Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

Bachelor of Social Work

Social workers strengthen communities, advocate for vulnerable populations, and improve lives across schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, child welfare agencies, and human service organizations. With demand for qualified professionals rising nationwide, this is a pivotal moment to begin a career rooted in service and social justice. 

Molloy University’s Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work (BSW) provides the exceptional academic and creative learning experiences you need to join this dynamic helping profession.  

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About the Social Work Bachelor's Degree

The Molloy University social work degree program offers classroom and field experiences that prepare you to meet the increasingly complex needs of individuals, groups, families, communities, and organizations. 

Our social work degree program stands out for its: 

• Distinguished faculty who are passionate about empowering the next generation of social work professionals by building meaningful relationships that extend beyond the classroom. 
• Value. Molloy’s BSW, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), is consistently recognized as one of the top-value social work degrees in New York and nationally, thanks to our scholarships and grants.
• An accelerated MSW. Our unique program also lets you earn your Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and your Master of Social Work (MSW) in as little as five years by collaborating with Fordham University for the Master’s degree.  

You’ll graduate as a competent, values-based professional, capable of making a difference in the lives of others, as well as your own.     

Benefits of Molloy's Bachelor's Degree in Social Work

For Transfer Students

Molloy has affiliation agreements with local community colleges and offers the following scholarships/grants for transfer students: 

• Transfer scholarships are available to full-time students with a minimum overall cumulative average of 3.0. Amounts range from $1,500 to $5,000 based on GPA.  

• The Academic Achievement Grant ($5,000) is awarded to full-time students with a minimum overall cumulative average of 2.5.  

• The Touching Lives Scholarship ($4,000 per year) is awarded to full-time students with a minimum overall cumulative average of 2.7.  

• Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship ($1,000 per year) is awarded to both part- and full-time students who are members of this Honor Society at Nassau Community College. Verification of membership is required.  

Student Engagement

The Social Work Student Association (SWSA) enriches your experience through service, leadership, and peer connection. As the program’s student-governed organization, the SWSA helps you: 

• Foster Leadership and organizational skills through the development and execution of service initiatives.
• Promote Social Justice by spearheading social action projects and fundraising efforts.
• Build Professional Networks with students, faculty, and practitioners in the field. 
• Active Engagement with real-world experiences, including one community-focused event each academic semester. 

Location & Facilities

Molloy’s Long Island campus places you close to New York City—just a short ride via Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), the Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE), or our university shuttle service. On campus, you’ll benefit from emerging tools, including our virtual reality simulation space designed for interdisciplinary case-study practice. 

Faculty & Campus Support

With small class sizes, you’ll work closely with faculty who know your goals and support your academic and professional development. Molloy’s Career Center further enhances your experience with advising, workshops, and job-search resources to help you transition confidently into the field. 

What Can You Do With a Degree in Social Work?

Social Workers contribute their expertise across a wide range of settings, and there are many types of social work, including: 

Social workers are among the nation’s largest providers of mental health services, supporting families and individuals with challenging emotions, behaviors, and relationships.  

School Social Work 

School social workers aim to address the emotional, developmental, and educational needs of children by providing counseling, crisis interventions, and other community resources to create a healthy learning environment and family support. 

Healthcare 

Within the healthcare sector, social workers navigate diverse factors influencing health and wellness and provide support for healthcare planning, policy, and administration, as well as for research and program development. Justice and Corrections Social workers engaged in justice and corrections serve in courts, police departments, probation agencies, and correctional facilities, working to reform lives within the justice system.  

Addiction Services 

Those specializing in addiction services help individuals and families on the path to recovery. Through individual, group, and family counseling, these social workers restore hope and facilitate healing.  

Child Welfare 

Within the field of child welfare, social workers will often assess family situations, develop intervention plans, and collaborate with legal and community resources to advocate for children’s rights and provide necessary support for at-risk families. 

Aging 

In the aging specialization, social workers connect older adults and caregivers to services that enhance their lives, while taking into account physical, social, psychological, and economic factors. They can assist in finding suitable housing, healthcare, and social activities, while also addressing age-specific challenges, including isolation and mental health concerns. 

Public Welfare 

Public welfare social workers engage with vulnerable populations, administering crucial benefit programs. Leaders in these settings train, supervise, and support staff to deliver effective services.  

Advocacy and Community Organizing 

Social workers champion the rights of individuals and communities by addressing the societal inequalities and disparities through community-focused advocacy.

Administration and Management 

This area of social work requires a strong understanding of social policy, human services, and program planning. In administration and management, social workers are proactive leaders in public and private agencies that provide services to clients. 

Politics 

Engaging with the political sphere, social workers contribute to advocacy and policy practices. Several local, state, and national elected officials hold social work degrees. 

Research 

Research-oriented social workers often hold advanced degrees that equip them to contribute to the foundational framework of effective practice. They evaluate outcomes within human service organizations to shape and improve industry standards as needed. 

Social Work Roles 

When you earn a degree in social work, specific job titles could include: 

• Benefits or employment specialist
• Child advocate or caseworker 
• Family caseworker 
• Foster care or adoption agent 
• Hospice director 
• Housing advocate 
• Learning center director 
• Outreach Coordinator 
• Patient advocate 
• Probation or parole officer 
• Rehabilitation or residential counselor 
• Social worker 
• Substance abuse counselor 
• Youth services coordinator 

Undergraduate Social Work Degree Admission Criteria

Admission to the BSW program requires a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and completion of 20.5 academic units, including: 

• English - 4 

• Foreign Language - 3 

• Mathematics - 3 

• Social Studies - 4 

• Science - 3 

If you’re home-schooled, you must obtain a letter from your local school district officials confirming that you’ve received a “substantially equivalent” education as district high school students or take and pass a Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), formally known as a GED.

Take the Next Step Toward a Meaningful Career in Social Work 

Ready to embark on a journey of growth, compassion, and empowerment? Your pathway to a rewarding career in social work begins at Molloy’s BSW program. With high-quality programs across a spectrum of social work specialties and a commitment to your success, we empower students to make a lasting impact.  

Apply today to join a community of professionals dedicated to positive change and social justice. 

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