Undergraduate program & minor

The Virginia State University Social Work Bachelor of Social (BSW) Program received initial accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation (COA) in October 2013 and has upheld CSWE Accreditation Education Policy and Standards (EPAS) while maintaining consistency with the university’s mission and institutional goals. 

The profession of social work is committed to the enhancement of human well- being, alleviation of poverty and oppression, and obtaining social, economic and environmental justice.  If you are interested in working with people in various settings such as social service agencies, health and governmental agencies, schools, hospitals, corrections, and private community service agencies and organizations, social work just might be the right profession for you.  The VSU BSW Program prepare our students to work with individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities on a generalist practice level.

The Social Work Department also offers a minor in social work and a certificate in Homefront Readjustment for the Armed Forces which prepares current undergraduate students and post undergraduate individuals to work with service members, veterans and their families in their communities. 

Since we first kicked off the BSW program in 2010, we have graduated more than 340 social work students since 2011 and over sixty percent of those graduates have sought their post-graduate studies and have obtained their master’s degrees in social work, divinity, counseling and education, and also doctoral degrees in social work and juris doctorate in law.  Several alumni are still in pursuit of their masters in social work and counseling, degrees in social work and juris doctorate in law.  Several of these individual have also obtained their clinical social work licensure and are practicing in their area of specialization.  

If you enjoy working with people and want to help make a difference in lives, communities, your state and the world, you should consider the social work profession. We welcome traditional and non-traditional students and look forward to preparing you for work in a unique, culturally diverse, and ever-changing environment.   

Minors 

Social Work

The Social Work minor is an interdisciplinary program for undergraduate students who are interested in the field of social work or social services and want more in-depth study in this area. Students must meet with a Social Work advisor prior to declaring a minor in social work. A complete description of the Social Work minor requirements can be found in the VSU Undergraduate Catalog

Homefront Readjustment for the Armed Services (also a certificate program)

This minor is designed for undergraduate students and professionals in interdisciplinary fields who wish to develop specific knowledge of military culture and communities, and acquire the skills to interact in community settings where the needs of veterans and their families are met. All students in this minor/certificate program are considered undergraduate. A complete description of the Homefront Readjustment for the Armed Services minor requirements can be found in the VSU Undergraduate Catalog.

Students must complete a Minor Request form and have it signed by their appropriate major advisor and Social Work Advisor. The student must submit the completed form to the Office of the Registrar to have their minor added to their VSU transcript.