A BSW prepares students for generalist social work practice as well as graduate education in social work and related fields. Bachelor level social workers are employed in all areas of human services and health care. Social workers help to maximize and maintain individual, family, group, and community functioning. Social work has its own body of knowledge, philosophy, values and ethics. It views people holistically, as products of their biology, psychology, and environment.
Social work offers a great variety of job opportunities and job settings.
Social workers work in mental health agencies, child welfare agencies, schools, hospitals, research settings, community agencies, federal, local and state government, advocacy groups, nursing homes, employee assistance programs, colleges and universities, private practice, outpatient clinics, HMOs, group homes, and many other settings. Bachelor level social workers are prepared for generalist practice. Master's level social workers provide therapy, while bachelor level social workers perform a variety of mental health functions such as case management, behavioral intervention, and therapeutic support. Many employers report that they prefer to hire BSWs over applicants with other undergraduate degrees for social service jobs. BSWs bring specific professional skills, knowledge, and values to the agencies in which they work.