Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW)

When you earn your BSW from Western Michigan University, you will be prepared for entry or mid-level careers in various settings, including:

As a practicing social worker, you'll regularly work with health care professionals like nurses, physician assistants and physical therapists. At WMU, you'll learn beside the people you'll work with after graduation.

Fieldwork

You'll get 400 hours of internship experience over two semesters. When it’s time for your BSW fieldwork, you won't be on your own to figure things out. We have staff dedicated to helping you manage your fieldwork experience from beginning to end.

The WMU School of Social Work partners with more than 600 agencies in Michigan, the Midwest, and internationally. We have more internship sites available than we have students, which means we can work with your professional goals and internship preferences to find a great fit that will prepare you for the social work career you want after graduation.

Learn more about fieldwork

Western Michigan University offers a range of institutional scholarships and grants to help make a high-quality education affordable, including merit-based awards, need-based grants and departmental scholarships. Many students receive financial support—99% of full-time undergraduates with financial need receive aid—and scholarships and grants do not need to be repaid. The University’s financial aid team works closely with students and families to navigate options, from admissions scholarships like the Medallion program to funding identified through Scholarship Universe, WMU’s scholarship-matching tool. With personalized support, financial resources and a commitment to access, WMU helps students identify funding opportunities and manage the cost of their education.

Students interested in the Social Work major will be admitted into the pre-social work curriculum at the time of admission to the University. This does not guarantee admission to the Social Work major. Students who have completed or are currently enrolled in SWRK 2100: Social Work Services and Professional Roles, and completed a minimum of 30 credit hours with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 may apply to the Undergraduate Social Work Major. General information necessary for admission includes: 

• Completion of the Social Work Undergraduate Application
• Submission of all academic transcripts
• Supplemental (personal) Statement

All applications are submitted to Office Admissions and Student Services of the School of Social Work. Deadlines for submitting applications are, March 15 and September 15 of each year. Selection of students to be admitted to the major occurs after review of all applications by the Admissions Committee composed of social work faculty. Admissions for students currently enrolled in SWRK 2100 will be conditional based on their successful completion of that course. This is a competitive admissions process with a specific number of students admitted each year. Specific criteria for selection of candidates are based upon:

• Competitive overall grade point average
• Work and life experiences in the field of social work
• Participation in community services, leadership activities, and volunteer experience
• Written communication skills, personal qualifications, and basic knowledge of the profession as evidenced in the supplemental statement

The BSW degree leaves plenty of room for student to take electives of their choice. While a minor is not required, they are one way to meaningfully use those electives towards developing a knowledge base that complements an interest in particular areas of social work practice.

The list below is NOT an exhaustive list of available minors at WMU, however, they are minors that many of our students have selected in the past, or that may be relevant to your future career. If you are interested in adding a minor to your degree, contact CHHS advisor Jill Hamilton to adjust your degree plan.