Social Work
The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work program at Grand Valley State University is to provide a comprehensive, superior educational experience that produces knowledgeable, skilled generalist social work professionals prepared for beginning-level social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. The purpose is to develop social work professionals who can capably serve people in West Michigan or in distant corners of the globe, utilizing the foundation of knowledge, skills, and values provided by the BSW curriculum.
This page will provide information about the Social Work Major and Social Work Career Exploration & Opportunities.
For additional information about the program, check out the School of Social Work's website.
Social Work Major
The checklists below explain which courses are required for the Social Work major. Please note that you must first complete the Social Work Candidacy Requirements and be accepted into the Social Work program before you can begin taking the courses required for the Social Work major.
The First Year Guides are meant to help direct students who have not been in college before. Each of the guides provide class suggestions based on a student's math and/or writing placement. Not all scenarios are represented here so it is important to follow up with an academic advisor to personalize your plan.
The 4-Year Guides were developed to help guide you to decide which courses to take and when.
Candidacy Requirements
Before beginning the Social Work program, students must first complete a set of courses that will make them eligible for candidacy in the Social Work program. To see which classes are required before beginning the Social Work program, follow the advising guide that corresponds to your catalog year, which is generally determined by the academic year in which you began attending GVSU. If you are not sure which catalog applies to you, review your myPath found in myBanner.
Major Requirements
Once you have been granted admission in the BSW program, there are particular classes you must take during the Fall and Winter semesters. Follow the advising guide that corresponds to your catalog year, which is generally determined by the academic year in which you began attending GVSU. If you are not sure which catalog applies to you, review your myPath found in myBanner. Please note students must first complete the Candidacy Requirements and be admitted to the BSW program prior to enrolling in Social Work program coursework.
Social Work Career Exploration & Opportunities
Considering a career in Social Work? Check out the links below for resources to help you explore the many things you can do with a degree in Social Work. Also connect with one of the Social Work faculty mentors to discuss different career paths available to students with a social work degree. Faculty mentors are assigned by last name.
Dr. Julie Guevara (A-D) Dr. Sally Pelon (M-Sm)
Dr. Shelley Schuurman (E-L) Dr. Lihua Huang (Sn-Z)