Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Now Enrolling Students for Fall 2026
Chestnut Hill College is excited to announce a brand new bachelor of social work, designed for students who are looking for a rewarding and fulfilling career helping others. For more information on our new Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), please contact Lauren Barrow (barrowl@chc.edu) or Nancy DeCesare (decesaren@chc.edu).
The bachelor in social work provides individuals the opportunities to work in a field dedicated to helping those in most need of assistance including vulnerable populations and communities, people in stressful situations, families encountering obstacles, trauma victims, and those dealing with health challenges. Trained social workers help people navigate tough environments and circumstances in a variety of settings including healthcare facilities, veterans administration, schools, government agencies, and much more. Through education, advocacy, and commitment to bettering the lives of others, social work is an incredibly important and rewarding career path.
CHC students will graduate with the skills, knowledge, and values to become a culturally responsible social work practitioner who thinks critically and creatively, and is enabled to contribute to the transformation of the global world no matter what social work path they decide to take.
Chestnut Hill College is proud to announce the launch of a new social work bachelor’s degree developed under the guiding mission of “Love of the Dear Neighbor without distinction”. Students of social work will participate in traditional classes, innovative class lessons with embedded observations, field education, and are also strongly encouraged to study social work abroad at a partner location.
Our program includes social work skill-building classes using role-playing, simulations, and field experiences. Special classrooms wherein faculty can observe the students from another room and/or utilization of audio-visual replay for student self-reflection are used to prepare students for field placement, ensuring that students can confidently engage in their field placement. These tools, in conjunction with dedicated and talented faculty, prepare our students for a seamless transition from classroom to workplace.
Additionally, the BSW program will leverage the ongoing international relationships built by our founders and distinguished faculty through service learning and bed-to-bed exchange opportunities abroad (France, Africa, and Belgium). Exposing students to diverse cultures and ways of life allows them to develop firsthand knowledge of the world thereby contributing to a well-rounded social work experience through an intersection of personal growth, cross-cultural communication, and thoughtful participation in an increasingly interconnected world.
CHC’s program is ever-evolving to confront the challenges of producing a career ready graduate. Through active, reflective, and research-based learning, the coursework in the program empowers and encourages students to make connections between theory and practice, and best prepares them for a dynamic and fulfilling career.
The diversity of people, perspectives, and cultures at the College and in the workplace is valued and explored with particular emphasis and appreciation for vulnerable populations. All courses are designed to make students think critically and creatively about each person’s potential to contribute to a more just and humane future.
In addition to the required general education courses informed by our innovative core, BSW students must complete the following courses in pursuit of their bachelor’s degree:
Students are also required to take any 3 of the following electives:
Students are also recommended to take the related courses: Introduction to Sociology and Introduction to Psychology.
The below is a suggested academic plan only; it is not meant to address each student’s individual requirements or interests. Students will develop a personalized plan with a faculty advisor; however, it is the student’s responsibility to be aware of, register for, and successfully complete all of the requirements for graduation in the major. The minimum number of academic credits required for graduation is 120.
| Year One, Fall – 15 Credits | Year One, Spring – 15 Credits |
| LADS 120 – Liberal Arts Discovery Seminar | SOCI 127 – Critical Issues in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion |
| RLST 240 – Introduction to Social Justice | ENGL 101 – College Writing |
| SOCI 101 – Introduction to Sociology | PSYC 101 – Introduction to Psychology |
| WCHC 101 – Welcome to CHC | SOWK 105 – Introduction to Social Work |
| ** Level 100 course if needed** / Core requirement | MATH XXX (227 or 104) |
| Year Two, Fall – 15 Credits | Year Two, Spring – 15 Credits |
| World Language Requirement #1 | World Language Requirement #2 |
| SOWK 257 – Human Behavior & the Social Environment | SOWK 356 – Social Welfare Policy in the United States |
| PSCI 113 – Introduction to American Government | SOWK 310 – Ethics for the Helping Professions (Applied) |
| Core Requirement – Ethics (Normative) | GLST 201 – Global Studies (or ASEC trip) |
| RLT XXX – Interdisciplinary course | Core Requirement – Scientific Investigation |
| Year Three, Fall – 15 Credits | Year Three, Spring – 15 Credits |
| SOWK 358 – Principles of Case Management with fieldwork hours | SOWK 302 – Social Research Methods |
| SOWK 308 – Theory & Practice of Counseling | SOWK 403 – Professional Seminar |
| Major elective (see list below) | Major elective (see list below) |
| Core Requirement | Core Requirement |
| Year Four, Fall – 15 Credits | Year Four, Spring – 15 Credits |
| SOWK 401 – Field Placement I &Seminar | SOWK 402 – Field Placement II & Seminar |
| SOWK 498 – Senior Seminar | Major elective (see list below) |
| Core Requirement – Meaning/Interpretation | Core Requirement – Arts/Creative |
| Major elective (see list below) |
List of Major Electives:
Admission into the social work major from other departments is contingent upon approval of the Social Work Director (or Field Education Director). Students wishing to declare social work as a major must participate in a Social Work Program Information & Orientation Session (available online). Upon completion of this session, the Social Work Director (or Field Education Director) will approve the “Change of Major” and the student will be matched with an academic adviser.
When students from other colleges apply for admission to Chestnut Hill College, the Transfer Transcript Evaluator in the Registrar’s Office of the College determines what course credits may be transferred to meet general College requirements and what courses are BSW major equivalents. The Registrar accepts the recommendation of the Social Work Director (or Field Education Director) concerning social work course equivalents.
Students are expected to participate in a program information session, meet with the BSW Program Director prior to the start of Social Work courses. Students transferring in from other schools require significant collaboration with the BSW Program Director upon admission to the College and prior to enrollment in social work courses to insure proper sequencing and major preparedness. Only courses from Council on Social Work Education accredited programs may be transferred in for 300 level or higher Social Work courses. Students may not receive academic credit for Social Work courses for life experience and previous work experience.
Please contact barrowl@chc.edu for more information on transfer requirements.
A bachelor in social work (BSW) from CHC provides the following:
Social work professionals perform a variety of roles. These include:
Field Placements:
Experiential learning is a vital component of the social work curriculum at Chestnut Hill College. With support from the Center, students are mentored by a field placement director to identify and apply for a placement and work on-site, completing tasks consistent with that position. Additional professional preparation support is provided through a professional seminar that students are required to take.
The combined BS in Social Work/MS in Human Services Management provides an excellent opportunity for qualified social work majors in the School of Undergraduate Studies to complete a masters degree in Human Services Management in the School of Graduate Studies. Students majoring in Social Work are eligible to apply to the program once they have achieved Senior status. Transfer students must take a minimum of 15 credits at Chestnut Hill College and earn a Career 3.20 GPA in these courses before making application to the program. Each student will be expected to meet the admissions requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and be provisionally accepted into the program before registering for any graduate courses. Formal acceptance will be granted upon receipt of a transcript verifying successful completion of the undergraduate degree program. For more information, please contact Lauren Barrow (barrowl@chc.edu).
