Bachelor of Social Work in Social Work
Fairfax, USA
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
01 Jun 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 4,897 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* International student deadline is 1st of June of every year | Domestic student deadline is 1st of February
** in-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 16,980 - out-of-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 1,803 - mandatory student fee
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) students are provided a range of opportunities to develop a broad knowledge and skills base consistent with the systems and strengths perspectives. They are expected to practice using core social work values and to examine and resolve ethical dilemmas. Classroom and field experiences prepare students to be competent in the use of new technologies and in culturally sensitive, generalist social work practice.
The program is fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. All students are expected to abide by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Students are required to successfully complete 450 hours of supervised field practicum in agencies approved by the Department of Social Work. Undergraduate students also have the opportunity to work in our Social Work Integrative Research Lab (SWiRL), which provides them with the opportunity to engage in research projects and experience mentoring relationships with graduate students and faculty.
Declaring Major In Social Work
Students interested in the social work field usually declare social work as a major when applying to the university; however, declaring social work as a major does not automatically admit the student to the social work program. Students must be admitted to the major before being considered for senior field placement.
Core Competencies
- Demonstrate Ethical & Professional Behavior
- Engage Diversity & Difference in Practice
- Advance Human Rights & Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
- Engage in Practice-Informed Research & Research-Informed Practice
- Engage in Policy Practice
- Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, & Communities
- Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, & Communities
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, & Communities
- Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, & Communities
The BSW program is designed to prepare students for generalist social work practice, which means they can provide social work services in affordable housing programs, advocacy organizations, child care, and after-school programs, child welfare services, community service boards, emergency services (homeless services/shelters, domestic violence services/shelters), foster care services, group homes, policy think tanks, residential living facilities, services for people with disabilities, and services for older adults (adult day care, community-based living programs, home health care, nursing facilities).
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 120
Mason Core
Written Communication
- ENGH 101 Composition (Mason Core) 3
- ENGH 302 Advanced Composition (Mason Core) 3
Oral Communication
- Any Mason Core Oral Communication course 3
Quantitative Reasoning
- Any Mason Core Quantitative Reasoning course 3
Information Technology
- Any Mason Core Information Technology course 3-7
Literature
- Any Mason Core Literature course 3
Arts
- Any Mason Core Arts course 3
Natural Science
- Any Mason Core non-lab Natural Science course 3
- Any Mason Core lab Natural Science course 4
Western Civilization
- HIST 100 History of Western Civilization (Mason Core) 3 or HIST 125 Introduction to World History (Mason Core)
Global Understanding
- Any Mason Core Global Understanding course 3
Total Credits 34-38
Required Courses
- BIOL 103 Introductory Biology II-Survey of Cell and Molecular Biology (Mason Core) 3
- PSYC 100 Basic Concepts in Psychology (Mason Core) 3
- SOCI 101 Introductory Sociology (Mason Core) 3
Statistics
Select one from the following: 3-4
- SOCW 390 Analytic Methods for Social Work Research
- SOCI 313 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Mason Core)
- PSYC 300 Statistics in Psychology
- STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)
Total Credits 12-13
Social Work Major
- SOCW 200 Introduction to Social Work (Mason Core) 3
- SOCW 311 Building Professional Social Work Skills 3
- SOCW 312 Knowledge Building for Helping Professionals 3
- SOCW 357 Methods of Social Work Intervention I 3
- SOCW 361 Methods of Social Work Intervention I: Laboratory 3
- SOCW 358 Methods of Social Work Intervention II 3
- SOCW 362 Methods of Social Work Intervention II: Laboratory 3
- SOCW 375 Human Behavior and the Family Life Course (Mason Core) 3
- SOCW 380 Changing Social Policies and Systems 3
- SOCW 471 Research in Social Work (fulfills writing intensive requirement) 3
- SOCW 472 RS: Integrative Methods in Social Action and Social Change (Mason Core) 3
- SOCW 495 Field Practicum and Seminar I 5
- SOCW 496 Field Practicum and Seminar II 5
Total Credits 43
Electives
Select 32-34 credits of electives 1 32-34
Total Credits 32-34