Bachelor of
Social Work

Bachelor of Social Work

Earn Your Online Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work

Bachelor of Social Work | Program Details

Northern Michigan University’s Bachelor of Social Work program offers a CSWE-accredited curriculum that prepares students to enter social work in various settings. Students are also well prepared to continue their education to pursue more advanced social work positions.

The program is built for your life so you can earn your degree with maximum flexibility without sacrificing quality. Students take part in both synchronous and asynchronous courses, allowing them to balance the coursework on their own time with the benefit of networking with fellow students and professors.

Graduates of this program learn skills based on widely applicable theory and go on to work in settings like schools, hospitals, nonprofit agencies, local, state and federal government offices and anywhere there are people in need. Social workers are trained to help their clients tap into their individual potential and connect to external resources in an effort to bring about lasting positive change.

Flexible, Rigorous
Online Curriculum

Transfer up to
90 Credits

Industry-Relevant
Internships

Learn From
Experts in the Field

Learn More About NMU’s Bachelor of Social Work

What Will You Learn in NMU’s Bachelor of Social Work Program?

As a student in NMU’s Bachelor of Social Work program, you’ll be prepared as a generalist for careers in mental health, health care, the court system, substance abuse and spouse abuse programs, among others.

  • Human Behavior

  • Social Welfare

  • Generalist Methods

  • Policy Analysis

  • Research

  • Practice with Diverse Populations

You’ll also take part in two semester-long seminars and two semester-long senior field placements.

How Much Does an Online Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work Cost at NMU?

Total tuition costs can vary depending on a student’s level of experience.  Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, and scholarships based on eligibility. A financial aid representative can help you make decisions about how to pay for college.

Contact: Financial Aid Office: fao@nmu.edu or 906-227-2327

Social Work Careers

Graduates of Northern’s Bachelor of Social Work program are qualified to pursue vibrant, rewarding careers within a growing job market. Social workers have the opportunity to perform work they are passionate about in a wide variety of settings. Many careers in Social Work require advanced education and NMU’s social work undergrad degree prepares students to continue their education with a solid foundation, if they choose.

Social Worker

$0
median pay

Social and Community
Service Manager

$0
median pay

Substance Abuse Counselor

$0
median pay

Source: bls.gov

Online BS in Social Work Admission Requirements

General BSW Admissions Requirements: 

Students must meet the university’s general admission requirements 

The social work curriculum culminates in a BSW degree with an inherent human behavior cluster minor. There are two divisions within the social work curriculum, the lower division and the advanced division.  

The lower division contains two social work courses that must be completed prior to being admitted to the advanced division. 

Requirements for admittance into the advanced division include: 

  • A 2.50 grade point average in the lower division courses 
  • Completion of designated human behavior cluster minor courses 

Transfer Credits 

Transfer credit for practice method and field placement courses at the 300 level and above will be granted only for course work completed at other Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited schools. As stipulated by the Council on Social Work Education, NMU’s program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience. 

Bachelor of Social Work Curriculum

Total Credits Required for Degree120 credits
General Education30-40 credits
Credits Required for Major48 credits
SW 100Exploring Social Work

This course provides an introduction to social work. The broad survey course covers the educational requirements of the profession, social work fields of practice and the types of social workers. The course assists students in making career choices about social work. Students are required to do 20 hours of volunteer work in addition to scheduled class sessions.

4 credits
SW 230Human Behavior in the Social Environment I

This course provides an examination of social science and behavioral science applications to social work practice. The course presents a social systems model for analyzing human functioning in the social environment.

4 credits
SW 308Methods of Social Research II [SCII]

This course provides an Introduction to methods for social research, as well as the concepts and techniques of social research. These include sampling, questionnaire and interview design, experiments, observation, evaluation research and ethics. This course involves research projects on social science issues. Computers and statistical software may be used as part of the instruction process.

4 credits
SW 331Human Behavior in the Social Environment II

This course studies current social welfare policy issues and the significance of policy-making influences that include social, economic and political factors. In addition, students learn various techniques of policy evaluation and review.

4 credits
SW 341Social Welfare Policy

This course explores social work theories and research literature on life stages in a variety of historical, cultural, class, gender, racial and community contexts. The coursework emphasizes how the self interacts with legacies of biological variables, cultural history, social systems, life history and personal social environment.

4 credits
SW 370Generalist Practice Methods I

This course provides an introduction to a generalist practice perspective including a common set of social work generalist values, social work generalist skills and social work generalist tasks essential to helping people in their social environment. The coursework emphasizes assessment skills and intervention strategies. Requires participation in skill practice including 16 lab hours of videotaping for classroom criteria

4 credits
SW 372Generalist Practice Methods II

This course covers practice methods content from social work mezzo-level and social work macro-level perspectives. The course highlights systems of families, systems of groups, systems of organizations and systems of communities. The use of video labs provides students with relevant practice situations.

4 credits
SW 440Social Work Policy Analysis

This course studies the impact of social policy at the local, state and national levels on the development, implementation and delivery of social/health services in fields of practice where social workers are employed. The course emphasizes current policy changes directly impacting clients, practitioners, agencies and their communities.

4 credits
SW 472Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice

This course looks at the impact of power and privilege in our society and teaches students to use their knowledge, awareness, and skills to engage in anti-oppressive practice. This course emphasizes how diversity and intersectionality shape human experiences and identity development and affect equity and inclusion. Students will learn to demonstrate anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work practice at the individual, family, group, organizational and community levels. Students will learn to demonstrate cultural humility by applying critical reflection, self-awareness and self-regulation to manage bias in social work, including the influence of power, privilege and values in working with clients and constituencies.

4 credits
SW 473Integrative Seminar I

This course integrates field education experiences with an emphasis on the values and ethics in generalist social work practice. Specific topics will include role conflicts, values clarification and ethical issues in social work faced by beginning generalist social work practitioners with an emphasis on self-evaluation. Individual field experiences will be shared and regularly discussed.

2 credits
SW 474Integrative Seminar II

This capstone seminar focuses on personal strengths in a professional role as a social worker. There is a focus on group sharing and experience sharing with an emphasis on
the differing roles and responsibilities in professional practice. Students assemble a professional portfolio integrating learning experiences in areas designated by the Council on Social Work Education.

2 credits
SW 480Senior Field Placement I

Students practice skill instruction through university-arranged placements in social work agencies. The emphasis is on demonstration of skill mastery through agency-supervised practice experience of 15-20 hours per week.

4 credits
SW 481Senior Field Placement II

This is a continuation of SW 480. Students practice skill instruction through university-arranged placements in social work agencies. The emphasis is on demonstration of skill mastery through agency-supervised practice experience of 15-20 hours per week.

4 credits
Human Behavior Cluster Minor**28 credits
AN 100
NAS 204
HS 233
HS 273
HS 283
Introduction to Socio-Cultural Anthropology [SOCR] or
Native American Experience [SOCR] or
Native American History [SOCR] or
LGBT History or
American Women’s History [PERS]
4 credits
BI 100
BI 104
BI 213
BI 214
Biological Science [SCII] or
Human Anatomy and Physiology or
Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 or
Human Anatomy and Physiology 2
4 credits
EC 101
EC 201
EC 202
EC 337
Introduction to Economics [PERS] or
Microeconomic Principles or
Macroeconomic Principles or
American Economic History [INTT]
4 credits
PSY 100Introduction to Psychological Science [SCII]4 credits
SO 101Introductory Sociology [PERS]4 credits
SO 372
SO 322
SO 362
Minority Groups [SOCR] or
Social Class, Power and Mobility [SOCR] or
Gender and Society [PERS]
4 credits
SO 208
DATA 109
PSY 201
Methods of Social Research I [QUAR] [MATH]or
Introduction to Statistics [QUAR] [MATH] or
Psychological Research I: Statistical Applications [QUAR] [MATH]
4 credits

**Transfer courses must be at least two-credit equivalents for each course. Transfer students can use electives from any discipline in the cluster to satisfy the 28 credit hour minimum.

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