The social work profession seeks to identify and alleviate the individual and social causes of problems related to meeting basic human needs, and helps people interact effectively with one another and with the environment. With that in mind, our mission with the Bachelor of Social Work program is to provide a generalist social work education that covers a broad range of helping skills designed to enhance the social functioning of individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations.
At the 51福利社 School of Social Work, you'll learn to advocate for social and economic justice and personal well-being for all people. The program promotes social and economic justice by teaching you to critically examine oppressive and discriminatory social constructs, policies, practices, attitudes and assumptions.
The mission of the baccalaureate program is: we value service, justice, integrity, competence, and the power of scientific inquiry to create a diverse, equitable, and accessible School focused on human rights and enhanced quality of life for persons and communities, locally and globally.
The goals of the program are:
To provide a professional education that prepares generalist practitioners to enhance, advocate, and support social and economic justice and personal well-being for all people.
Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to work effectively with diverse, vulnerable, and underserved populations.
Possess critical thinking skills, embrace social work values, and have the requisite skills needed to formulate and realize a vision of a just society.
Learn more about this degree and the School of Social Work at one of our information sessions.
What is social work?
Social workers work in communities with people finding positive ways forward in the challenges they face in their lives. They help people build the kind of environments in which they want to live, through co-determination, co-production and social responsibility. Economic health cannot be achieved without social health.
Where do social workers work?
When you earn your BSW from Western Michigan University, you will be prepared for entry- or mid-level careers in various settings, including:
- Adoption agencies
- Child welfare departments
- Community mental health agencies
- Corrections and public safety departments
- Employment services
- Family service agencies
- Foster care agencies
- Human rights and advocacy organizations
- International aid and refugee relief organizations
- Labor unions
- Local, state and federal governments
- Public interest groups
- Schools
- Senior services
- Social service agencies
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Social Work Careers
Transfer Info Session
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Learn more about our programs and what's going on in the 51福利社 School of Social Work by channel.
Interdisciplinary Education
As a practicing social worker, you'll regularly work with health care professionals like nurses, physician assistants and physical therapists. At 51福利社, you'll learn beside the people you'll work with after graduation.
The 51福利社 School of Social Work is part of the College of Health and Human Services, which regularly offers interdisciplinary learning activities with programs like nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy and more.
That interdisciplinary experience prepares you for your career. More than that, an interdisciplinary perspective will make you a better social worker.
Compatible minors
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 51福利社, 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.
College of Health and Human Services
Addiction Studies | American Sign Language Studies | Child Welfare | Healthcare Services & Sciences | Integrative Holistic Health and Wellness | Speech and Hearing Processes
College of Human Development & Education
College of Arts and Sciences
African American and African Studies | | Comparative Religions | Climate Studies | | Environment & Sustainability | Gender & Women鈥檚 Studies | Global & International Studies | Non-Profit Administration | | Psychology | Public Affairs & Administration | Race and Ethnic Relations | Sociology | Spanish | World Languages
Haworth College of Business
Fieldwork opportunities
In this program, you'll get 400 hours of internship experience over two semesters. But when it鈥檚 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 51福利社 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.
Active faculty
At 51福利社, the work you鈥檒l do with faculty will actually advance the field of social work. Our faculty are active in their communities and our research is focused on current movements in social work field.
Members of our faculty have founded initiatives like Seita Scholars, which helps 51福利社 students transitioning out of foster care adjust to college life, and the Children's Trauma Assessment Center at 51福利社's Unified clinics, which employs a nationally renowned model for trauma treatment and just received millions in grants for expansion. You鈥檒l impact your community and your future profession at 51福利社.
