BSW

Program Overview

The upper-division, full-time undergraduate program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and is grounded in a human rights-based approach to education and practice. Through a combination of classroom learning and practicum education, students build strong skills in communication, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and culturally responsive practice.

Graduates are prepared to enter the workforce as generalist social work professionals across diverse settings—including health and human services, schools, community organizations, advocacy, and more. The degree also provides a strong foundation for graduate study, with eligibility for Advanced Standing MSW programs and excellent preparation for advanced degrees in law, education, public health, public administration, business, medicine, and related fields.

Minors or other majors of particular interest to students majoring in social work: Anthropology (ANT), Ecosystems and Human Impact (EHI), Environmental Studies (ENS), Globalization Studies and International Relations (GLI), Health & Wellness (LHW), Health, Medicine, and Social Change (MHS), Leadership Development (LDR), Political Science (POL), Psychology (PSY), Sociology (SOC), Sustainability Studies (SUS), Women & Gender Studies (WST).

The data displayed reflects B.S. in Social Work holders in New York State.

Currently Employed
241,211

Average Salary
$78,560

Job Postings
5,594

Past Growth (2022-2025)
5.8%

Projected Growth (2025-2029)
4.9%

Top Occuations by Average Income

  1. Post-secondary Teachers: $106,328
  2. Social and Community Service Managers: $92,634
  3. Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists: $82,035
  4. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: $76,501
  5. Child, Family, and School Social Workers: $67,366

Applicants to the undergraduate program must achieve upper-division status before admission to the School. The School encourages applications from transfer students as well as applicants from Stony Brook University.

 

Interested students are advised to complete all general University requirements by the end of their second year of undergraduate work. Refer to the Degree Requirements section in this catalog for general requirements. These include a minimum of 60 credits that must be earned before beginning the program. Students must have earned a letter grade of C or better in courses providing a broad liberal arts base with core content in the following areas.

 

  • A minimum of one three-credit course in English composition, which develops proficiency in the composition of expository and argumentative essays and fulfills the WRT designation for the Stony Brook Curriculum. This requirement may be met by WRT 102: Intermediate Writing Workshop, or by having taken comparable coursework at another institution. A minimum of one three-credit introductory course in human biological sciences which provides an understanding of the major concepts of human biology, including the cell, the gene, molecular biology, development and evolution, the human implications and values associated with these concepts, and the impact of biology on human behavior. This requirement must fulfill the SNW designation for the Stony Brook Curriculum and may be met by ANP 101: Human Biology, or comparable* coursework at another institution.                   
  • A minimum of one three-credit course in modern American history (post-Reconstruction era) which provides knowledge of modern American history, including industrialization, the impact of industrialization upon social, cultural, and political life, the Great Depression, the New Deal, and the resulting social and technological changes. This requirement may be met by HIS 104: United States Since 1877, or comparable* coursework at another institution.                    
  • A minimum of one three-credit course in American political systems, which provides knowledge about the organization of American government, including the Constitution, Congress, political parties, pressure groups, the growth of the presidency, the Supreme Court, judicial review, federalism, separation of powers, and the Bill of Rights. This requirement may be met by POL 102: Introduction to American Government, or comparable* coursework at another institution.                    
  • A minimum of one three-credit introductory course in sociology or anthropology, which provides an analysis of the principles of social structure through an examination of various forms of kinship, marriage, family, age group, voluntary associations, and various levels of political, judicial, religious, and economic organization. This requirement may be met by ANT 102: What makes us Human? or SOC 105: Introduction to Sociology, or comparable coursework at another institution.                    
  • A minimum of one three-credit introductory course in psychology, which provides an understanding of psychology as the science of behavior, including content related to personality theory, social and developmental psychology, and psychological testing. This requirement may be met by PSY 103: Introduction to Psychology, or comparable coursework at another institution.                    
  • A minimum of one three-credit course in mathematics (above college algebra) or statistics. This requirement must be met by a course that fulfills the QPS designation for the Stony Brook Curriculum. A statistics course is recommended preparation for succeeding in the Social Work Research sequence.                    
  • A minimum of one three-credit course in the humanities. This requirement must be met by a course that fulfills the HUM designation for the Stony Brook curriculum.                    
  • A minimum of one three-credit course in the fine arts. This requirement must be met by a course that fulfills the fine arts requirement.  This requirement may be met by a course that fulfills the ARTS designation for the Stony Brook Curriculum.                    
  • A minimum of one three-credit course in a human language other than English. The School of Social Welfare follows the Stony Brook Curriculum requirements except for the Communicate in a Human Language other Than English (LANG) learning objectives. This requirement may be met by the first course in a language sequence that partially fulfills the LANG designation (LANG-PART).                    
  • The following Stony Brook Curriculum learning outcome course designators must be successfully fulfilled (with a letter grade of C or better) before beginning the professional core curriculum in the School of Social Welfare: ARTS, HUM, LANG-PART, QPS, SBS, SNW, USA, and WRT.
  • One three-credit Introduction to Social Work course.See “New Admission Requirement (effective Fall 2026)” note below.                    

 

*Consult the School of Social Welfare for approved courses.

 

New Admission Requirement (Effective Fall 2026):
Students applying for admission to the upper-division Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program beginning Fall 2026 must have successfully completed one three-credit lower-division Introduction to Social Work course prior to enrollment. This course must be equivalent to HWC 220: Introduction to the Social Work Profession at Stony Brook University.

 

Acceptable equivalents include:

  • Completion of an equivalent course at another SUNY institution, in accordance with SUNY Transfer Path policies.
  • Completion of an equivalent course at a CSWE-accredited social work program.
     

Exceptions:

  • This requirement will be waived for students transferring with a completed Associate’s degree in Human Services from a partner community college with which we have an approved Articulation Agreement.

  • Students admitted without a completed degree may petition to waive the requirement if they have taken a comparable Introduction to Social Work course at another institution.