Social Work, BASW

Bachelor of Arts in Social Work

More on the Social Work major

***Students pursuing a Social Work Degree desiring licensure as an LSW should be aware that felony convictions may negatively affect eligibility for licensure. To inquire whether individual situations affect licensure, write to:

Counselor, Social Worker & Marriage & Family Therapist Board
50 West Broad Street, Suite 1075
Columbus, Ohio 43215-5919
phone (614)466-0912 or email
www.cswmft.ohio.gov/***

Program Description

Consistent with the mission of The University of Akron and the College of Health and Human Sciences, the mission of the undergraduate social work program is to prepare students for competent and effective generalist practice. The goals of the undergraduate social work program are to: 1) prepare students to integrate the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession for competent and effective generalist practice with diverse client systems in various practice settings; 2) prepare students to identify the strengths and abilities of diverse client systems to foster empowerment toward social justice and systematic well-being; and 3) prepare students to utilize theoretically-based social work research, knowledge, and critical thinking skills for effective and ethical social work practice. The social work major is an accredited undergraduate professional program preparing students for entry-level practice positions in social service agencies employing Social Workers. Elective courses are available in such areas as health, child welfare, family service, corrections, etc. 

The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in social work requires completion of 14 credits of a foreign language (Spanish is recommended; sign language as well as other foreign languages are accepted). The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BAT) degree does not require a second language. Both degrees require 120 hours. Students who complete an associate degree program with a social services emphasis can complete either the B.A. or B.A./S.W. curriculum in social work by completing the required courses.

A 2.5 grade point average and 30 credit hours are required for admission to the major. A separate admissions packet must be completed with the School in order to be admitted as a social work major in good standing.

Requirements for Admission

Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for admission to the BASW core major, students must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
• Completion of at least 30 credit hours
• Completion of required General Education courses in math and English
• Successful completion of SOWK 227, 270, 275, and 276

Application to the Major
After admission to the School, students must complete a separate application to be considered for full admission into the social work major.

Provisional Status
Students are classified as provisional social work majors until all admission requirements are fully satisfied. To be granted full admission, students must:

• Complete all nine liberal arts base courses, in addition to required math and English General Education courses
• Submit all required application materials
• Achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Have no outstanding or in-progress grades at the time of application review
• Receive a positive recommendation from the admissions committee
• Obtain final approval from the School Director

Advising and Academic Planning

• Newly accepted BASW core majors are required to meet with an academic advisor prior to course registration.
• Students must develop and follow an academic plan in consultation with their advisor for the remainder of the program.
• Students must obtain a 2.75 GPA within the first two full-time semesters (prior to the start of field).

Job Description

Job titles include caseworker, family worker, group worker, community organization worker, outreach worker, rehabilitation worker, probation worker, community health worker, counselor, child welfare worker, employment community service worker, fair housing coordinator, human relations worker, consumer services worker, etc. Job titles are varied but all relate to human needs in the area of social-emotional adjustment, development, or protection, in the context of the individual, family, group, or community. Opportunities exist in the public and non-public sectors.

A Bachelor’s degree is preparation for an entry-level position and for graduate study in Social Work. A student is encouraged to consider graduate-level study to further his/her career opportunities. The University of Akron offers a Master’s degree program at three campuses (Akron, Wayne, and Lakewood). The Bachelor and Master of Social Work Programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

All Social Workers in the state of Ohio are licensed by the state.

Salary Level

Depending on one’s qualifications, experience, creativity, and interests, there is a wide range of salaries possible at the entry-level, and upward mobility for the professional worker is fairly rapid. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2024, social workers have a median wage of approximately $61,330 per year. The job outlook is good with openings growing at a faster than average pace.

Program Contacts

Janice Steinmetz
BASW Coordinator
330-808-5387
jestein@uakron.edu

Dr. Timothy McCarragher
Director
330-972-5976 
mccarra@uakron.edu

The School of Social Work and Family Sciences, Polsky 411

The following information has official approval of The School of Social Work and Family Sciences and The College of Health and Human Sciences, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (Stellic) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor. 

Requirements

Summary

*

Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation.

General Education Requirements

Social Work Core

Electives

 Recommended Sequence 

¹

Preadmission Requirements – must be completed prior to admission into the Social Work major.

²

While not required for transfer to the School of Social Work and Family Sciences, the student must complete a General Education Mathematics, Statistics and Logic and English requirements prior to full admission to the Social Work major. Any General Education Mathematics, Statistics and Logic is accepted, but Statistics is recommended in preparation for Social Work Research I & II.

³

SOCIO 100, POLIT 100, and PSYC 100 or SOWK 230, are requirements and will fulfill the Social Science requirement.

⁴

Natural Science courses, including one human biology course, are required. This biology requirement can be met by completing BIOL 103; the remainder of the requirement may be met by several courses. Consult your adviser and appropriate General Education guide.

⁵

General Electives: These may be chosen from the following suggested disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Economics (ECON), History (HIST), Family & Consumer Sciences (FCSC), Political Science (POLIT), Psychology (PSYC), and Sociology (SOCIO) or foreign language/Sign Language coursework taken from the Bachelor of Arts with a major in Social Work degree.

A student may transfer to the School of Social Work as a pending major after completion of 30 credits and an overall GPA of at least a 2.50. Please note: admission to the School of Social Work and Family Sciences does not mean admission to the social work major. 

Alert: By the end of your first 48 credit hours attempted, you should have completed your General Education Writing, Mathematics, Statistics and Logic, and Speaking requirements