Social work can be an incredibly rewarding profession. But beginning your social work career typically starts with earning a social work degree such as a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), preferably from an accredited program, and that means completing numerous hours of field practice. Is it worth it? If you want to give yourself the best chance to succeed in social work, the answer is yes. Why? Because field practice is vital for learning social work skills.
Field practice is an integral part of learning the discipline. In the words of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE): “Field education is the signature pedagogy for social work. The intent of field education is to integrate the theoretical and conceptual contribution of the classroom with the practical world of the practice setting. It is a basic precept of social work education that the two interrelated components of curriculum—classroom and field—are of equal importance within the curriculum, and each contributes to the development of the requisite competencies of professional practice.”1
Simply put, without field practice, you can’t gain the competencies required to succeed in social work. And that makes sense. After all, as a social worker, you won’t be sitting in a classroom; you’ll be in the field, helping improve people’s lives.
How Can You Earn a BSW Degree?
If you decide to pursue a career as a social worker, you should look for a BSW program that can deliver a quality education and accommodate your busy life. To gain the core competencies you need for a social work career, consider earning your Bachelor of Social Work online from a CSWE-accredited program. By choosing a CSWE-accredited BSW degree program online, you have the convenience of completing coursework from home and the ability to choose when in the day you attend class.
And most important, a CSWE-accredited online BSW program is just as rigorous as a campus-based program. That means you can be assured that your online bachelor of social work degree program can give you the education you need to become the type of social worker you want to be.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering a CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.
Walden University's Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation is responsible for developing standards that define competent preparation for professional social workers and ensuring that social work programs meet these standards.