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Undergraduate, Adult Degree | In-Person

Social Work, BSW | Adult Degree

As a social worker you will touch every aspect of society, from mental and physical well-being to education, healthcare and law. Social Work requires commitment and dedication to helping others.

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Apply by August 1

Start on August 23

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Adult Degree Program

Kim Powell
Admissions Coordinator
615.460.6850
Email Kim

Why Major in Social Work? 

Belmont's Social Work program is a close and supportive community, offering students many opportunities for active learning, internships and engagement in a variety of non-profit, government and grassroots settings.

The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education which gives students the ability to complete a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in one year after completing undergraduate work by enrolling in an Advanced Standing Program after graduation.

Students enjoy the benefit of being taught almost exclusively by full time faculty who are passionate and award winning teachers. You can be confident your education has met the highest standards of national accreditation and that you are ready to meet the needs of your clients and our community.

Am I an Adult Student? 

Adult Degree applicants should be 24 years or older. However, exceptions for those under the age of 24 might include evidence of two years or more of military service, marriage or having a family of your own.

What makes Adult Degree Programs special?

Your Success is Personal: Our students are not one-sized fits all, and neither is our commitment to you. Your path to a college degree is unique, and we take your success as personally as you do. Our staff and faculty will be with you from the first point of contact all the way through graduation and beyond, providing personalized guidance and assistance so you don’t have to go it alone.

Education Designed to Elevate Your Career: Whatever adult degree program option you choose, a career-focused curriculum will help you elevate your current career or prepare you for new professional or personal opportunities. 

Unique Tuition Discount for Adult Degree Program Students: Belmont is dedicated to offering access to high-quality education for busy adults. Students in Belmont’s Adult Degree Program receive more than a 40% discount off of the tuition cost that traditional Belmont students pay for the very same quality, private school education. 

What You'll Learn 

  • Learn professionalism alongside Social Work values and ethics.
  • Gain skills in advancing justice in multiple areas.
  • Incorporate anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in your career.
  • Conduct research and policy analysis in social work practice.
  • Engage, assess, intervene and evaluate your practice with clients across a variety of settings.

Career Possibilities

  • Counselor/Therapist
  • School Social Worker
  • Military Social Worker
  • Child and Family Social Worker
  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Healthcare Social Worker
  • Law Mitigation and Conflict Resolution

Program Details

Curriculum

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is designed to be completed in four years and requires 128 hours of coursework. The final year includes the start of the intensive 450 hour internship experience, which in social work is referred to as Field Education.

  • BELL Core requirements: 50 hours
  • Major requirements: 54 hours
  • General electives: 24 hours

View the BSW Program of Study here.

Courses You'll Take

Courses you'll take include:

  • SWK 2000 Introduction to Social Work A study of the origins, structure and characteristics of social work services, social welfare policies and the social work profession. In addition to other course requirements, the student must complete 15 clock hours of service learning in a social service agency.
  • SWK 2050 Social Work Research This is an introduction to the methods of scientific inquiry and their relevance to social work. Topics include research design, problem formulation, measurement, data analysis and ethics in research. Fundamentals of analyzing research reports will also be emphasized. * a 1-hour, web-based lab is included to expand knowledge of APA formatting, Evidence-based practice and statistical applications.
  • SWK 2250 Human Behavior and Social Environment I This course examines the biological, psychological and social development of the individual at different lifespan stages. Students learn about human behavior from the perspective of developmental milestones as well as environmental, societal and cultural issues and contexts.
  • SWK 2300 Exploring Human Diversity This course examines and explores the intricacies of human diversity. Students will be able to identify areas of oppression and injustice as well as strength and opportunity as they learn about what makes us alike and different. This course will look at different “isms” (racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, etc.) and how these “isms” impact society. There is an emphasis on critical thinking about, and awareness of, human diversity through readings, films, personal visits and immersion experiences in the community representing a vast scope of diversity including (but not limited to): race, age, class, ethnicity, ability, faith, sexual orientation and gender.
  • SWK 3210 Social Work Practice I An examination of the knowledge, values and skills basic to the generalist practice of social work. Students utilize an understanding of the social work process to develop skills in problem-solving with individuals and families. A videotape experience is provided for skill-building and evaluation opportunities. Fall.
  • SWK 3700 Professional Skills in Social Work This course is designed for third year Social Work majors preparing for entrance into their field placements. The course provides an opportunity for students to discern the client populations and agency settings for their field placements. Further, students will be interviewing and securing social work field placements during the course of this class. Additionally, this course focuses on the development of the knowledge and skills of basic interpersonal communication for establishing and maintaining relationships with clients and colleagues, and their ability to apply these communication skills when entering the field of social work. This course will include topics such as: Developing oral and written communication skills, listening and empathy skills, navigating difficult conversations, barriers to effective communication and inter-professional communication skills.
  • SWK 4230 Crisis Intervention Crisis intervention will take into account various environments and populations across the lifespan to provide students with practical guidelines for managing crisis such as suicide, abuse, grief and loss, violence and disasters. Multiple crisis assessment models will be presented giving students the freedom to select a model that best fits their personal style or a given crisis. Future mental health professionals will gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to help their clients manage when a crisis occurs.

The admission decision process for the Adult Degree Program is different from what someone might experience right out of high school. To be eligible for an Adult Degree program,  applicants must be 24 years or older or provide evidence of two years or more of military service, marriage or having a family of your own.

Even if you struggled academically when you first attended college, the Belmont Admissions Committee looks at more than just your academic history. We also consider your professional experience and personal accomplishments as we review your application materials.

Learn more about Adult Degree Admissions & Financial Aid

As a Social Work student, you will have countless opportunities to flourish. These include service, leadership experiences, co-curricular educational programming and fun social events!

Council on Social Work Education

The School of Social Work at Belmont University 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.

View Student Outcomes

State Licensure

Students completing the Bachelor in Social Work program are eligible to be licensed by many state professional licensing boards. Separate from educational requirements for licensure, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations and background checks. Additional requirements, including documentation of internship and supervision hours, may vary.

The Bachelor of Social Work Program at Belmont University meets the educational requirements for BSW licensure as follows:

Positive Licensure Determinations

Negative Licensure Determinations*

No Licensure Determinations

Educational Requirements for State Licensure Educational Requirements for State Licensure Educational Requirements for State Licensure
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • Guam
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Peurto Rico
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virgin Islands
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • New York
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
  • Washington

*These states do not offer Social Work licensure at the Baccalaureate level

DeEbony Groves Social Work Diversity Scholarship

The DeEbony Groves Social Work Diversity Endowed Scholarship is an annual award designed to support the education of a Belmont Social Work major and contribute to the continued development of a diverse community of learners.

The diversity award was first distributed in the academic year 2014-2015, and in May of 2018 the name of the scholarship was changed to the DeEbony Groves Social Work Diversity Scholarship. The name was changed in honor and memory of one of our beloved student social work majors, DeEbony Groves. DeEbony’s life was taken too soon, but it is our hope and prayer that this award in her name will enable future students to achieve some of the same goals DeEbony had set for herself, particularly in the areas of appreciating, honoring and respecting diversity in all its dimensions.

This annual award is made possible due to the donations of alumni and other friends of the department who are committed to increasing diversity and awareness of diversity, and who want to honor DeEbony’s memory in this way.

Students who are interested in seeking the award will apply in the fall semester of each academic year. The application consists of a few brief demographic questions and an essay regarding the student's understanding of the importance of diversity in our profession.

The application for the award and the date it is due are released by October of each academic year. In accordance with University policy, we are unable to award the scholarship to a University College student.

The McWhorter Society Scholarship

Awarded annually to students in the Health Sciences, with demonstrated financial need, who exhibit academic excellence and are most eager and passionate about being part of leading change.

The Social Justice Minor includes 18 hours of Social Work course credit. Students minoring in Social Justice are not eligible to take advanced practice classes or participate in Field Education. Please see the catalog for detailed requirements.

What is Field?

Field education is the signature pedagogy in social work, the element of “instruction and socialization” (Council on Social Work Education [CSWE], 2015, p. 12) that teaches future social workers “to think, to perform and to act ethically and with integrity” (CSWE, 2015, p. 12). The Department of Social Work at Belmont University designs field education to be a two (2) semester sequence of courses in which the student applies conceptual knowledge gained in a classroom to practice with clients in a social work agency. Supervision of the student is provided by practitioners with either a BSW or MSW. Students complete 225 clock hours of work each semester, for a total of 450 clock hours of field instruction. The educational competencies and policies of field instruction conform to the 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standard (2015 EPAS) of CSWE.

Field Partners

Belmont Social Work partners with a wide variety of social service agencies in the greater Nashville area. You will be able to choose to apply to agencies in practice areas that are of special interest to you. You're supported at every step of the application and interview process during your time in SWK 3700 Professional Skills in Social Work. This course culminates in field placement that meets your unique professional aspirations.

View The Social Work Field Education Manual

Request Information

Application Deadlines

Apply by August 1

Start on August 23

Apply Now

Tuition & Aid Info

Contact Us

Adult Degree Program

Kim Powell
Admissions Coordinator
615.460.6850
Email Kim