-Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Social Work program recognizes and acknowledges the Nuuchiu (Ute) people as the first people of the unceded territory upon which Colorado Mesa University exists. The BSW program is committed to the advancement of social, economic, and racial justice for those who are marginalized and vulnerable locally, nationally, and globally.
What is social work?
Social work is a profession dedicated to social and economic justice through a commitment to anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice. Social workers focus primarily on the needs and empowerment of vulnerable, oppressed, and those living in poverty. Social workers help people overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges: poverty, discrimination, abuse, addiction, physical illness, divorce, educational problems, disability, and mental illness. Social workers who graduate from a generalist BSW program gain the education and training to work with individuals, families, communities, and organizations across the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of intervention.
The practice of social work requires knowledge of human development and behavior; of social, economic, and cultural institutions, and of the interaction of all these factors; as well as skills in developing relationships, assessing needs, and providing services while facilitating change. Social workers seek to strengthen relationships among people to promote, restore, maintain, and enhance the well-being of individuals, families, social groups, organizations, and communities (http://www.socialworkers.org/).
Career Opportunities
Social workers are found in every facet of community life. We are in schools, hospitals, behavioral health clinics, senior centers, elected office, private practices, prisons, military, corporations, and in numerous public and private agencies that serve individuals, families, groups, and communities. These are the types of social work as detailed by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW):
- Administration & Management
- Advocacy & Community Organizing
- Aging
- Child Welfare
- Developmental Disabilities
- Health Care
- International Social Work
- Justice & Corrections
- Mental Health & Clinical Social Work
- Mental Health & Substance Use Social Work
- Occupational & Employment Assistance Plans (EAP) Social Work
- Policy & Planning
- Politics
- Public Welfare
- Research
- School Social Work
-National Association of Social Workers, 2023
What kind of social worker would you want to be? Take this survey and see where your interests and skills take you.
You can also find out more about social work career options here.
Council of Social Work Education Education Policies & Accreditation Standards 2022
- Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
- Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
- Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
- Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
- Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
- Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
BSW Student Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate proficiency in utilizing the social work profession’s 9 core competencies and 20 practice behaviors through a senior-year practicum in a social service agency in our community (Specialized Knowledge/Applied Learning, Core Competencies 1-9).
- Demonstrate the ability to use practice-informed research and practice the use of the scientific method to develop research-informed practice in academic assignments and at practicum (Quantitative Fluency, Core Competency 4,5, and 9).
- Demonstrate effective oral and written communication in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and colleagues through practicum, required classes, and oral presentations (Communication Fluency, Core Competency 1, 6,7, and 8).
- Demonstrate critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments through distinguishing, appraising, and integrating multiple sources of knowledge; and through analyzing models of assessment, prevention, intervention, and evaluation (Critical Thinking, Core Competencies 1-9).
- Engage with anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in social work classes and practicum; demonstrate ethical and professional behavior in classes, with peers, and in practicum by adhering to the NASW Code of Ethics (Personal and Social responsibility, Core Competency 1, 2, and 3).
- Demonstrate effective skills in evaluating information and applying the information to specific purposes; demonstrate ethical use of social media and technology in the classroom, in assignments, and in practicum (Information literacy, Core Competency 1-9).
Program Assessment Outcomes
All Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited programs measure and report student learning outcomes. These competencies are dimensions of social work practice that all social workers are expected to master during their professional training and set by CSWE in their Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards (EPAS). Each social work programs sets a benchmark of achievement for each competency. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent proficiency of that specific competency.
2024 Assessment Outcome Report
We demonstrate this commitment through intentional inclusion of historically marginalized perspectives in the curriculum, decolonization efforts in both social work theory and practice, and by building community across the wide spectrum of social work arenas of practice.
The BSW is an exceptional undergraduate degree as it provides both an academic and applied foundation for students enrolled in the major, completing 120 academic credit hours and 450 practicum hours at a local social service agency. As an accredited program through the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) we have accomplished the highest standard for social work education and are uniquely situated to prepare students for entering the profession or moving onwards to graduate school.
Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Board of Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. 
Accreditation applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.
Program Mission:
To educate students as generalist social work practitioners who embrace the mission and core values of the social work profession, including issues of diversity, service, the dignity and worth of all people, and social and economic justice.
Program Goals:
- To educate students as generalist social work practitioners; with knowledge and understanding of the ecological perspective, the strengths perspective, the empowerment approach, and solid problem solving and case management skills.
- To assist students in viewing complex human and social issues from a multi-dimensional, multi-level approach involving micro-, mezzo-, and macro-level interventions.
- To provide opportunities for the application of the social work mission and core values of service, the dignity and worth of all people, the importance of human relationships, integrity, competency, and social and economic justice.
- To maintain high professional standards and knowledge of the NASW Code of Ethics.
- To help students strengthen the relationship between theory and practice by engaging them in various experiential learning opportunities, leadership development, strong practice education opportunities, and involvement in social work activities.
Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (BSW)
Students must apply to be accepted into the Bachelor's program. The BSW admission processes uses a holistic model to assess student applications and participates intentionally in creating an equitable admission process, especially encouraging students from marginalized social groups to consider careers in social work.
BSW Program Overview BSW Student Handbook BSW Admission Criteria
Practice Education
The 2022 Educational Policy 3.3 states that practice education is the signature pedagogy for social work. The intent of practice education is to integrate the theoretical and conceptual contribution of the classroom with practice.
Signature pedagogies teach future practitioners the fundamental dimensions of professional work in their discipline: to think, to perform, and to act intentionally, ethically, and with integrity (CSWE, 2022).
BSW students will work side by side with a practitioner in the community for 450 hours during the fall/spring semester of their senior year. This is to develop strong social work skills through practice, and to promote professionalism.
Our BSW Practicum Manual is available here. Students ready to start their practicums should click below.
PRACTICE EDUCATION INFORMATION AND REQUIRED FORMS
Minor in Social Work
The 18 credit-hour minor in social work can be combined with a major in any discipline. This minor is for students who want to work in the human services after graduation. A minor in social work also helps students aiming to enter a master's program in social work (MSW). For more information about the minor, see BSW Minor.
* The Social Work program (major/minor) at CMU does not grant course credit for life experience or previous work experience