Online Bachelor of Social Work
A career in social work offers a wide range of responsibilities and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on individuals and communities.
What does a Social Worker do?
Social workers often find themselves in various settings, providing essential support and guidance. In educational environments, they work closely with children, offering therapy sessions and helping them navigate personal and academic challenges. In the realm of family services, social workers play a critical role in counseling families, assisting them in overcoming difficulties to maintain family unity and retain custody of their children. Additionally, social workers engage in advocacy and policy work, where they analyze new research, review policy proposals, and collaborate with lawmakers to promote the welfare of at-risk populations. This broad scope of activities highlights the versatility of social work and the vital role social workers play in addressing complex social issues.
Social Work Program Highlights
High Quality Education
- Social Work Ethics: Understanding the ethical principles that guide social work practice is crucial. UC Online’s program ensures that you develop a deep understanding of these principles and their practical application.
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment: You’ll study the ways in which individuals and communities interact, develop, and change. This knowledge is essential for assessing and addressing the needs of clients.
- Social Work Practice: The program includes hands-on experience and case studies that prepare you for real-world situations. You’ll learn how to assess, intervene, and advocate for clients effectively.
In the final year of the BSW program, students complete 432 hours (12 credit hours) in field placement (approximately 16 hours/week). This practical component is a cornerstone of the program, providing supervised experience in various social work settings. The School of Social Work collaborates with students to arrange field placements that align with their interests, career aspirations, and geographical location.
Fieldwork is crucial for several reasons:
- Practical Experience: Fieldwork allows students to apply classroom learning in real-world scenarios, enhancing their understanding of social work practices and principles.
- Skill Development: Through field placements, students develop essential skills such as client assessment, case management, and intervention strategies.
- Professional Networking: Field placements offer opportunities to connect with experienced social workers and other professionals, which can be valuable for future job searches and career growth.
- Personal Growth: Working in different environments helps students build empathy, resilience, and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by different populations.
Additionally, through a partnership with CECH at the University of Cincinnati, students of our online social work program can gain additional credentials in Substance Abuse Counseling. By participating in this special course, students will fulfill the educational requirements for the Ohio Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant Phase 1 (CDCA Phase 1) Exam or a similar exam in their home state. Students should check with their home state’s addictions counseling credentialing board for specific requirements.
Flexibility
- Easy credit transfer
- Fully Online (No Campus Visits)
- Complete in as little as 5 semesters
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your go-to resource during the application process
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
Prerequisites
- You have a minimum of 60 completed credit hours from a regionally accredited institution
- You have a GPA of at least 2.75 across all college coursework
- You must obtain the equivalent of at least 11 of UC’s General Education Requirements listed below
- ECON 1001 or 1002
- ENGL 1001
- ENGL 2089
- HIST 1001 or 1002
- POL 1010
- PSYC 1001
- SOC 1001
- 3 Credit Hours in Human & Life Sciences
- 3 Credit Hours in Statistics
- 3 Credit Hours in Fine Arts
- 3 Credit Hours in Humanities
- 5 Credit Hours in Any Topic (Free Elective)
- 10 Credit Hours in Foreign Language Study and/or Cultural Competency Study
- SW 2050 or SOC 2075
- SW 2055 or SOC 20243
- To approximate which of your existing college credits will transfer, please visit: transferology.com
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
- $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
- Application fees for UC Online programs are waived through Fall 2026 for all applicants who apply by July 1, 2026
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who: are currently serving in the US armed forces, or are veterans of the US armed forces.
Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Please review and submit the following materials:
After submitting your application form, all applicants are required to have official transcripts sent directly to University of Cincinnati in order to be eligible for admissions review.
- First-Year and Transfer Applicants with Fewer Than 24 Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from your high school and all prior colleges (if applicable) for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- Transfer Applicants with 24+ Completed Semester Hours at a Prior College:
- Order official transcripts from all prior colleges for delivery directly to University of Cincinnati.
- You are exempt from the High School transcript requirement, this item will be removed from your application checklist once your college documents are received.
Please review the section below for guidance on how to submit your transcripts.
Online transcript request systems are the preferred method to deliver official transcripts electronically. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly to determine their ordering process.
If a physical copy must be sent, DO NOT request it be delivered to you. It must be sent directly from your prior school to the following address:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
In order to apply to University of Cincinnati as a transfer student, learners must submit a transfer application form and have official transcripts sent directly to UC from all prior institutions they’ve attended.
To request these transcripts, please contact your previous institution’s registrar and ask them to send the official transcript to the University of Cincinnati via an approved electronic method such as Parchment, eScrip-Safe, National Student Clearinghouse, or similar services. This is the preferred method. If electronic submission isn’t available, transcripts may be mailed to the Office of Admissions at:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, OH 45221
Due to this program’s field work requirement, students are not eligible to complete the program while located outside of the United States.
Applicants with college coursework completed outside the United States are required to provide a course-by-course foreign credential evaluation for each college or university you attended outside the United States. This evaluation must be obtained from a service listed on the NACES member website.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 |
March 15, 2026 July 15, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
Outcomes
Graduates of the University of Cincinnati’s BSW program are well-prepared for various career paths in social work. They can work in settings such as mental health clinics, schools, child welfare agencies, hospitals, and private practices. The program’s curriculum and fieldwork component enable graduates to pursue licensure and certifications, including:
The demand for social workers is expected to grow significantly, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 12% increase in job opportunities through 2029. The median pay for social workers is $51,760, reflecting the profession’s rewarding nature and potential for career advancement.
High job satisfaction and stability are key benefits of a career in social work. The profession often appears on U.S. News & World Report’s list of 100 Best Jobs, underscoring its importance and impact. If you’re curious to learn more about social work careers, read our blog the offers guidance on the top careers in the industry.
Licensure
Federal regulations require the University of Cincinnati to publicly disclose whether completion of certain programs that lead or may lead to professional licensure or certification would meet a given state’s educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation (regardless of whether the program is on-ground, online, or hybrid). To learn whether a University program meets a given state’s educational requirements, please visit the University of Cincinnati State Authorization webpage.
- The University of Cincinnati and all of its regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
- Top tier of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report
- Ranked #9 Online BSW in 2022 by College Consensus
- Our bachelor social work online is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation and is evaluated by a peer review process
“I researched long and hard for an accredited online program before finding the University of Cincinnati, a highly regarded school with many years of academic excellence under its belt. As a busy working mom and wife, I appreciate that it offers so many online classes and programs tailored to adult/non-traditional students. The classes are well-structured and relevant to my field of study. I really like that there is constant communication between the school, professors, and students, which makes me feel like I am not missing out. I also think we have great faculty and staff. I am excited and proud to be a part of the University of Cincinnati family!”
Ana B.
BSW Social Work
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