Bachelor of Social Work
Online BSW Degree Program

Educational and licensing requirements can vary by state and employer across both jobs. The disciplines are distinct enough to demand separate master’s degree curriculums.

The primary difference between clinical social workers and mental health counselors is the scope of their duties and the education required to perform them. Generally, counselors focus solely on mental health issues, while clinical social workers carry a wide variety of responsibilities including and beyond mental health care.

Becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) includes more involvement in managing your clients’ support network and larger community. While clinical social workers can potentially adopt a direct, active role in diagnosing and treating mental health issues, it’s not the sole purpose of the profession as it is for mental health counselors.

According to the CSWE’s most recent Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, the 9 Social Work Competencies are listed as such: 

1. Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior 
2. Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice
3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice
4. Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
5. Engage in Policy Practice
6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities
8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
9. Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Learn more about the most important skills needed to succeed as a social worker.

The average salary for a social worker depends on several factors, including where they work, the state in which they practice, how long they have practiced, and chosen specialization.  

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides average salary estimates for three different types of social workers:* 

• Child, family, and school social workers earn an annual average salary of $62,920 per year ($30.25 per hour) 
• Healthcare social workers earn an annual average salary of $72,030 per year ($34.63 per hour) 
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers earn an annual average salary of $68,290 per year ($32.83 per hour). 

This can vary widely based on several factors, including employer, particular job duties, and state of employment.

For generalist roles in social work, a bachelor’s degree education is sufficient and may lead to licensure in your state of residence. To become a clinical social worker, you’ll need to earn a master’s degree.

Students seeking a 2-year pathway into the field of social work might consider our Associate of Science in Health and Human Services or Associate of Science in Criminal Justice programs. For jobs specifically in social work, we recommend a bachelor’s degree or higher. However, human services and criminal justice represent larger umbrellas under which exist entry-level positions which can provide valuable experience beneficial to a future career in social work.

Your state of residence and industry in which you want to work (e.g. child and family, school, healthcare, mental health) can potentially affect minimum education requirements. Contact our admissions team and we can help you determine which degree pathway is right for you.

There is some overlap when it comes to careers in human services and social work. In both career fields you’ll be helping individuals and/or communities solve problems and find better social outcomes. Degree programs typically cover introductory behavioral health and global topics relevant to both career pathways.

A BSW is a professional degree specifically preparing students for generalist social work practice, while a human services bachelor’s degree is an interdisciplinary degree focusing on case management, client advocacy, and program coordination in a variety of settings.

For instance, our Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Services curriculum includes study of nonprofit organization management, grant writing and fundraising, program planning and development, and volunteer, board, and community development.

On the social work side, our Bachelor of Social Work curriculum zooms in on social services primarily for individuals and families, including counseling and communication skills, case management and crisis intervention, child welfare services and practice, and more.

The skills and traits required for success as a social worker overlap with those of a human resources manager or professional. Both careers require strong communication skills, empathy, and a desire to help both individuals and groups thrive.

However, there are significant differences in the day-to-day life of HR professionals vs. social workers, including work environment, schedule, who you’ll work with, and types of problems you’ll be solving.

Learn more about the difference between human resources and social work careers.

Yes, you can potentially leverage your education and experience in nursing into a career as a social worker. You may choose to stay in the healthcare field as a medical social worker.

CNAs, LPNs, or RNs with an associate degree might consider a Bachelor of Social Work degree program to earn the new skills in knowledge to succeed in the field and position yourself best when applying for jobs. 

If you have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you may be eligible for a Master of Social Work (MSW) program, which will be required if you aspire to become a clinical social worker.

Learn more about the RN to social work pathway and discover some of the primary differences between each career path.

Social workers provide assistance to individuals, families and communities to address problems in their everyday lives. They can work in a “macro” role directly coordinating with organizations or policymakers, or a “micro” role focusing on individuals and their families. 

The social work job description varies—social workers can have a wide variety of duties: 

• Find those in need of help 
• Work with people in all stages of life from birth to end of life 
• Assess their situation: what they need, who supports them, what their goals are and develop interventions and strategies to help 
• Collaborate with community resources to offer a network of care and refer clients accordingly 
• Diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional health problems 
• Maintain clear case files and records 
• Raise awareness and advocate for solutions at the local, state, or even national level 
• Navigate crisis situations, such as child abuse, family and community violence, or health emergencies 

Earning a degree in social work can take 12-48 months depending on the education you’ve already earned as well as your career aspirations in the field of social work.

If you want to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), you’ll need to earn a master’s degree. Other types of jobs in social work may require only a bachelor’s degree.

• I do not have a bachelor's degree. You can earn a BSW in 36 months (3 years). To become an LCSW, you can enroll in a BSW program, then in an Advanced Standing MSW program (12 months) in the future, representing a total of 48 months (4 years).
• I have a bachelor’s degree in another field. While you have the choice to enroll in a second bachelor’s degree (BSW), an MSW program takes less time (24 months) and positions you best for career advancement.
• I already have a BSW. You may qualify for our Advanced Standing MSW program, which can be completed in as little as 12 months (1 year).