Bachelor in Social Work (B.S.W.)
Lawrence Township, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 61,215 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international applicants studying in country | international applicants studying out of country: 15 june 2025
** for living on campus | living at home: 43,515 USD per year
With a strong focus on diversity, social justice, advocacy, and the protection of vulnerable populations, our dynamic program will equip you with the values and ethics essential for equitable practice in the profession.
As a result, you’ll be prepared to work with individuals, families, organizations, and communities from diverse backgrounds in various settings, including healthcare, schools, criminal justice, and social services. In addition, B.S.W. graduates are well-equipped to continue their education in a Master of Social Work program.
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (B.S.W.) program at Rider University provides students with the knowledge, skills, and training necessary to deliver competent and ethical practice in the social work profession. The program is intended for students interested in a professional career in social work and related areas. With a strong focus on diversity, social justice, advocacy, and the protection of vulnerable populations, our dynamic program equips you with the knowledge, values, ethics, and skills essential for equitable and inclusive practice in the profession. As a result, you’ll be prepared to work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities from diverse backgrounds in various settings, including healthcare, schools, criminal justice, and social services. In addition, B.S.W. graduates are prepared with the foundational social work practice knowledge and skills to continue their education in a Master of Social Work program.
The B.S.W. generalist curriculum is 51 credits and consists of core social work courses (36 credits) that build foundational knowledge and social work practice skills and culminate with field education. Students also take two related discipline courses (6 credits) and three electives (9 credits). The program does not grant social work course credit for life experience or previous work experience.
Field opportunities
Rider’s close proximity to New Jersey’s state capital offers students the opportunity to gain valuable experience through capital-city adjacent field placements, service learning, and other professional practice while building connections throughout Trenton and across New Jersey.
In addition, our campus’s accessibility to the major cities of Philadelphia and New York provides further opportunities for students to gain diverse experiences in the social work field. Students also benefit from learning from our expert and richly experienced faculty who serve as who share their field-based knowledge and connections with them.
Rider’s financial aid office works with families to ensure an undergraduate education is affordable at every income level. Scholarship and aid award offers are customized to fit your unique financial circumstances.
To get a full picture of the scholarships, grants, and other aid that you may be eligible to receive, apply to Rider and transmit your FAFSA using federal school code 002628. Merit-based scholarships and aid are automatically awarded when you apply, and once we receive your FAFSA, the Office of Financial Aid can help identify additional resources to fund your education.
Scholarships and Awards
The scholarships below are competitive and are typically awarded based on a comprehensive review of the student's academic record, including cumulative high school GPA, rigor of academic course selection, test scores, and auditions (if applicable), and other supporting credentials.
| Scholarships Awards | Award Range | Maximum value over 4 years |
|---|---|---|
| Merit-based scholarships | $14,000 - $27,000 annually | Variable based on financial aid offer. Students who meet the criteria and qualifications for a scholarship automatically receive the award upon admission to Rider. No additional scholarship application is required. |
To be considered for a merit-based academic scholarship, you must:
- Apply to Rider: Submit your completed application for admission, including official transcripts, standardized test scores (unless applying test-optional), essay, and one letter of recommendation by January 15. (Note: the final deadline is November 15th for all Musical Theatre and Acting applicants.)
- Rider offers Test-optional Admission, which means SAT/ACT scores are not required for admission and most scholarships at Rider. Test-optional applicants will be given full consideration for most merit-based scholarships.
- Are you a high achiever? Students with a 4.0 GPA and 1300+ SAT/28+ ACT score may be eligible to receive the maximum merit-based scholarship offer of $27,000. You must submit your SAT/ACTs to Rider in order to qualify for this award level.
- Complete an audition, if required (audition results are a factor in scholarship awards).
- Be regularly admissible to the University as a full-time student.
- Have a minimum cumulative academic 2.7 GPA (unweighted) on a 4.0 scale.
For New Jersey residents—the Rider Tuition Guarantee:
Rider guarantees free tuition for qualified in-state students! If you're a New Jersey resident with a GPA of 3.5 or above based on a 4.0 grading scale, an adjusted gross income of $50,000 or less, and are receiving both full TAG and Pell grants, you may be eligible to attend Rider University tuition-free when you apply as an undergraduate student for the fall 2025 or spring 2026 start terms. Terms and conditions apply.
Visit our website to learn more about the scholarships and aid opportunities.
Major Requirements
Statement of Accreditation Status:
The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work Program (B.S.W.) is currently in pre-candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Pre-candidacy for a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the BOA indicates that it submitted an application to be reviewed for candidacy and received approval of its Benchmark 1 from CSWE accreditation staff to move forward for a candidacy review within 1 year.
Foundation Courses
- Introduction to Social Work
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment
- Anti-racist and Just Practice in Social Work
- Social Work Research Methods
- Social Work Policy
Practice Courses
Students must have a passing grade of “C” or better in the foundation courses and have an overall GPA of 2.40 in the major to be eligible for enrollment in practice courses.
- Interview Skills in Social Work
- Case Management, Documentation, and Report Writing
- Social Work Practice I: Individuals and Families
- Social Work Practice II: Groups, Communities, and Organizations
Field Education Courses
Students must have a passing grade of “C” or better in the foundation and practice courses to enter field education.
- Field Work Experience and Seminar I
- Field Work Experience and Seminar II
Capstone Course
Must be completed in the final semester.
- Social Work Senior Seminar
Related Discipline Requirements
Select 6 credits from the following list:
- Sociological Imagination
- Psychology: The Science of Well-being, or The Science of Mental Illness
- Child Development
- Youth and Adolescent Development
- Stress, Health, and Coping
- Health Psychology
- Global Justice
Track Options: To supplement required core courses, students may elect to follow any one (1) track. Each track requires a total of 9 credits.
Track Option 1: Generalist
Select 9 credits from the following list:
- Social Justice and Equity in Social Work
- Advocacy and Social Action for Professional Social Workers
- Ways to Social Change (available Spring 2026)
- Global Social Work Practice
- Introduction to Criminal Justice: Police, Courts, Corrections
- Racial and Ethnic Relations
- Social Movements
- or Social Movements Abroad
- Foundations of Civic Engagement
- Social Problems
- Aging
- Social Service Organizations
- Class and Economic Inequality
- Victimology
- Power and Politics
- Health Care and Society
- Art and Wellbeing
- Model United Nations
- Human Rights in a Global Context
- Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
Track Option 2: Generalist with Engaged Communities
Required:
- Social Justice and Equity in Social Work
Select 6 credits from the following courses:
- Social Movements
- Social Problems
- Ways to Social Change (available Spring 2026)
- Intercultural Communication
Track Option 3: Generalist with Technology and Social Justice
Select from the following:
- Podcasting I
- Social Justice and Journalism
- Writing for the Media
- Fundamentals of Video Production
Graduates of the B.S.W. program at Rider are prepared to enter an entry-level position in the field of social work or continue their education in a Master of Social Work program. Rider’s B.S.W. training equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills for licensure in the state of New Jersey and prepares them to enter careers in the field.
Common careers include:
- Case manager
- Child welfare specialist
- Community organizer
- Crisis intervention specialist
- Healthcare social worker
- Mental health counselor
- Policy analyst
- School social worker
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