Major map compass icon
2019-2020

Bachelor of Social Work

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Applied Sciences: Human Services, Pre-Social Work Specialization (Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway))
Brightpoint Community College
Program description

The goals of the profession of social work are to provide services to persons who are vulnerable due to a lack of personal, social and/or institutional resources to meet their emotional, health and economic needs. Social work practice is the application of professional knowledge, skills and values across a range of settings and populations. The focus of practice is on individuals, couples, families, groups and communities. In addition to direct clinical social work practice, social workers are involved in the administration of human service programs, social planning, the development of social policies, research and evaluation, and teaching. In order to achieve the goals of promoting social justice and enhancing well-being for individuals, families, groups and communities, social workers provide a variety of services primarily in public and nonprofit organizational contexts. Examples of the range of settings in which social workers practice include community centers, public social services, child welfare, residential treatment facilities, schools, community mental health agencies, family and children’s service agencies, psychiatric and acute care hospitals, substance abuse treatment facilities, services for the elderly, court services and adult and juvenile rehabilitation facilities. Social work practice is designed to enrich quality of life by enabling individuals, groups, communities and organizations to achieve their greatest potential development. The goal of the School of Social Work at VCU is to provide professional education in response to these needs.

Career opportunities

A B.S.W. degree enables our graduates to empower others and effect change in prevalent areas such as: Addiction, substance abuse and behavioral health; Aging; Child welfare; Community development; Corrections/justice; Developmental disabilities; Employment/occupational social work; Family services/group services; Health care services; Homelessness/housing; International social work; Mental health; Public welfare; Rehabilitation; School social work. When our students enter the field as professionals, they do so equipped with a nuanced understanding of the day-to-day demands of the job and a commitment to meeting the challenges of social work with strength and compassion. A bachelor's in social work can prepare students for graduate or professional education in social work, sociology, counseling, psychology, law, medicine, education, college student personnel, higher education administration, planning, and other related fields. Many transferable skills such as analytical, organizational, research, interpersonal, computer, leadership, teamwork, and oral/written communication are associated with the social work degree. Internships, part-time jobs, summer jobs, and/or volunteer experiences are critical to reaching career goals. Research fields of interests and gain the right skills, experiences, and advanced degrees (if necessary).

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Child, Family, and School Social Worker
  • Community and Social Service Specialist, Other
  • Community Health Worker
  • Health Educator
  • Healthcare Social Workers
  • Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
  • Patient Representative
  • Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist
  • Social and Human Service Assistant
  • Social Workers
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Attorney
  • Counselor
  • Government Agency Administrator
  • Higher Education Administrator
Contact information


VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 131
Science required
  • 1-2 additional science courses
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.5 to declare/2.0 to graduate

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2019-2020

Bachelor of Social Work

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Applied Sciences: Human Services, Pre-Social Work Specialization)

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Attend Tyler orientation
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway
  • Understand how you will fund your education
  • Register for SDV 100
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your ENG and MTH classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
  • Create Linkedln profile.
  • Get involved with a student or professional organization.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Visit career services to begin cultivating your own virtual brand across all social media profiles.
  • Browse careers related to social work through the career coach.
  • Take a career assessment through the career coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Use SDV 100 to create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Create, upload and update your resume to the College Central Network.
Experience Year 2
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival)
  • Continue to partner with diversity leader/ facilitator/ mentor to move towards cultural competence
  • Get involved with service-learning opportunities
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Run for leadership in your student organization.
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend Tyler orientation
  • Log into Navigate and view its features to help you on your pathway
  • Understand how you will fund your education
  • Register for SDV 100
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your ENG and MTH classes. Visit the Academic Resource Center on either campus.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester and cultivate relationships with your professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus.
  • Identify a mentor in a diversity organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Create Linkedln profile.
  • Get involved with a student or professional organization.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Visit career services to begin cultivating your own virtual brand across all social media profiles.
  • Browse careers related to social work through the career coach.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take a career assessment through the career coach.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Use SDV 100 to create a weekly and monthly budget.
  • Develop personal and career goals and create SMART steps for 2-3 "dream jobs."
  • Create, upload and update your resume to the College Central Network.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Consider learning a foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend diversity-focused events on campus and in your community (i.e. international festival)
  • Continue to partner with diversity leader/ facilitator/ mentor to move towards cultural competence
  • Get involved with service-learning opportunities
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs throughout the year
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Run for leadership in your student organization.
  • If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, consider applying for the VCU Honors College.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2019-2020

Bachelor of Social Work

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) (Associate of Applied Sciences: Human Services, Pre-Social Work Specialization)

Brightpoint Community College (program-specific pathway) courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I UNIV 111-112 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning MATH 131 3 General education
HMS 100 Introduction to Human Services (students must complete a social work-designated section with a minimum grade of “B”) SLWK 201 3 Major
HMS 251 Substance Abuse I TREL 2XX 3 Elective
PSY 200 Principles of Psychology PSYC 101 3 Major
ENG 112 College Composition  II UNIV 200 3 General education
BIO 101 General Biology I BIOL/Z 151 4 Major
HIS ___ History elective (select 1): HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 VCU equivalent 3 General education
MEN 101 Mental Health Skills Training I (minimum grade of “B”) SLWK 2XX 3 Elective
PSY 230 Developmental Psychology PSYC 304 3 Major
ENG 210 Advanced Composition (approved substitute for CST 100) ENGL 304 3 Elective
MEN 102 Mental Health Skills Training II (minimum grade of “B”) SLWK 230 3 Major
BIO 102 General Biology II (approved substitute for MTH 245) BIOL/Z 152 4 General education
PHI 220 Ethics PHIL 201 3 Major
SOC 200 Principles of Sociology SOCY 101 3 Major
ENG ___ Literature elective (select 1): ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252 ENGL ___ 3 General education
Foreign Language Foreign Language 101 Note: the Bachelor of Social Work requires completion of a foreign language through the 102 level VCU equivalent 4 General education
MEN 190 Coordinated Practice SLWK 2XX 3 Elective
MEN 196 On-site Training SLWK 2XX 3 Elective
SOC 211 Principles of Anthropology ANTH 103 3 Major
John Tyler Credits Transferred to VCU 64
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
Foreign Language Foreign language through the 102 level. 4 General education (not waived by associate degree)
Humanities Select one of the following: ENGL 215, PHIL 250, RELS 108. 3 Major (collateral )
PSYC 407 Psychology of the Abnormal 3 Major (collateral)
SLWK 311 Social Work and Oppressed Groups 3 Major
SLWK 313 Person in Society I 3 Major
SLWK 330 Person in Society II 3 Major
SLWK 332 Social Work Practice: Fundamentals 3 Major
SLWK 380 Foundations of Social Work Research I 3 Major
SLWK 381 Foundations of Social Work Research II 3 Major
SLWK 393 Junior Field Instruction 3 Major
SLWK 422 Social Welfare Legislation and Services 3 Major
SLWK 431 Person in Society III 3 Major
SLWK 441 Social Work Practice I 3 Major
SLWK 442 Social Work Practice II 3 Major
SLWK 494 Senior Field Instruction I 3 Major
SLWK 495 Senior Field Instruction II 3 Major
SLWK 499 Senior Seminar (capstone) 1 Major
Select two open electives HIST, POLI, or ECON 6 Elective
Credits Completed at VCU 56
Bachelor's degree total 120