Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
Fordham University's Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) degree provides students with a rigorous, innovative social work experience alongside a world-class undergraduate education.
By earning your BASW, you complete the first-year coursework and internship requirements for your Master of Social Work (MSW) degree — allowing you to graduate with your MSW in just one additional year. Fordham BASW students also receive a seamless, accelerated admissions process into our top-ranked MSW program.
Note: To apply for the BASW program, students must be currently enrolled at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, Fordham College at Rose Hill, or Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies, and have completed approximately 50 credit hours. If you have not enrolled as an undergraduate at Fordham yet, you can learn more about Fordham's undergraduate admissions process here.
At a Glance
- Program: Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
- Credit Hours: 31 credits
- Duration: Four semesters
- Next Cohort Begins: January 2027
- Applications Due: December 1
- Location: Lincoln Center, Westchester (Major is open to all Fordham undergraduate students and School of Professional and Continuing Studies students, but courses take place at Lincoln Center or Westchester)
- Practicum Education Hours Required: 450
BASW Program Facts
Can you see yourself in the BASW program? Start your application today!
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What defines Fordham’s BASW program?
For over 110 years, Fordham GSS has educated social workers to make an impact in their own communities and around the world. The BASW curriculum equips students with the skills and knowledge they'll need to promote human rights, social justice, and individual and community well-being. As undergraduates at Fordham, BASW students are immersed in the University's Jesuit commitment to cura personalis—care for the whole person—which naturally aligns with the ethics of the social work profession.
How we fulfill our mission
Seamless transition to MSW study: Our top-ranked MSW program is the ideal next step for your social work studies. BASW students enter the MSW program as "Advanced Standing" students because they have completed the required first-year coursework and practicum internship hours as undergraduates. This allows them to finish their MSW degrees in one academic year (nine months total).
Hands-on experience: BASW students complete 450 hours of practicum placements alongside their classes with one of our thousands of nonprofit agency partners across New York. Pairing theoretical coursework with frontline internships results in a holistic education designed to let you hit the ground running after graduation.100% tuition and fees covered for eligible veterans: We cover 100% of tuition and fees for eligible Post-9/11 GI Bill® veterans and their dependents through the Yellow Ribbon Program—with no monetary cap or limit on the number of students. It's one of the many reasons Fordham was voted the #1 “Best for Vets” college in New York by Military Times.
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How to apply for a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work degree
Eligibility
In order to apply for the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) major, you must:
- Be currently enrolled or accepted for matriculation at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, Fordham College at Rose Hill, or Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies.
- Complete approximately 50 credit hours.
- Fulfill most of the BSW program prerequisites.
- Ideally have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
Students are expected to complete the 31 credits of the BASW program within two years. We also expect students to demonstrate such essential qualities as maturity of judgment, openness to new ideas, a capacity for developing self-awareness and readiness to change, an acceptance of differences in people, a commitment to social and institutional change, and values consistent with the mission of social work. Paid or volunteer work in social or civic organizations demonstrates the kind of motivation we look for in applicants.
Social Work Prerequisites
In order to further strengthen the liberal arts base and bio-psycho-social knowledge of students entering the social work program, the following prerequisite courses are expected to be completed before program admission:
- One sociology course
- One psychology course
- One biology course (with emphasis on human biology)
- One American pluralism course
- One course related to contemporary government or social policy in the United States
- SOWK 2600: Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare (4 credits): This course provides an introduction to the values, knowledge, and skills of the social work profession. Focus is on the historical and contemporary roles and relationships of the social work profession to community problems, fields of practice, vulnerable populations, and social welfare history and policy. B or above is required in this course.
Students may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program after they have completed approximately 50 undergraduate credit hours and all of the prerequisite courses.
Core Curriculum: Some of these prerequisite courses may also satisfy the requirements of Fordham’s core curriculum and/or the requirements of other majors and programs in the University.
Transfer Students: You must be accepted to Fordham University before your application to the BASW program can be reviewed. Substitution of courses taken at institutions other than Fordham University will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Application Requirements
Every application package must include the following six elements.
You must submit your application online. Use this link to get started.- Completed online application form.
- Autobiographical statement. This allows us to assess whether you have the necessary writing ability for the BASW program. Please submit a typed statement (three to five pages) in which you respond to all of these questions:
- How did you become interested in social work? If this interest represents a change of career plans, what are the reasons for the change?
- What educational, professional, voluntary, and/or community experiences and relationships have contributed to your interest in social work?
- Which personal qualities and abilities do you feel will be helpful to you in the social work profession? In what way will they be helpful?
- Your autobiographical statement helps us assess whether you have the necessary writing ability for the BASW program. Please be certain that your statement is a fair sample of your writing skills and meets the level of proficiency that the faculty might expect for writing assignments given in class.
- Letter from the instructor of Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare. Please ask the instructor of your Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare course to complete this form in the application packet, evaluating your performance in class and readiness to enter the BASW program.
- Two additional letters of reference. Please use the forms provided in the application portal. Three recommendations, including the letter from the instructor of Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare, are required. Use academic or social work employment references whenever possible. If these are not applicable to you, your references should come from people who have knowledge of your professional capacity. All references should be submitted through our online application.
- Admissions interview. In some circumstances, we may require an interview.
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Fordham GSS provides dedicated funding to students who have earned a Fordham BASW to apply toward their Fordham MSW degree. Thus, in addition to saving time in the long run, Fordham BASW students are guaranteed funding for their social work master's.
To learn more about Fordham University's financial aid options for undergraduate students, visit this webpage.
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Courses at a Glance
- Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare (4 Credits)
- Advanced Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis (3 Credits)
- Social Work Practice With Individuals Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
A sneak peek into the profession — intro to social work course
Before a student begins the Fordham BASW program, they must complete the four-credit Introduction to Social Work and Social Welfare course. This allows you to get a feel for the program and its content, and to explore what it really means to be a social worker. Having insight about the road ahead can give you confidence knowing you're pursuing a profession aligned with your values and goals.An education driven by values and rigor
Human rights and social justice—the core components of Jesuit education—are central to everything we do and teach in social work. Learn to think and act at the systems and human levels to make real change in your community.Access to excellence everywhere
With NYC as the backdrop to your education, you'll have access to industry leaders in health care, policy, mental health research, and more. Practicum education internships allow you to work with schools, homeless shelters, substance abuse treatment facilities, housing programs, child welfare agencies, and other impactful organizations across the city that need your help now.Courses meet one day per week
BASW students take all their major-specific coursework on just one day per week, freeing the rest of their time up for practicum placement and other responsibilities. The BASW is a demanding program, but we do our best to make the degree work for your schedule.
F.A.Q.
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Social workers are committed to empowering individuals and communities, and advancing human rights and social justice. While every social worker brings different strengths and experiences to the profession, successful social workers often demonstrate:
- A commitment to helping others and driving positive change, particularly in underserved communities
- Emotional intelligence and empathy, including the ability to understand and respond thoughtfully to others’ experiences
- Strong interpersonal communication skills, including verbal, nonverbal, and written communication
- Organization and attention to detail
- Resilience and the ability to navigate challenging or high-pressure situations
- Cultural humility and sensitivity when working with people from diverse backgrounds
- An understanding of professional boundaries and when and how to establish them
You don't need to have all of these qualities to pursue a BASW. Your coursework and practicum experiences will deepen your knowledge and equip you with the skills and professional judgment needed to make a difference as a social worker.
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Practicum (field) education is completed through an internship model, in which you work directly with clients and are exposed to how the larger agency operates and collaborates with external organizations and programs. The Fordham BASW program is designed so that the courses you take while at your internship teach you the skills you will use there.
Our BASW students work in a wide range of settings. Settings include: schools, mental health facilities, homeless shelters, substance abuse treatment facilities, senior centers, advocacy organizations, housing programs, child welfare agencies, programs that serve veterans, and hospitals, among others.
Read our BASW practicum (field) education FAQ page for more information.
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While it is not required to earn your MSW after your BASW degree to have a meaningful career, it can be beneficial to do so.
Earning your MSW degree allows you to pursue social work licensure, which opens more career opportunities and increases earning potential. If you are interested in serving as a private-practice clinical social worker, you will need to earn your MSW.
The BASW puts you on the fast track
The good news: By completing your BASW degree, you already have the first year of MSW coursework and practicum (field) hours behind you. This is called the Advanced Standing track. As an Advanced Standing student, you can complete your MSW degree in as few as nine months. Plus, Fordham BASW students receive guaranteed funding upon enrollment in the MSW program.
Read more about Advanced Standing MSW study here.
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Yes! Not only can you apply, but since you're already a Ram, the process is seamless. Plus, once you enroll, you automatically receive guaranteed funding toward your MSW.
What is Advanced Standing?
Advanced Standing is an accelerated MSW track. It is open only to graduates of a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program, who have earned their BSW within 5 years of applying to Fordham's MSW program.
A BSW graduate's undergraduate coursework is the equivalent of the first year of the MSW program, so the 31 credits of your BSW program are transferred into the MSW. Advanced Standing students complete one practicum (field) education internship (500 hours) alongside their academic coursework.
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You’ll be prepared for various career paths in social work, including aging, child welfare, school counseling, substance abuse prevention, and research, to name a few. Our graduates also pursue advanced study and prestigious fellowships.