Social Work (BSW)

This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.

Bachelor of Social Work
Unit: Kent School of Social Work (KE)
Academic Plan Code(s): SW_ _BSW, SW_ _BSWO, SW__BSWADO

Program Information

This program can be completed 100% online.

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program at the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science is a full-time, campus-based and online program that prepares students for entry level professional social work practice. The Program also provides the foundation for graduate study in social work. Students may qualify for entry as Advanced Level students in graduate social work programs. The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The mission of the Kent School of Social Work & Family Science BSW program is to prepare students for generalist social work practice with vulnerable individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.  We educate students to intervene at the micro, mezzo and macro levels through the application of critical thinking and the incorporation of available evidence to inform practice that responds to complex social problems. The program contributes to the mission of the University as a great place to learn, by providing engaged service and outreach that improves the quality of life for local and global communities. The educational part of our mission is accomplished through theoretically and empirically driven approach to pedagogy in our on campus and on-line instruction and transformative learning experiences.

  BSW Program Goals:

• Prepare graduates for generalist social work practice with vulnerable individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities through the acquisition and demonstration of social work practice behaviors consistent with CSWE educational standards and policies and the NASW Code of Ethics.
• Prepare graduates to understand bio-psycho-social, spiritual, and cultural functioning and apply it to all client systems.
• Prepare graduates to promote social and economic justice through their practice with multifaceted client systems. 
• Prepare graduates who continue to develop professionally throughout their careers to meet new challenges and opportunities.

Degree Summary

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Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.

Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.

Accelerated BSW-MSSW Program

The Accelerated BSW to MSSW Program provides Kent School of Social Work and Family Science (KSSWFS) BSW students in good standing an opportunity to complete Master level elective courses that fulfill graduation requirements for both the BSW and the MSSW program. BSW students that apply and are accepted into the program will be able to register for up to three MSSW electives (9 credit hours). Successfully completed courses can be applied to both the BSW and MSSW programs’ elective requirements.

Undergraduate students interested in participating in an accelerated dual bachelor’s/master’s degree offered through the university's Soaring Scholar Program must first meet with their Academic Advisor and be accepted into the program. Once accepted, students will receive an official admission letter outlining program policies and details. They will then work with their department and academic advisor to register for classes each semester, ensuring they meet the milestones and academic progress requirements of the Soaring Scholar program.  A Soaring Scholar student is considered an undergraduate student until their bachelor’s degree is conferred. In their final undergraduate semester, they are expected to apply for admission to their respective master's program.

Departmental Admission Requirements

Entering First-Year Students to Lower Division BSW

Admission in Good Standing

1. Either of the following:
   1. Graduation from accredited high school
   2. Successful completion of General Education Development (GED) tests
2. High school GPA of 2.5 or higher
3. ACT/SAT score of 20/1030 or higher

Transfer Students to Lower Division

Transfer students with fewer than 24 credit hours

Admission in Good Standing

1. College GPA of 2.5 or higher
2. Either of the following:
   1. Graduation from accredited high school
   2. Successful completion of General Education Development (GED) tests
3. High school GPA of 2.5 or higher
4. ACT/SAT score of 20/1030 or higher

Transfer student with 24 credit hours or more

Admission in Good Standing

College GPA of 2.5 or higher

Transfer students who meet University minimum academic standards may apply for conditional admission: Undergraduate Catalog, Admission to the University of Louisville

UofL Student Switching Major

Admission in Good Standing

University GPA of 2.5 or higher, please use major change form on ULink.

Students with a minimum of a 2.0 GPA may apply for conditional admission to the Lower Division through intra-university transfer.

Post-baccalaureate Student

• College cumulative GPA of 2.5
• Applicants with higher GPAs are encouraged to apply to the MSSW program

Conditional Admission

Students who meet University minimum academic standards may be conditionally admitted to the Kent School of Social Work and Family Science (see Undergraduate Catalog, Admission to the University of Louisville).

Upper Division BSW Students

Requires internal application from Kent School. Must have 45 hours of college credit, a minimum of 2.5 GPA to qualify. Transfer students must be admitted to UofL prior to applying for Upper Division. 

Must meet application requirements and deadlines for acceptance to Upper Division as posted: Bachelor of Social Work Admissions — Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work and Family Science (louisville.edu). Late applications may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, please contact the BSW Department for approval to apply late (BSWKent@louisville.edu).  

Admissions to the Lower Division does not guarantee admission to the Upper Division

Accelerated BSW-MSSW Process

Accelerated BSW-MSSW Process

Accelerated Program Requirements

To participate in the program students must:

• Have completed at least one semester as an upper division student in the BSW program,
• Be in good standing with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5,
• Have a social work program GPA of at least 3.75,
• Meet with their academic advisor/Associate Director BSW Program,
• Complete the Soaring Scholars Application,
• a letter of recommendation from a BSW instructor who instructed you in a 300-level course

Application Process:

1. Accelerated BSW-MSSW Program Application and Admission (First/Second Semester of Upper Division)
2. Meet with undergraduate advisor and the Associate Director of Student Admissions for the BSW Program to discuss interest in Accelerated program.
3. Review the Flight Plan for your BSW Degree
4. Apply during the second semester of Upper Division using the Soaring Scholars Application. All applicants must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.75 Social Work Program GPA at the time of the Soaring Scholars application. This will require:

• a Soaring Scholars application
• a letter of recommendation from a BSW instructor BSW instructor who instructed you in a 300-level course

2. Accelerated BSW-MSSW Program Application and Admission (One-two semesters prior to completion of BSW Degree)

Apply to the Accelerated Program via the Graduate School* (Academic Plan code: SW_ _ MSWACC). This will require:

• a Graduate School application
• personal statement
• resume
• undergraduate practicum evaluation
• official transcripts from all colleges and universities ever attended

UofL undergraduate transcripts will be automatically uploaded into the application.

All applicants must continue to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA during Senior year across all courses, including all accelerated hours taken towards the MSSW degree during the last two semesters. Students must also continue to meet all requirements of the MSSW degree upon entrance into the Accelerated Program. Students who do not follow the flight plan of graduate courses may become ineligible to continue in the accelerated program.

NOTE that students accepted into the BSW to MSSW Accelerated Program will not be allowed to take MSSW 648 Cancer and Health SW: Inequity to Equity in Healthcare.

General Education Requirements

All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Social Work Lower Division Requirements⁴

Program/Major Requirements

Social Work Upper Division Requirements

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Six (6) hours of US and Global perspectives (P1/P2) coursework is required. If these competency areas are not covered as part of the program requirements and/or general elective coursework, 6 additional hours will be needed to fulfill the University of Louisville competency-area requirements.

²

Or equivalent as approved/decided by the unit

³

Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

⁴

Students must have a minimum total of 60 credit hours to complete the Lower Division requirements.

⁵

Two of the five Upper Division Social Work Elective courses must be from Social Work (minimum 300 level).  Please contact the BSW Advising Team should you have questions.

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Practicum is the Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) for BSW students. As such, it is intentionally designed to provide students with an opportunity demonstrate mastery of the core competencies that they learn throughout the Program. Before beginning Practicum, students are expected to successfully complete all 300-level BSW Core requirements.

Track in Alcohol and Drug Counseling

Students completing the BSW in Social Work may pursue the standard BSW track or a specialized track in Alcohol and Drug Counseling. Once accepted into the BSW Upper Division Alcohol and Drug Counseling Track, the following courses will be completed: 

1. BSW 361 Intro Special Issues in Alcohol and Drug Counseling  (mandatory)
2. BSW 362 Introduction to Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders  (mandatory)
3. BSW 415 Intro Mental Health  (mandatory)
4. BSW 460 Intro Motivation and Change  (mandatory)

Practicum:  Students are required to complete their practicum in a substance abuse setting.  This placement will be within a setting where a substantial portion of the focus is identification, intervention, or case management of clients who are alcohol and or drug dependent.  Wherever possible, students in practicum settings will receive supervision by a CADC with two years' experience.

Accelerated Pathway: BSW/MSSW Social Work 

Academic Plan Code(s): SW_ _ MSWACC

Students interested in the BSW/MSSW Social Work program should contact the Associate Director BSW Program in Year 3 to apply to the Soaring Scholars Program.  With approval from the Kent School, successful applicants will identify up to 9 credit hours at the 600 level to complete during their final 2-3 semesters to count towards their current BSW and upcoming MSSW degree.  The 9 graduate credit hours will count as Social Work electives in both the BSW and MSSW programs.

Flight Plan

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

1. Log into your ULink account.
2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
3. Select the appropriate report.
   1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
   2. To create a What-if report, click on "What-if Advisement Report."
   3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.

The Bachelor of Social Work (SW BSW) program prepares students to meet the requirements for certification and/or licensure.  If you plan to pursue professional licensure or certification you should first determine your state’s criteria for examination and licensure to see how/if our program meets those requirements prior to enrollment. We recommend that you also contact your state’s licensing board directly to verify that the requirements have not changed recently and to answer any questions especially those regarding additional requirements beyond the degree. 

More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website:  https://louisville.edu/about/departments/academic-planning-accountability/disclosures/professional-licensure.

For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: Professional Licensure Information — Office of Academic Planning & Accountability