Maryville’s Online Bachelor of Social Work Degree

Serve diverse communities. Earn your BSW online.

With Maryville University’s online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), you can build your modern social work foundation with an emphasis on self-care, social justice and inclusive practice. This generalist program blends theory and real-world training through in-class projects and an immersive experiential practicum.

Maryville’s online BSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and our coursework aligns with the nine CSWE competencies for culturally responsive social work practice.

Whether you’re a first-time college student or returning to school after some time away, Maryville is here to provide the flexibility and personal support to help clear your path to a social work degree online.

Earn a social work degree online from a CSWE-accredited program.

Study and complete coursework 100% online.

Get credits transferred to help finish your degree sooner.

No application fees or SAT scores are required to apply.

Our fee-free, test-free application

Maryville’s hassle-free application process is designed to remove roadblocks, so you can focus on what’s important: your growth and your goals. No application fees. No GMAT/GRE scores. Maryville will even request your transcripts for you.

Admission requirements for the online social work degree

To be eligible for admission into Maryville’s online bachelor’s degree in social work, you will need a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (high school) / 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (college).

We offer six start dates per year, so you can apply and start learning sooner than you think. Here’s what you’ll need to submit:

Simplified, no-cost online application

Official high school transcript

English proficiency scores (International applicants may be required to submit scores that meet a certain threshold.)

Have credits to transfer? We’ve got you.

We consider all transfer credits — even if you earned them years ago.

We work hard to make sure the transfer process is as simple and convenient as possible. We consider all college credits earned from regionally accredited colleges or universities, as well as courses completed in the military.

If you have prior college experience, you may be able to satisfy the general education requirement through transfer credits and earn your social work degree online more quickly.

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Flexible online learning

At Maryville, your needs come first. That’s why our online social work degree program gives you the flexibility to learn in a way that works for you.

Choose a start date that fits with your schedule.
Study when it’s convenient for you — on your time, not ours.
Learn 100% online. (But you’re always welcome on our St. Louis campus!)

Professional partnerships

Learn from and network with active professionals and industry experts through our partnerships with organizations around the world.

Partners of the university include:

Express-Scripts
SSM Health
Mercy Health Systems

Featured faculty

Ellie S. Wideman, PhD, MSW, LCSW, is the director of the social work program and an assistant professor of social work at Maryville.

“We work with diverse people to combat social injustice, oppression, and bring light to the darker elements of the human experience. I look forward to being a part of your educational journey.” — Dr. Wideman

Curriculum for the online social work degree

The coursework in Maryville’s online bachelor’s degree in social work was created based on the CSWE’s nine social work competencies, which means you will be prepared to apply social work knowledge in a culturally responsive, purposeful, intentional and professional manner to promote human and community wellbeing.

You’ll study important topics such as advocacy, social justice, financial literacy and evidence-based practices, and engage in extensive experiential learning that includes 400 hours of supervised field work.

The online BSW curriculum includes general education courses (45 credits), social work core courses (24 credits), social work practice courses (9 credits) and field education (18 credits).

Social work core courses

Introduction to Social Work: Professionalism and Ethics
Human Behavior in Context: Social Work Theories
Social, Economic & Environmental Justice: Advancing Human Rights
Professional Practice: Boundaries, Ethics, Legalities and Self Care in the Field

Cultural Competency Practice: Diversity
Policies and Policy Reform: The Laws of Change
Research: What do the Numbers Really Mean?
Financial Social Work: Asset Management and Education

Social work practice courses

Social Work Practice: Individuals and Families
Social Work Practice: Groups

Social Work Practice: Programs, Communities, and Organizations

Field education

Social Work Application: Trends in the Field
Capstone: Nine Competencies

Field Placement I
Field Experience II

For your field work in the online social work degree program, you will work under the supervision of a trained field instructor at placement sites in or near your community. You will complete a total of 400 hours of field work education over two 16-week periods.

In addition to your work at the placement site, you will also engage in discussion with faculty and peers regarding issues that arise in the field of social work, including ethical concerns, social justice and diversity issues as well as questions related to self-discovery.

Career paths with a bachelor’s in social work

Maryville’s online social work degree program can help you qualify for administrative and caseworker roles in direct-service and nonclinical settings. Your bachelor’s degree may help you pursue licensure in your state or start your generalist social work practice. Please check with your local licensing/certification board for details.

In some states, a master’s degree may be required for licensure or advanced clinical practice. Professional licensure and certification regulations vary by jurisdiction. Prior to enrolling in the BSW program, you are encouraged to visit the Association of Social Work Boards to verify specific licensure requirements for the state in which you intend to practice.

If you want to reach the highest levels of the social work profession, you may need your Master of Social Work (MSW). With your online BSW from Maryville, you may be able to earn an MSW in less time.

Many MSW programs offer an advanced standing track for students who hold a BSW. Requirements and total credits awarded vary by institution, but if you choose an MSW program that offers an advanced standing track, you should be able to use your BSW to finish your graduate degree considerably faster.

Start your journey to becoming a culturally responsive social work practitioner and advocate. Take the next step — learn more about Maryville’s online social work degree program.