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School of Social Work
College of Health and Human Sciences

Social Work Bachelor of Social Work

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What is a Social Work major?

If you share our vision to advance social, environmental, and economic justice and promote equity in our local and global communities, a Bachelor of Social Work major is right for you. The Bachelor of Social Work Program will enable you to become an agent of change for individuals, families, and communities. 

Social work is both a high-impact and heavily in-demand career field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates demand for social workers to grow by nearly 10% before 2030, outpacing many other professions.

Social work practitioners focus both on the person and their environment in many essential areas, such as:

As a graduate of our program, you will have over 400 hours of internship experience to ensure you’re readily prepared to launch your career.

Many students go on to apply for their Master of Social Work in our Advanced Standing MSW program, where you can earn your MSW in just one year.

Our BSW program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Learn more about Social Work from student Karen Guadarrama:

Audio Described Version of Meet the CHHS Rams | School of Social Work’s Karen Guadarrama

Undergraduate Social Work Study

You will master the six foundation generalist social work practice roles in our BSW program. We help you develop your dedication to ethical standards, sensitivity to human differences and cultural competence, social and economic justice especially as it applies to vulnerable populations, and research affirmed practice.

Advocate

As an advocate, you champion the rights of others with the goal of empowering the client system being served. Build skills to effectively speak on behalf of individuals and communities disempowered by society.

Broker

Build skills as a broker where you are the professional agent responsible for identifying, locating, and linking needed resources to clients. You broker the quality, quantity, and accessibility of services based on your client’s needs.

Community Change Agent

Community change agents are a valuable part of a group or organization seeking to improve or restructure community service provisions. Change agents achieve planned change at multiple levels to shift the focus of institutional resources to meet identified goals.

Counselor

A counselor focuses on improving social functioning. You empower people by affirming their personal strengths and their capacities to deal with their problems more effectively.

Mediator

Learn how to effectively intervene in disputes to find compromises, reconcile differences, and reach mutually satisfying agreements.

Researcher

Researchers critically analyze literature and evaluate practice interventions and program outcomes. You will learn how to extend and disseminate knowledge, and seek to enhance the effectiveness of social work practice.

Bachelor of Social Work Addictions Counseling Concentration

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The Addictions Counseling Concentration prepares you to become a certified addictions counselor in the state of Colorado. This concentration will allow you to gain specialized knowledge and skills for working in addiction settings or with clients with addiction. You will gain real world experience with addictions counseling as a part of your internship experience.

  • Coursework for Certified Addictions Counselor—CAC Level 1 credentials in the state of Colorado
  • Includes substance abuse field placement internship
  • Field placement counts towards required 1,000 hours for CAC Level 1

Social Work Major Classes

Major in Social Work

Major in Social Work, Addictions Counseling Concentration

Resources Prospective and Current Students

Paying for College

There are several scholarships available specifically for School of Social Work majors, all you have to do is fill out the general CSU scholarship application. Search the College scholarship database to see the full list.

Student Organizations

As a Social Work major, you can become a Social Work Ambassador, join the Honor Society, and be active on our social network.

Advising and Support

We support you every step of the way through your experience at CSU. Connect with our Academic Success and Graduate Coordinators

Study Abroad

Study social work in Costa Rica or India to learn more about social work in international contexts and broaden your skillset.

Featured BSW Program News

From wildfires to refugees, BSW alumna Lisa Smith shows up for those in crisis

Lisa Smith was sick of seeing bad policies. The system, she realized, was flawed and the policies were barriers for the people they were supposed to be helping. So she quit her job, and ran for office. Learn how Smith’s social work background has shaped her career in policy and politics.

Lisa Smith on job site

BSW student dedicating studies and career to dismantling oppressive systems

Colorado State University School of Social Work BSW student Riley Smith (they/them/theirs) is pursuing a double major in Social Work and Human Development and Family Studies. “In my second semester at CSU, I went on an Alternative Spring Break (a set of service-learning trips organized by students in partnership with CSU’s SLiCE office) to Los Angeles, where my peers and I volunteered with numerous organizations focused on serving folx experiencing homelessness. This ignited my passion for social justice.”

colorado state university bsw social work student riley smith

Social Work graduate works with unhoused population and at-risk youth

After working for an agricultural nonprofit, Adam Lovell wanted to expand his experience and skills in community engagement and advocacy, so he came to CSU’s School of Social Work. After joining the BSW program, he has worked with multiple community organizations working with unhoused individuals and at-risk youth.

Adam holding a plant just harvested from a garden.