Social Work

About

Social work is the professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and creating societal conditions favorable to this goal. Social work practice consists of the professional application of social work values, principles, and techniques to one or more of the following ends:

  • Assisting individuals and communities obtain tangible services
  • Providing counseling and psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups
  • Helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health services
  • Participating in relevant legislative processes

Social Workers work in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, elected office, private practices, prisons, military, and corporations, as well as a variety of other public and private agencies that serve individuals and families in need. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Social Work is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States.

Will a degree in Social Work meet the educational requirements for the professional credential in the state or US territory you might choose to live during or after completing your UVU degree? Visit the UVU Professional Licensure website to learn more.

 

Assessment of BSW Learning Outcomes

FIELD EDUCATION MANUAL

BSW Handbook

Social Work Student Association

If you're interested in forming connections with others in the program, networking with professors, and participating in fun events, take a look at the Social Work Student Association, or SWSA.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
  • Engage diversity and difference in practice to advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
  • Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
  • Engage in policy practice engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  • Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and                                    communities.

Degrees

Social Work, B.S.W.Social Work, M.S.W.

Bachelor of Social Work Application

Application Requirements

  • Must currently be admitted to Utah Valley University
  • Completion of BSW Application
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • Completion of the following courses before beginning the BSW program:
    • ENGL 2010 with a C+ grade or higher
    • SW 1010 with a B- grade or higher
    • PSY 1010
    • All General Education courses

Students with transfer credits and/or an associate degree should contact the BSW Academic Advisor to verify requirement completion after your transcripts have been received and processed by UVU Transfer Services.

The application for the 2026 Fall BSW Cohort will be available in December 2025. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Applicants will be notified of decisions through UVU email prior to registration for spring semester. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

ENTERING SEMESTER

APPLICATION OPENS

APPLICATION CLOSES
2025 Spring July 15, 2024 September 8, 2024
2025 Fall December 17, 2024 February 19, 2025
2026 Spring July 1, 2025 September 22, 2025

 

BSW Application Supplemental Items

Personal Statement

UVU Library building in Orem at night

Applicants need to submit a well-organized, thoughtful 3–4 page personal statement in proper APA format. The statement should be typed using professional fonts such as Times New Roman or Calibri, with one-inch margins. It is strongly recommended to include headings. Your personal statement must include the following:

  1. Briefly describe your professional, volunteer, and/or community service experiences or activities over the past five years. This should be more detailed than what is listed in your resume and should describe what you did and how it impacted you and others.
  2. Describe your personal strengths and limitations.
    • Explain how your strengths will impact your social work practice.
    • Explain how you will overcome your limitations and challenges.
  3. Describe your short and long-term goals, including the populations you want to work with and why.
  4. Describe your personal values and how these values compliment or align with social work values.

professional resume

Applicants are required to submit a one-page professional resume containing the following information:

  • Your name
  • Educational, professional, and volunteer experience relevant to a career in social work
  • Agency name, supervisor name, dates of employment/volunteer work, and the number of hours per week or month worked/volunteered at each organization.

two professional references

Applicants need to provide 2 references. Applicants will submit reference names and email address.

References may attach a letter of recommendation in PDF format.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an application I need to fill out for the BSW program at UVU?

Yes, there is an application process and information about this is on the main BSW webpage https://www.uvu.edu/besc/socialwork/index.php

Is the Social Work program at UVU accredited?
Yes, we are accredited by CSWE.

What are the pre-requisites to apply to the BSW program?

In addition to SW 1010, PSY 1010, ENGL 2010, all general education requirements, and general electives should be complete or near completion before applying to the BSW program.

I want to get my SSW licensure. Can I take the course I need at UVU without being a Social Work student?

No, we only have enough space for our formally admitted BSW students in our classes.

We follow CSWE guidelines to maintain our accreditation and cannot allow students who are not in our program to take our core classes. There are no exceptions made.

Does UVU have an online BSW program?

We do not currently have an online program at UVU.

What days are classes offered at UVU for the BSW program?

Tuesdays and Thursdays

We are a daytime program and do not currently offer core courses on weekends or in the evening.

What if I have most of my coursework complete by the time I’m admitted to the program, can I graduate early?

We do not have fast track options for graduation. Everyone graduates with the cohort they were admitted with.

For example, if you begin the BSW program Fall of 2026, you will graduate with your cohort Spring of 2028 regardless of the number of credits you have already completed.

Is there a specific sequence I need to follow each semester after admission to the BSW program?

Yes, please refer to the BSW handbook on our webpage https://www.uvu.edu/besc/socialwork/index.php for each semester’s schedule.

Students are required to follow this unless they have received approval from the Director of the BSW program to adjust their academic schedule.

Can I apply for the program and if accepted defer to a later start date?

No, please do not apply to begin the Social Work program until you are ready to make a commitment to start on the date for which you are applying.

Can I add a minor or certificate to the BSW degree?

Yes, you can. You just need to be aware of the additional credits this may add to completing your bachelor’s degree.

 

BSW Academic Advisor

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BSW Faculty & Staff

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