Bachelor of Social Work - BSW Degree
GMercyU’s CSWE-accredited BSW degree is a practical, hands-on program for those who want to dedicate their careers to helping others.
Once you complete your BSW degree and pass your Pennsylvania social work exam, you can apply for licensure through the State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Licensed Professional Counselors.
Or, you can complete your master of social work degree in just one year instead of two, since you’ll be eligible for advanced standing in CSWE’s master’s degree programs.
GMercyU’s history is rooted in service to the community. In our BSW program, you’ll prepare for generalist social work focused on economic and social justice concerns, from homelessness to community violence, substance abuse, organizational diversity, and child welfare. You’ll learn to work with individuals and communities in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
-
98%
of BSW grads employed in the field or enrolled in graduate school at time of GMercyU graduation
(since 2020) -
35%
of BSW grads accepted a job offer from their fieldwork site
(since 2020) -
55%
of BSW grads continued on for their one-year Master of Social Work degree
(since 2020) -
100%
of full-time undergraduate GMercyU students receive some form of financial aid
-
7%
projected job growth for social workers nationwide through 2032, more than twice the national average
(Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Program Details
Our BSW program proudly offers these unique components:
A phased structure of simulations designed to grow your skills, learn from your mistakes in a safe environment, and build your confidence.
- Sophomores engage in classroom social work role-playing.
- Juniors participate in group simulations. (Here's one example.)
- Seniors engage in 1:1 simulations that coincide with the senior year field experience to further hone their skills.
An emphasis on trauma-informed care. Led by expert faculty Janice Nuss, DSW, LCSW with more than 25 years of experience in trauma-informed care, BSW students have the opportunity to participate in a trauma-informed care elective, professional workshops offered by leading clinicians in the field, and field placements working with trauma survivors.
A focus on international service projects. Our students learn to advocate and serve locally, as well as on a global level. For example, juniors and seniors can participate in an interprofessional global outreach course that features a spring break service trip with Mustard Seed Communities in Jamaica, where students engage with pregnant teens and individuals with developmental disabilities in a cross-cultural context.
More BSW program highlights include:
- Courses taught by highly experienced faculty (no teaching assistants) who are devoted to mentoring our students
- Fulfilling and exciting field experience opportunities in both suburban and urban locations
- Opportunities to network at events, such as the annual National Association of Social Workers Conference
- Co-curricular organizations such as Social Work and Psychology Club, Best Buddies, and Sigma Phi Sigma that provide experiential service learning opportunities to BSW students
- Alternative Spring Break and other service learning programs to further supplement your hands-on experience
- Opportunities to take part in advocacy, like this event
- GMercyU's Counseling and Interpersonal Relations minor, helps you gain a valuable specialization to prepare you for graduate school or entry-level positions in the field.
You’ll also gain a head start on your master of social work degree. Due to our CSWE accreditation, graduates of GMercyU’s BSW program have the eligibility for advanced standing in CSWE masters programs, which will take a full year off the time to complete your masters of social work (MSW). You may also choose to pursue a graduate degree in pastoral counseling, school counseling, clinical counseling, and applied behavioral sciences. GMercyU offers an accelerated master of school counseling.
In addition to required general education courses, BSW students must complete the following courses in order to earn their bachelors in social work.
| SWK201 | Introduction to Social Work |
| SWK202 | Human Behavior in the Social Environment |
| SWK203 | Difference and Diversity |
| SWK205 | Human Behavior and the Social Environment II |
| SWK212 | Counseling and Communication Skills |
| SWK241 | Marriage and Family Systems |
| SWK301 | Generalist Social Work Practice |
| SWK304 | Social Work Policy and Administration |
| SWK305 | Mental Health Practice |
| SWK400 | Social Work Research Methods |
| SWK435 | Social Work Field Placement I (5 credits) |
| SWK436 | Social Work Field Placement II (5 credits) |
| SWK445 | Field Placement Seminar I (1 credit) |
| SWK446 | Field Placement Seminar II (1 credit) |
| PSY321 | Group Processes |
| SWK40000 | Capstone |
Social Work Electives (Choose 2)
| SWK206 | Trauma-Informed Care |
| SWK491 | Interprofessional Global Outreach |
| SWK305 | Case Management |
| SWK306 | Death and Dying |
| SWK307 | Issues in Gerontology |
| SWK308 | Addictions, Dynamics and Interventions |
| SWK309 | Dementia |
Social Work Prerequisites
| SOC 100 | Principles of Sociology |
| PSY100 | General Psychology |
| PSY111 | Statistics |
Credit Requirement
A minimum of 120 credits is required for the bachelors in social work (BSW) degree.
This social work program requires a criminal background check and may require certain immunizations and other clearances in order to participate in field experiences.
Undergraduate Minors
Increase the value of your degree as a social work major by adding an undergraduate minor that best suits your personal and professional goals.
Here’s a closer look at just a few of the courses you’ll take as a GMercyU Social Work major.
SWK-206 Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care
This course is designed to introduce students to the meaning of trauma, the incidence and prevalence of trauma and the effects of trauma on human development. Students will learn what it means to provide client centered care in a trauma informed manner, and will be provided an introduction to evidence based trauma treatments. Active participation of students in this class will include open discussion of material presented as well as practical application of the course material. Self-assessment, awareness and growth are central to the student experience in this course
SWK-299 Interprofessional Global Outreach
The goal of interprofessional education is to prepare future healthcare providers and professionals to work together as a team to improve patient and population health care. This includes engaging in foundational research on interprofessional education/collaborative practice; the use of interprofessional collaborative practice models to provide better care for clients. Service learning provides an opportunity for health care providers to learn more about health vulnerabilities that communities face and gain firsthand experience of working with underserved populations. Service learning uses experiential learning, reflection and reciprocal learning to increase student awareness of community health needs. This course includes international service learning in Jamaica over spring break.
SWK-304 Social Work Policy and Administration
This course provides an awareness of societal response to social problems. It will explore how political, economic, and institutional thought contribute to public response by the social welfare system. Students will explore societal response on the micro-level by designing an agency to meet various societal needs, exploring management skills and administration inhuman service agencies. Students will learn about various agencies and their administrative needs including hiring, state and government regulations, and team building. Areas of study will include planning, goal setting, decision-making, leadership, conflict resolution, budgeting and fiscal management.
SWK-435 Social Work Field Placement I
After consultation with Director of Field Placements advanced students will be provided direct experience in selected supervised settings in social work agencies and programs. The field placement aims to provide a service to the community and enable the student to acquire the skills, experience, and knowledge necessary for the choice of a career.
For all Social Work program course descriptions, please refer to the undergraduate catalog.
Catch up on the latest Social Work Program news below:
Social Work Students Attend 2024 Advocacy Day in Harrisburg
Social Work Program’s Accreditation Re-Affirmed for Eight Years
GMercyU Featured on Social Justice Podcast
Social Work Majors Put New Simulation Technology to Use
Social Work Students Participate in National Association of Social Workers LEAD Day
Social Work, Nursing Students Participate in Poverty Simulations
Social Work Program Hosts Two-Day “Social Work in the Mercy Tradition” Conference
At a time when global social workers are needed more than ever, fewer students share the desire to pursue a career in international social work. In true Mercy fashion, Gwynedd Mercy University and the Conference for Mercy Higher Education have collaborated on designing and implementing international Social Work curriculum for small, private institutions who possess insufficient resources and student enrollment rates to support global learning opportunities for Bachelor of Social Work students. The program is funded by the Council on Social Work Education Katherine A. Kendall Institute.
Goals of the Collaborative
- Build a faculty and student global learning community
- Provide opportunities for Social Work student collaboration across Mercy universities
- Promote ethical international partnerships that enhance reciprocal mutually beneficial communityengaged service and global learning opportunities, at home and abroad
- Advance human rights through the inclusion of global learning framework in Social Work curriculum
Janice Nuss, DSW, LCSW
Position: Social Work Program Director, Associate Professor, Director of Field Education
Did You Know? Dr. Nuss has more than 25 years of experience in the fields of behavioral health, trauma-informed care, and developmental disabilities.
Read bio
Wade Luquet, PhD
Position: Social Work Professor, Founding Director
Did You Know? Dr. Luquet is the founder of GMercyU’s BSW program. In 2020, he received the prestigious Educator of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania chapter of the NASW.
Read bio
Kristyn DiDominick, MSW
Position: Social Work Adjunct Professor
Did You Know? DiDominick is the Executive Director of the Bucks-Mont Collaborative and recipient of the 2022 PA Social Worker of the Year award by the NASW PA Chapter.
Read bio
Elizabeth Bernabeo, MPH
Position: Social Work Adjunct Professor
Did You Know? In May 2023, Bernabeo received the GMercyU School of Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching.
Read bio
An accredited Social Work education at GMercyU provides you with the professional skills to make an impact in a life, in a community, and in the world with values rooted in dignity and respect for all people.
—Social Work Program Director Janice Nuss, DSW, LCSW
Real-World Opportunities
Social workers can make a difference and a living. Check out the top jobs below for Social Work majors, incuding salary potentials.
Health Care Social Workers
Description: These professionals help people transition from the hospital back to their homes by helping them better understand their diagnosis and how to best move forward. They may help patients make lifestyle changes, learn how to manage their illnesses, and/or make necessary accommodations in their homes to help them live independently.
Education Required: A bachelor of social work degree
Salary: The median annual salary for this role in the U.S. in 2023 was $58,380; the highest 10% earned more than $94,910.*
*Source
Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
Description: Licensed Clinical Social Workers provide counseling and therapy to individuals and families who experience illness, substance abuse, or other trauma. They hold the most advanced social work credentials and can clinically evaluate, assess, and diagnose mental illness.
Education Required: A master’s degree of social work and state license
Salary: The median annual salary is $66,692 but depending on where you live, you can earn more than $89,000.*
*Source
Community Social Workers
Description: These professionals identify unmet needs in communities or other large groups of people. They conduct assessments and refer residents to community resources.
Education Required: A bachelor of social work or related degree
Salary: The median annual wages for social and community social workers (or “service managers”) in the U.S. in 2023 was $77,030.*
*Source
More career ideas for social work majors include:
- Adult Day Care Worker
- Alcohol Counselor
- Care Manager
- Client Advocate
- Drug Abuse Counselor
- Case Worker
- Child Abuse Worker
- Child Advocate
- Community Action Worker
- Community Organizer
- Community Outreach Worker
- Crisis Intervention Counselor
- Eligibility Counselor
- Family Support Worker
- Group Home Worker
- Halfway House Counselor
- Intake Interviewer
- Juvenile Court Liaison
- Life Skills Instructor
- Neighborhood Worker
- Parole Officer
- Probation Officer
- Rehabilitation Case Worker
- Residential Counselor
- Residential Manager
- Social Service Aide
- Social Service liaison
- Social Service Tech
- Social Work Assistant
- Youth Worker
*This is just a partial list and not meant to limit you.
The Griffin Edge is comprised of five touchpoints -- Excellence, Engagement, Experience, Empathy, and Encouragement -- that become the cornerstones of your Distinctive Mercy Experience as a full-time undergraduate student.
The Griffin Edge includes an e-portfolio for documenting your GMercyU educational and extracurricular experiences (no matter your major), reflecting on those experiences, and receiving feedback from faculty. It's designed to help you take ownership of your educational journey and chart the right career path for you. It will also help you learn how to talk about your college experiences in meaningful ways — and that can make all the difference in a job interview.
For example, a student might say in a job interview: "I conducted research at the undergraduate level."
A Griffin Edge student might say: "The opportunity to conduct my own research alongside expert faculty taught me the importance of being exact in my data collection and analysis. I was even able to present my findings at our annual research conference! I know this is the career for me."
Learn more about the Griffin Edge here.
Field Experience Opportunities
Built into the BSW program, every senior in the program participates in field experience with guidance and mentorship from Assistant Professor and Director of Field Education Janice Nuss, DSW, LCSW.
You’ll complete 400 hours at an organization that best fits your specific interests and learning goals.
Afterward, you’ll participate in 1:1 simulations back in the classroom to test and reinforce your new skills and expertise.
See our Recent Field Experience Locations
- Abramson Center
- Access Services
- BucksMont Collaborative
- Caring Hospice
- Catherine’s Cupboard
- Christ’s Home
- Episcopal Community Services
- Family Promise of Montgomery County
- Indian Creek Foundation
- Lakeside Girls Academy
- Lenape Valley Foundation
- Montgomery County Human Services
- Peace Valley Recovery Center
- Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative
- RJ Leonard Foundation
- Variety Club
For Spring Break 2024, our Social Work and Nursing students had an amazing experience serving a local community of Jamaica. Read their blog about it here!
A Social Work major turned an opportunity to support a children's non-profit into a fun event for students! Read about the Gwynedd Gala, a new annual event.
Erin Huggard '25
Winner of the 2024 George Nahodil Excellence in Peer Mentorship Award
The professors in the Social Work dept. and the Psychology dept. are some of the best people I’ve ever met. They truly care about their students' futures and will do everything they can to support them.
Meghan Chasar '22, MSW
Equal Opportunity Investigator, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
My favorite project [at the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services] allowed me to participate in the Crisis Intervention Specialist program training with law enforcement officers.
Zoey Bethel '22, MSW
Assistant Director of Social Services, Markley Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center
I would recommend GMercyU because of the togetherness of the program, as well as the different outlooks it allows you to see of the profession. It's not just about therapy. There are many levels to the profession.
Brian Irwin '20, MSW
Social Worker at Buckingham Valley Nursing and Rehab
[In my field placement], I ran support groups, conducted biophyschosocial assessments, and gained more education on this specific population. It was such a great experience.
Next Steps
GMercyU's renewable transfer scholarships and grants range from $10,000 to $17,000 a year, and our agreements with area schools make transferring easy, including our program-to-program agreements for our Social Work program.
Ready to transfer? Our admissions counselors are ready to help you, every step of the way!
At GMercyU, we strive to make a quality education accessible to all through financial aid, scholarships, and grants. As a military-friendly university, we welcome service members and participate in all VA educational benefits programs.
Mercy is our middle name, and addressing the needs of others is what we do. Begin your journey to earning your Bachelor of Social Work degree at Gwynedd Mercy University.
*Gwynedd Mercy University’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is accredited by The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of Accreditation.
Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Board of 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 Board of 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.
For more information about social work accreditation, you may contact Accreditation.
Find information on Gwynedd Mercy University's Bachelor of Social Work Program 2024 Assessment Outcomes here. You can also view:
*Licensure: This program was designed to meet the licensure requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If you reside in a different state, you should carefully review your home state’s licensure requirements prior to enrolling in this program. For more information, please visit our Program Licensure Requirement page.
