Online Bachelor of Social Work Overview
Make a difference in the lives of clients and communities.
The UCCS Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program readies graduates for entry-level roles in social work, empowering them to operate as advocates, leaders, and catalysts for social change across diverse client systems. With a focus on ethical practice and competence, our BSW-trained social workers are equipped to make impactful contributions to the lives of clients and communities.
Social work is a hands-on profession that strives to help individuals, families, groups, and communities deal with diverse problems. Nationally, the 10-year job growth predictions for social work range between 15% and 22%, much faster than most comparable professions.
Our graduates are prepared for careers as entry-level social workers able to work across client systems as advocates, leaders, and agents of social change. BSW-trained social workers make a difference in the lives of clients and communities.
Bachelor of Social Work
College of Public Service
100% Online
Delivery Method
$435*
Cost Per Credit
*Approximate In-state
$636*
Cost Per Credit
*Approximate Out-of-state
Priority Application Deadline
Rolling Admissions
Application Deadline
120
Credit Hours
4 Years
Average Completion Time
Bachelor of Social Work Course Overview
The UCCS BSW program emphasizes interdisciplinary evidence-based knowledge and skills for ethical, culturally competent, and socially and economically just interventions.
The 120-credit hour BSW prepares students for entry-level, professional, generalist social work practice and for graduate social work education.
For a list of courses and course descriptions, please visit the UCCS Academic Catalog.
- Core Social Work Courses: 33 Credit Hours
- Social Work Electives: 9 Credit Hours
- General Education Requirements: 53 Credit Hours
- General Electives: 10-28 Credit Hours
The Social Work Practice sequence equips students with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to work with clients and communities across a wide range of client groups.
Students develop social work intervention and problem-solving skills required to work with people of diverse backgrounds using a person-in-environment approach.
Students develop their skills through our practicum practice sequence by completing no less than 400 hours of field practice (e.g., internship).
Practicum practice integrates theoretical and conceptual classwork with the practice setting. It’s a wonderful way to gain “real world” experience and networking to prepare for social work careers.
Elective offerings unique to social work practice are designed around the high-need areas of military social work, healthcare social work, and child welfare training.
For additional information, please see the BSW Student Handbook.
- SWRK 3001: The Helping Relationship I
- Covers basic skills of helping individuals and families in the context of generalist social work practice. Dual emphasis placed on both the knowledge base and the performance of these skills. Assists students in determining their desire to enter the field of social work and prepares students for further educational experiences at the university and in the social work program.
- SWRK 3400: Social, Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice
- Examines intersecting and ongoing injustices that result in oppression and racism, including social work’s role and response. Evaluates distribution of power and privilege to promote social justice, reduce inequities and ensure dignity and respect for all. Prepares students to engage in eliminating structural barriers to ensure that social rights are distributed equitably to protect civil, political, economic, social, and cultural human rights. Among the social work skills addressed are ways to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels and engage in practices that advance human rights to promote social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
- SOC 3250: Power, Privilege and Social Difference
- Examines the processes and conditions that produce the systems of differences and privilege shaping our lived experiences. Critically analyzes the prevailing cultural ideologies surrounding class, race, gender, sexuality, and ability. Emphasizes awareness, respect, justice and resolution.
Take the First Step
Complete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Advisor.
Tuition and Fees
At UCCS Online, we strive to keep our tuition costs affordable so that you can get a world-class education that fits your budget. When you earn a degree, you’re not simply getting a diploma — you’re making a lifelong investment in yourself and empowering your future career. We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education.
Our Enrollment Team can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your degree.
Complete the formComplete the form on this page to connect with our Enrollment Team and get more information about tuition, fees, scholarships, and financial aid.
In State Cost Per Credit:
$435
Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
Out of State Cost Per Credit:
$636
Approximate tuition per credit hour based on the number of credits taken
We know that affordability is an important factor, and that’s why we’re here to help you explore all of the options available to fund your education. Our Enrollment Navigators can answer any of your questions about tuition and financial aid, help you take care of the paperwork, and make sure you’re able to focus on reaching your goals. From financial aid and scholarships to transfer credits and corporate tuition assistance programs, we’ll work with you to find the best way to finance your UCCS Online degree. Complete the formComplete the form on this page to be contacted by an Enrollment Advisor.
Financial aid is available for eligible students to use toward paying educational costs while enrolled in a UCCS Online program. To determine your eligibility and apply for financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When you submit your FAFSA, you will be considered for three types of aid: grants, work-study, and student loans. To be considered for federal financial aid, you will need to apply early and annually.
- Scholarships | You may be eligible for scholarships at UCCS. We offer many scholarships and grants to students who are ready to earn their degrees and achieve success. Between both UCCS-offered and external scholarships, our students earned more than $10 million in scholarship awards last year alone.
- College Opportunity Fund (COF) | The College Opportunity Fund (COF) is a trust fund created by the Colorado Legislature that provides a tuition stipend to eligible undergraduate students. The stipend pays a portion of your total in-state tuition when you attend a participating college. All students must create a COF account directly through the College Opportunity Fund (COF) website.
- WICHE | The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has given many students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming the opportunity to study at UCCS. The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is an agreement through which 160+ participating public colleges and universities provide significant nonresident tuition savings for undergraduate programs, with eligible students pay no more than 150 percent of resident tuition rates.
UCCS Online is military-friendly and committed to providing service members and their families with a high-quality education that fits their distinct needs. As a UCCS Online student, you will have access to the UCCS Veteran and Military Affairs, which connects veteran, active duty, reservist, National Guard, and dependent students with fundamental support, services, and resources to ensure academic and professional success. UCCS is a proud home campus to many veteran and military students.
Eligible veteran and military students may use veteran benefits, military tuition assistance, and/or financial aid to pay for their education. Military benefits with UCCS Online include:
- Waived application fee for active duty and veterans
- Military benefits approved program
Connect with our Enrollment NavigatorsConnect with our Enrollment Navigators to learn more about the benefits and financial assistance available to military and veteran students.
All students are automatically opted in to the TAAP program with the choice to opt out. The TAAP program provides all your course materials for one flat fee per credit hour. That means no more time spent searching for, ordering, and paying out of pocket for your own course materials.
Many companies offer tuition assistance benefits as part of their employee compensation program. Generally, these policies determine a set number of credit hours per year that the company will pay for on behalf of the student/employee. Some policies place a cap on eligible tuition dollars and related expenses while others reimburse employees on a per-credit-hour basis. Get in touch with your organization's human resources department to learn more about your educational benefits.
Admissions Information
Students may declare Social Work as their major at any time following admission to the University; however, declaration of the social work major does not guarantee admission into the BSW program. Generally, first- and second-year Social Work majors complete general education requirements and lower-division social work courses.
After successful completion of 60 credit hours and fulfillment of the requirements outlined below, students with a social work major may apply to the Bachelor of Social Work program.
After admission to the social work program, third- and fourth-year Social Work majors complete upper-division courses and a supervised practicum (internship) in a social service agency.
Requirements for Admission:
- Evidence of 60 completed credit hours (in-progress coursework will be considered)
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.4 for current UCCS students and transfer students
- Successful completion of three prerequisite courses
- SWRK 1001
- SOC 1110
- PSY 1000 (or equivalent SOC, PSY courses)
- Submission of a writing sample used to evaluate your writing skills and your readiness for admission to the BSW program.
- Writing samples can be submitted here.
- For the writing sample, please choose and respond to one of the following three questions; list the question and then your response. Your answer should demonstrate your interest in and commitment to social work, social justice, and social change. Responses should be double-spaced and no more than 500 words.
- Beyond your personal desire to help people, why have you chosen social work as a profession over another profession or major?
- How have your life experiences and identities shaped your understanding of power and privilege?
- Reflect upon a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged. How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your belief?
Upon successful completion of the application requirements, students will be admitted to the BSW program and permitted to complete upper-division courses.
For additional questions regarding the BSW program, please email the BSW Director, Dr. Laurel Bidwell.
Start the application process by filling out the formfilling out the form on this page.
UCCS accepts applications throughout the year through a rolling admissions process. However, submitting your application by the preferred deadlines is advisable.
Our stated application deadlines are as follows, but we admit students up to a week before the semester starts. We have also started admitting students mid-semester before Session B begins.
- Fall Semester: August 1
- Spring Semester: November 1
- Summer Semester: May 1
To learn more about the Bachelor of Social Work program, join us for one of our information sessions, which are available both in-person and virtually.
- Summer 2025 – June 9, 2025
- Fall 2025 – August 25, 2025
- Spring 2026 – January 20, 2026
Accreditation
The UCCS Bachelor of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.
Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on 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 Commission on 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.
For more information about social work accreditation, you may contact Accreditation.
Assessment
All social work programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) measure and report student learning outcomes, which are based on the 9 social work competencies outlined in the CSWE accreditation standards. These competencies are dimensions of social work practice which all social workers are expected to master during their professional training. Click the link below for more information.
Expand Your Opportunities
Earn an education that creates opportunity. Start the admissions process with an enrollment advisor by filling out the form on this page today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We’re here to help. We emphasize to all students that faculty members are here for them. As faculty seek to connect with you, feel free to use their flexible office hours or contact them if you need additional help.
A common barrier to success is time management, especially if you are working a full-time job. The online format offers more flexibility and the opportunity to develop better balance among your commitments, but having a plan for completing your studies each week can help you get on track to success early.
Online courses at the University of Colorado are taught by the same professors that teach in-person classes. This ensures that you are receiving the same education and learning experiences as on-campus students. The primary difference is with the delivery format. Your online courses will all be taught in Canvas, the Learning Management System (LMS). You will be responsible for logging in, accessing course content, and completing any requirements of the course.
The Bachelor of Social Work is offered fully online, which means you will not be required to take courses at our campus and there are no on-campus components to this program.