not only will you help provide resources and find solutions to complex problems, but you will help create healthier families and communities along the way.

Our mission is simple. We aim to prepare culturally competent generalist social workers who are:

• Dedicated to the attainment of social and economic justice for the betterment of poor, vulnerable, and oppressed individuals, families, groups, and communities.
• Demonstrate care and compassion for clients from diverse backgrounds.
• Hold an unwavering belief in client strengths, client empowerment, and the importance of the helping relationship.
• Utilize self-reflection and critical thinking in creating purposeful interventions informed by theory and evidence.

Widener University's Center for Social Work Education is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

BSW Degree Program Options

Curriculum & Coursework Requirements

View the academic catalog for information on program requirements.

Foundations & Transformations: Our Fresh Take on "Gen Ed" Requirements

College is about exploration. At Widener, you'll complete a general education curriculum that supports just that. You'll have the flexibility and freedom to dive deep into the topics that spark curiosity, challenge your mind, and power your personal and academic growth.

Along the way, you'll cultivate critical, meaningful skills employers seek, including:

• How to make a difference in a diverse world with an inclusive mindset
• How to write and edit for clear, compelling communication
• How to analyze data and make decisions using critical thinking

It all starts with ASC 101: Thinking Through — a selection of around 40 course topics that will encourage you to go deeper and examine complex issues that shape our world and our ways of relating to one another. When you dive into the possibilities, you're sure to find multiple courses that inspire and intrigue you, regardless of whether they align with your major! Think of it as an opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and truly learn something new. Then, in your senior year, you'll come full circle with a capstone course that takes your Thinking Through topic to new heights strengthened by everything you've cultivated along your college journey.

Goals, Themes & Outcomes

Goals

The BSW program goals flow from the mission:

• To prepare generalist social workers who can effectively deliver culturally competent, strengths-based social work services to individuals, families, and groups from diverse client populations
• To create a nurturing and supportive learning environment that inspires students to be advocates for social change and a more just and equitable society
• To have faculty and students actively involved in community partnerships and civic engagement activities that promotes the well-being of disadvantaged populations and communities
• To have faculty and students participate in the development and dissemination of knowledge for the profession

Themes

The BSW program mission and goals are also based upon the following themes:

• Agency-based generalist practice with diverse populations
• Social justice
• Community partnerships and civic engagements
• Working with vulnerable and disadvantaged populations
• Contributing to the knowledge base of the profession

Outcomes

At Widener’s Center for Social Work Education, we are constantly striving to improve. This requires assessing how we’re doing—both with our students and our community. We use this information—exit surveys, student focus groups, designated benchmark assignments, and alumni interviews—to assess how to continuously improve student learning outcomes and professional development. This involves curricular analysis and improvement, innovative and experiential pedagogy, and competency-based education.

All Council on Social Work Education programs measure and report student learning outcomes.

BSW Field Education & Placement

Our program identifies field education as one of the most important parts of a social work education. In field placements, students have the opportunity to apply classroom learning in an agency setting. This learning takes place under the direction and supervision of a trained field instructor who is employed by the agency and skilled in working with students.

To maintain a quality field education program in an ever-changing social service environment, our program adheres to three basic principles:

• Integrated model: Our faculty and field instructors work hand-in-hand to support students so they can practice in the field agency what they learn in the classroom. The practice faculty members serve as liaisons to the students’ field instructors.
• Individualized placement process: Students meet individually with a field director to plan a placement to meet their learning needs. Students complete 420 internship hours at an agency during their senior year. Placements are developed collaboratively with students’ work experiences, interests, location, and practice goals in mind.
• Support for continued growth of field instructors: Our agency field instructors are supported throughout the field year by the faculty field liaisons and through continuing education and training provided to them free of charge.

Requirements

During the senior year fall and spring semesters, students spend two full days each week in a field agency for a total of 420 hours. Students meet individually with a field director in the spring semester of the junior year to determine an appropriate field placement. Each field experience is personalized and compatible with the student's work experiences, interests, location, and goals.

Students are required to meet with their field instructors individually on a weekly basis for supervision. A social work faculty member serves as the liaison between the student and the field placement. Students also take a social work practice class each semester with the same faculty member, and a field discussion is integrated into the class.

Dual Degree Options

The BSW program offers the following dual degree options:

• BSW/Psychology
• BSW/Sociology – Applied Practice Track
• BSW/Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
• BSW/Criminal Justice
• BSW/Fine Arts Concentration

All students enrolled in these programs must consult with their advisors in social work and the corresponding program for accurate academic advisement in both programs.

Accelerated Master's 4+1 Program

Earning an accelerated master's degree will enhance your job opportunities and prepare you for rapid career growth—all while saving you time and money.

Fast Track to a Social Work MSW Degree

As a BSW student, you have the unique opportunity to complete a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years in our accelerated BSW/MSW program.

Earn an Accelerated Master's in Another Field of Study

Widener also makes it possible to complete a 4+1 degree in a different field of study through our Accelerated Advantage 4+1 program.

Specializations for BSW Majors

Public Child Welfare Specialization

Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates (CWEB)

This innovative and unique program is designed for students interested in developing a career in public child welfare. Students apply to the CWEB program in their junior year for a senior-year field placement. Accepted students are placed in a public child welfare agency.

The State of Pennsylvania will pay senior-year tuition and a stipend for participating students. Because of the state's investment, the program requires that, upon graduation, students work for at least one year in a public child welfare agency.

Pair Your Social Work Major with a Minor or Certificate

Criminal Justice Minor

• Advantages: Expand your insight into the criminal justice system and explore how you can help individuals assimilate back into society.
• Outcome: Probation Officer

Political Science Minor

• Advantages: Deepen your understanding of domestic and international political systems to assess what government systems would best benefit the community.
• Outcome: Community Outreach Worker

Psychology Minor

• Advantages: Deepen your knowledge of psychological theories and human development to further your career-readiness in the field.
• Outcome: Social Worker in the Mental Health or Drug & Alcohol Fields

Sociology Minor

• Advantages: Develop a solid theoretical understanding of social problems to better assist your clients.
• Outcome: Behavioral Health Counselor

Career Outlook & Outcomes for Social Work Majors

Role of a Social Worker

Learn more about the responsibilities of a social worker.

Recent Employers

• Elwyn Institute
• Mazzoni Center
• Family & Community Service of Delaware County

Potential Careers

• Substance abuse counselor
• Parenting skills trainer
• Crisis intervention counselor
• Advocate for community development

Industry Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an 12% by 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Industries to Work In

• Child welfare
• Gerontology
• Criminal justice & corrections
• Military & veterans
• Health care

Field Placement Options

• Widener Partnership Charter School
• George C. Hill Correctional Facility
• Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care

Why Study Social Work at Widener?

Interact One-on-One With Your Teachers & Classmates

In the Center for Social Work Education, we take your education personally. Our program's small, interactive classes will deepen your learning. With an average of 13-18 students per class, your professors will get to know your strengths and struggles and will provide one-on-one support to maximize your growth and development as a social worker.

Gain Hands-On Experience Beyond the Classroom

Your education will extend beyond the classroom and into the community with service learning opportunities. You'll partner with local agencies and community organizers to engage in community-based work and research that will strengthen your understanding of how to best provide services to disadvantaged individuals, families, organizations, and communities while contributing to the knowledge base of the profession.

You'll gain hands-on learning during your field placement experience senior year. Our field education director will work with you to match you with a local social services agency so you can be immersed in a professional environment and apply the knowledge and skills gained in the classroom in the agency setting.

Expand Your Network & Engage on Campus

Social Work majors have the opportunity to join various clubs and organizations across and outside of campus to expand their network, including the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Club, the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), and many more.

Experience Mentorship & Support From Day One

We want to get to know you and see you succeed. Professors will pay attention to how you learn and what you want to accomplish. Your Personal Student Success Team—faculty and peer mentors and liaisons for campus resources—will make sure your first year runs smoothly.

Without skipping a beat, you’ll have what you need to make Widener your second home. And you’ll know how to invest in the greater community, from professional opportunities in Philadelphia to volunteer experiences in your new backyard.

Student Stories

Hannah Berard

Class of 2022

"Widener has helped me take my academics and what I’ve learned in classes and apply it not just in the Chester community, but to the whole world in general."

Sophia Hastings

Class of 2018

"Camp has always been such a big part of my life... I think the education I got through Widener really helped me to fuel that passion and helped me to make connections that I didn’t know could have been made."

Jessica Mereshensky

Class of 2024

"Having the opportunities that my mentor Dr. Robin Goldberg-Glen gave me—to speak at two symposiums as well as a conference with a full crowded room—helps me with networking and connections and puts me out of my comfort zone."

Our Faculty

Margo M. Campbell

Director of PhD Program

"I strive to create an engaging, dynamic, and responsive learning environment. By encouraging self-reflection and co-created learning spaces, I aim for students to finish the course with confidence in the material, a sense of leadership in their own learning, and an understanding of the link between their work and social justice."

Brent A. Satterly

Professor

"My approach to teaching is best described as embracing an existentialist and social reconstructivist perspective, emphasizing respect for what each student brings to the classroom and students’ responsibility for their own learning. In my teaching at Widener, these methods have resulted in positive outcomes as measured by student course evaluations and verbal feedback."

Recent News

Widener/CCCP Partnership Strengthens Next-Gen Culturally Competent Providers

A partnership between Widener and the Coalition of Culturally Competent Providers invites new conversations about community care and creates opportunities for health and human services students.

The Inside Track in Action

Widener is known and valued for its powerful inside track, and Widener’s professors are at its heart. Get to know seven professors from across the university and the alumni they mentored who exemplify the life-changing impact of the inside track.

Social Work Students Build Ties Between Generations and Future Careers

Students in a social work class participated in a hands-on service project that connected them with older adults to combat hardships faced by senior populations. Along the way, they discovered meaningful relationships and career opportunities.

Admissions & Aid

Admissions Information

How to Apply as a First-Year Student

Applying to Widener is easy—and free! Simply complete our Widener Application or the Common Application. You'll also need your official high school transcript and either an admissions essay or your SAT/ACT scores. We're a test-optional school, so there's no need to submit both.

Know you're interested in applying to Widener but unsure if you're ready to zero-in on a major? You can apply as an Exploratory Studies student with an undecided major. This program will help you start your college journey on the right foot while you explore which undergraduate program is the right fit for you.

When to Apply

We accept applications on a rolling basis—there are no hard deadlines. Apply when you're ready and we'll take a look as soon as we receive your app.

Key dates to keep in mind:

• October 1: FAFSA opens for the next academic year (Widener's school code is )
• November 1: Early Action deadline and decision notifications begin

What to Expect After Applying

Once we receive your application and all materials, you can expect to hear back from us quickly. Along with your application decision, you'll also find out about any merit-based scholarship awards. You're automatically considered for merit scholarships as soon as you apply—you don't need to apply separately.

Learn more about the application process

Why Apply Early Action?

If you apply before November 1, you are considered an Early Action applicant which comes with benefits like:

• Receiving your admissions decision by Thanksgiving
• Early consideration for merit-based scholarships
• Early notification of financial aid offers, including need-based awards
• Priority enrollment for summer registration—where you sign up for classes!

All applications are non-binding, so why wait? Apply today!

Transfer to Widener

Our admissions team will help you make the most of college-level credits earned after high school. We maintain strong partnerships and articulation agreements with numerous local community colleges and also accept a wide range of course credits earned at accredited colleges and universities.

Curious about how many credits may transfer? Email your transcripts to and our transfer coordinator will personally review your coursework as an unofficial credit evaluation. Applicants are given priority during busy seasons, but you don't have to apply to work with our transfer coordinator.

Transferring doesn't have to be a guessing game—share your stats and we'll take it from there!

Learn more about applying as a transfer student

International Admissions

Widener University serves as a "second home" for students from around the world. We are located just outside of Philadelphia and close to New York City and Washington, D.C.—offering many unique professional and personal opportunities to explore.

Want to know what it's like to be an international student on campus or need assistance navigating English proficiency requirements? We're here to help, and our international admissions director will support you through the application process.

This support doesn't end with admissions—our International Student Support team will serve as a valuable resource throughout your Widener journey—meeting Visa/immigration requirements, getting acclimated to campus, and much more.

Learn more about applying as an international student Learn more about life at Widener as an international student

Financial Aid

Because Widener is a private institution, we're able to offer financial assistance that brings an exceptional education within reach. Complete your admissions application today to determine your financial aid package, including scholarships and grants.

How to Complete the Financial Aid Process

Submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to getting you the financial assistance to make the cost of college—an investment in your future—affordable. This free, online application is the gateway to grants, loans, and other forms of financial aid. Every year, the U.S. Department of Education offers billions of dollars in financial aid to eligible students. Widener gets in on the action, too, annually awarding aid to students with need.

You and at least one parent or caregiver will need a separate FSA ID to access the Federal Student Aid's online system and serve as your legal signatures. Make sure to create your unique FSA IDs before you get started. Our school code is .

• Learn more about submitting the FAFSA
• Go to the FAFSA form

Paths to Savings

Nearly 100% of Undergrad Students Receive Financial Aid

Nearly 100% of new full-time undergraduate students receive financial aid offers that reduce out-of-pocket costs and make a Widener education not only affordable, but well worth the investment. In fact, once your total financial aid is calculated, the cost of a Widener education is often equal to if not lower than other competitive universities –but with far superior outcomes for your career and earning potential.

The first step to see how much aid you qualify for is submitting the FAFSA.

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Scholarships Start at $100,000 Over 4 Years

(including $20,000 per academic year for transfer students)

Funding you don't have to pay back after graduation? That's a win-win!Scholarships and grants are a way for the university and other organizations to honor the academic, merit, and talent-based achievements of our students.

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4+1 Students Save Time & Tuition

In the Accelerated Advantage 4+1 program, you can save up to a year of tuition by pursuing a master's degree—resulting in thousands of dollars in savings. During your fifth year of study, you can also apply for graduate-level scholarships and assistantships to further reduce education costs. To learn more about graduate scholarships and assistantships, please speak with your academic advisor during the spring semester of your senior year.

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More About Tuition & Financial Aid

Next Steps to Apply

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View Admissions Events

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Have a question about Widener? Drop us a line and an admissions counselor will be in touch. We're always happy to help!

Apply

Applying online is easy—and it's free! We also accept the Common Application. Take the next step toward joining the Widener Pride.

• Apply Now
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Get in Touch

Explore All Undergrad Programs Undecided? Check Out Exploratory Studies

Center for Social Work Education

• Bruce Hall
• Widener Social Work Linkedin

Richard M. Cooper

Director of the BSW Program and Co-Coordinator African American Studies

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