Social Work, B.S.W.

Social Work

Prepare for impactful social work practice with a focus on justice, diversity, and community well-being. Accredited by CSWE.

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Social Work, B.S.W.

degree in social work logoThe Bachelor of Social Work degree program is offered through the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences at MTSU.

Social workers promote human and community well-being; their courses focus on developing competent, ethical professionals with the knowledge, values, and skills for effective practice with individuals, families, groups, agencies, and communities. Guided by an awareness of individuals and their environment, a global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry, social work's purpose is realized through its quest for social and economic justice, the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the quality of life for all persons. The major in Social Work leads to a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree which is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The program's primary objective is to prepare the student for beginning professional practice in social work. It also provides a foundation for students planning to pursue graduate study in social work.

Department of Social Work

The Department of Social Work at MTSU prepares students to serve as social work practitioners, scholars, and leaders who assist individuals, families, groups, and communities at the local, national, and international levels. Our faculty seeks to develop culturally informed, community-engaged students who promote social justice and respect for diversity and human rights through research, coursework, fieldwork, and public service.

The Goals of the Social Work Program

  • To prepare a diverse student population for generalist social work practice with systems of all sizes that is built on an understanding of the value base of the profession and its ethical standards.
  • To provide a flexible educational program that increases the student's understanding of the ways which diversity and difference characterize the human experience, and which are critical to the formation of professional identity.
  • To help students develop the understanding that every person has fundamental human rights and to assist students in understanding strategies designed to eliminate oppressive structural barriers and promote social economic, and environmental justice.
  • To prepare graduates with an understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods and their respective roles in advancing a science of social work and in evaluating practice.
  • To ensure students understand that human rights and justice are mediated by policy and its implementation at the federal, state, and local levels, and the global influences that affect social policy.
  • To prepare students through academic rigor and experiential learning to engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, utilizing evidence-based theoretical frameworks, teamwork, and collaboration.

Careers
Requirements
Faculty
Information
Careers
Requirements
Faculty
Information

News Briefs

Middle Tennessee State University assistant professor and Bachelor of Social Work program coordinator, holding the 2025 John Pleas Faculty Award she accepted during a ceremony Thursday, March 27, at the James Union Building on campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Picture are, from left, previous Pleas award recipients Andrew Owusu, Linda Clark, Sharon Shaw-McEwen, Bichaka Fayissa, John Pleas, Dotson, Lean Lyons and Chandra Story. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

MTSU’s Pleas Faculty Award winner Carmelita Dotson ‘lives and embodies social work’

Amazing, phenomenal, invaluable, creative — all words used to describe Middle Tennessee State University assistant professor and Bachelor of Social Work program coordinator Carmelita Dotson, who was honored Thursday, March 27, as recipient of the 2025 John Pleas Faculty Award.[ Read More ]

BHM keynote promo

MTSU Black History Month keynote Dana Frank tells crowd to ‘light a flame and make it bright’

Seattle real estate mogul and author Dana Frank, keynote speaker for Middle Tennessee State University’s Black History Month, advised students to become a fire starter in life and think “REAL” when making business decisions.[ Read More ]

News Briefs

Middle Tennessee State University assistant professor and Bachelor of Social Work program coordinator, holding the 2025 John Pleas Faculty Award she accepted during a ceremony Thursday, March 27, at the James Union Building on campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Picture are, from left, previous Pleas award recipients Andrew Owusu, Linda Clark, Sharon Shaw-McEwen, Bichaka Fayissa, John Pleas, Dotson, Lean Lyons and Chandra Story. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

MTSU’s Pleas Faculty Award winner Carmelita Dotson ‘lives and embodies social work’

Amazing, phenomenal, invaluable, creative — all words used to describe Middle Tennessee State University assistant professor and Bachelor of Social Work program coordinator Carmelita Dotson, who was honored Thursday, March 27, as recipient of the 2025 John Pleas Faculty Award.[ Read More ]

BHM keynote promo

MTSU Black History Month keynote Dana Frank tells crowd to ‘light a flame and make it bright’

Seattle real estate mogul and author Dana Frank, keynote speaker for Middle Tennessee State University’s Black History Month, advised students to become a fire starter in life and think “REAL” when making business decisions.[ Read More ]

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CAREERS

Social Work, B.S.W.


Graduates are employed in many different public and private work settings, including

  • Aging services
  • Child and adult day care centers
  • Child welfare agencies
  • Children and youth services
  • Community action agencies
  • Criminal justice agencies
  • Domestic violence programs
  • Family services agencies
  • Home care agencies
  • Homeless shelters
  • Hospices
  • Hospitals
  • Income maintenance programs
  • Legal services agencies
  • Mental retardation/developmental disabilities services
  • Nursing homes
  • Public health agencies
  • Residential treatment programs
  • Schools (elementary and secondary)
  • Substance abuse programs
  • Vocational rehabilitation services

Employers of MTSU alumni include

  • ACLU of Tennessee
  • Alzheimer's Association
  • Behavioral Health Services
  • Big Brothers & Big Sisters
  • Catholic Charities
  • Child Advocacy Center
  • Domestic Violence Program
  • Drug Court
  • Greenhouse Ministries
  • Mental Health Court
  • MTSU Disabled Student Services
  • Murfreesboro City Schools
  • Nashville Vet Center
  • Planned Parenthood
  • Probation and Parole
  • Project Help
  • Rutherford County Schools
  • Sunnington Assisted Living
  • Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth
  • Tennessee Department of Children's Services
  • Vet Success Center of MTSU
MTSU Career Development Center

MTSU’s Career Development Center

MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.  

Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career

Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called Handshake

Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our What Can I Do with A Major In guides. 

REQUIREMENTS

Social Work, B.S.W.

 
615-898-5364
Carmelita L. Dotson, B.S.W. coordinator
Carmelita.Dotson@mtsu.edu

The major in Social Work leads to a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree which is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The program's primary objective is to prepare the student for beginning professional practice in social work. It also provides a foundation for students planning to pursue graduate study in social work.

Admission to the Social Work Program

All Social Work majors must be formally admitted to the Social Work Program in order to be admitted into the practice courses and field work courses and to obtain a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Students who are not yet formally admitted will be identified as pre-social work majors.

  1. Requirements for admission to the Social Work Program:
    1. completion of at least 60 semester hours toward a degree including at least 41 hours of True Blue Core requirements;
    2. completion of  and 3 additional hours in social work courses with a grade of C- or better;
    3. an overall GPA of 2.00 for degree credit courses;
    4. completion of volunteer work in a social service setting is recommended to enhance your application;
    5. possession of personal qualities consistent with social work values and ethics and the ability to relate to others with warmth and emotional stability.
  2. Application procedure. Student must complete an application packet which consists of
    1. application for Social Work major form;
    2. three reference forms, at least one of which is from an MTSU Social Work professor or Social Work faculty advisor. If the applicant is a recent transfer student, a Social Work professor from another college may be used.
    3. essay;
    4. current unofficial University transcript printed from PipelineMT.
  3. Criteria for acceptance into the Social Work Program:
    1. submission of completed application packet by deadline date of the appropriate semester;
    2. judgment of satisfactory quality of application materials as determined by the score on the admissions assessment form completed by a least two members of the Social Work Admissions Committee;
    3. recommendation of the admissions committee must be approved by faculty vote;
    4. students receiving a score of 85 or higher on the admissions assessment form are assured of acceptance into the major.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

 

Degree Requirements

True Blue Core (TBC) 41 hours
Major Requirements 54 hours
Electives/Minor 25 hours
TOTAL 120 hours

True Blue Core (41 hours)

 requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in the Foundational Skills areas of Written Communication (WC), Information Literacy (Info Lit), Non-Written Communication (NWC), and Quantitative Literacy (Quant Lit). Knowledge Domains include Human Society and Social Relationships (HSSR), Scientific Literacy (Sci Lit), Creativity and Cultural Expression (CCE), and History and Civic Learning (HCL), which include Discovery and Explorations categories. Students must choose at least one course from each Discovery category.

Major Requirements (54 hours)

Students must earn a C- or better in all of the following courses in order to graduate.

Electives/Minor (25 hours)

Curriculum: Social Work

Freshman

  • Written Communication 3 credit hours
  • Information Literacy 3 credit hours
  • Non-Written Communication 3 credit hours
  • Scientific Literacy 8 credit hours
  • Human Society and Social Relationships 3 credit hours
  • Quantitative Literacy (MATH 1010 recommended) 3 credit hours
  • Elective or minor 3 credit hours
  • SW 2570 - Introduction to Social Work

    SW 2570 - Introduction to Social Work

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  • UNIV 1010 - University Seminar OR

    UNIV 1010 - University Seminar

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  • Elective 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 32 Hours

Sophomore

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Junior

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Senior

Subtotal: 27 Hours

NOTE:

*Must be admitted to the Social Work program.

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FACULTY

INFORMATION

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Admission to the BSW does not guarantee that students will pass the Association of Social Work Boards Exam (ASWB Exam) or obtain a social worker license. Successful completion of the 120-hour BSW meets the educational requirements to sit for the Association of Social Work Boards Exam (ASWB Exam) and seek licensure as a Baccalaureate Social Worker in Tennessee.

Licensing authorities for each state set and enforce their own requirements and standards, which are subject to change. The BSW disclosure provided on MTSU’s professional licensure disclosure website indicates the states and territories where MTSU has determined, through reasonable and good faith effort, that the program does or does not meet the educational requirements for other US states and territories. Current and prospective students not located in Tennessee or who plan to seek licensure or certification outside the state of Tennessee should contact the appropriate state licensing agency or board and discuss their plans with an advisor before enrolling in the program to ensure they have the most up-to-date information and guidance regarding licensure requirements.

Accreditation

The Middle Tennessee State University Bachelor of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education's Commission on Accreditation.

Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master's social work program by the Council on Social Work Education's Commission on 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 Commission on 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 the Council of Social Work Education for information about accreditation.

CSWE Accredited by

Core Competencies (Assessment)

The MTSU Department of Social Work utilizes the CSWE 2022 EPAS Core Competencies. These can be found at:

https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/policies-process/2022epas/

Resources

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