Program Overview
Develop the skills and knowledge needed to begin social work practice with the online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program from Aurora University. You will establish the groundwork for a successful path leading to employment in the field of social work and be prepared to work with communities, groups, families, and individuals in a variety of settings as well as with diverse populations and problems. Graduates with the BSW degree are eligible to apply for advanced standing in the Aurora University Master of Social Work program.
As a student of the online Bachelor of Social Work program, you may choose to complete the Child Welfare track to gain Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) certification and Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol (CERAP). After completing your degree, you’ll be eligible to obtain a Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL) upon employment at a child welfare agency.
Instructors in this program use open education resources (OER) in place of traditional textbooks for some courses. This means digital, openly licensed content is available free of charge to students.
Build on your previously earned credit to begin your journey today with our CSWE-accredited social work program.
The undergraduate transfer program in social work is also offered at the AU Woodstock Center.
Curriculum Overview
Aurora University’s online BSW provides you with a broad academic background and field instruction in social work. Each class is taught by faculty members who have real-world experience.
Students will have the unique opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom to real-life situations through an internship. In addition to offering placement support, you’ll be paired with a faculty mentor in your field who will provide feedback on various internship-related assignments. Rest assured, you can complete your internship locally as well as at your current place of work, assuming it meets the program director’s requirements.
Get StartedProgram Details
- Next Start Date:October 18, 2021
- Est. Program Length:2-4 Years
- Credit Hours:120 (40 in major)
- Course Length:8 Weeks
- Cost Per Credit:$425
General Education Required Courses for Admission
- PSC1300 Introduction to US Government – 4 hours
- PSY1100 General Psychology – 4 hours
- SOC1100 Principles of Sociology – 4 hours
Core Courses
- SWK2500 Survey of Social Work – 4 hours
- SWK3140 Social Work with Groups – 4 hours
- SWK3150 Social Welfare: Institutions and Policies – 4 hours
- SWK3210 Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Infancy to Adolescence – 4 hours
- SWK3400 Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Adult Lifespan – 4 hours
- SWK4010 Social Work with Communities and Organizations – 4 hours
- SWK4110 Social Work Practice with Individuals – 4 hours
- SWK4140 Social Work Practice with Families – 4 hours
- SWK4200 Research Methods in Social Work – 4 hours
Child Welfare Track Courses
- SWK3760 Effects of Trauma on Children – 4 hours
- SWK4720 Social Work with Vulnerable Children and Families – 4 hours
- SWK4725 Child Welfare Services – 4 hours
Field Instruction Courses
- SWK4210 Field Instruction I – 4 hours
- SWK4220 Field Instruction II – 4 hours
Course details are based on information available at the time of publication. Specific program requirements are subject to change.
- A completed undergraduate application
- Transcripts (official, sealed) from all previously attended colleges and universities
- A resume demonstrating two or more years of work experience, military service, or relevant adult responsibilities
- A personal statement addressing why you wish to enroll in an online program and a description of how you will structure your life and time to be successful
- For applicants without an earned associate degree and/or 60 hours of transfer credit: Proof of high school graduation or completed GED
- For applicants with fewer than 15 hours of transfer credit: an official high school transcript with a GPA of 2.5 and above and ACT/SAT scores
- Test-Optional Admission: Applicants with fewer than 15 hours of transfer credit who do not have ACT/SAT scores may choose to be reviewed as test-optional. Admission will be based on your high school academic record.
Students admitted to Aurora University are also required to apply to the School of Social Work and meet the following requirements.
- A grade-point average of 2.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale)
- 60 semester hours of general education coursework
- Completion of these prerequisite courses or an equivalent transfer course: U.S. Government; General Psychology; and Principles of Sociology
- A completed background check
- Career goals consistent with the BSW program’s philosophy and curriculum
- Commitment to high standards of personal and professional conduct, as reflected in the NASW Code of Ethics
- Completed BSW application and Statement of Purpose
Students can transfer more than half the credits they need to successfully earn a four-year degree. Aurora University will accept up to 68 credits from a 2 year institution and 90 credits from a 4 year institution.
Online BSW Career Outcomes
- Behavioral Management Aide
- Case Management Aide
- Child, Family and School Social Worker
- Eligibility Worker
- Health Care Social Worker
- Rehabilitation Case Worker
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
Next Steps
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347 S. Gladstone Ave.
Aurora, IL 60506-4892
(888) 570-5070
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