Mission Statement
The mission of the Indiana University School of Social Work is to educate students to be effective and knowledgeable professional social workers prepared for practice in the twenty-first century. Such practitioners are committed to the alleviation of poverty, oppression, and discrimination. The school is dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life for all people, particularly the citizens of Indiana, and to the advancement of just social, political, and economic conditions through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. Within the context of a diverse, multicultural, urbanized, global, and technologically oriented society, the school prepares social workers who will shape solutions to a wide range of interpersonal and social problems by developing and using knowledge critically as they uphold the traditions, values, and ethics of the social work profession.
Help others help themselves through Social Work
If you have a desire to help others, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree at IU East can provide you the knowledge, skills, and ethics to become a social worker.
Social workers help people identify and resolve problems—both personal and those related to the social environment―and enjoy a better life. You can become an advocate for children and adults who are victims of abuse, while you work to promote social and economic justice.
As a social worker, you can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, social service agencies, schools, youth centers, mental health or substance abuse facilities, nursing homes, and others. A degree in social work from IU East can put you on the path to a fulfilling career helping others.
Welcome to the BSW Program
Welcome and thank you for visiting our webpage. We are delighted that you are exploring social work for your future studies. Social work is a profession that offers many national and international opportunities.
When declaring a degree, you face many important decisions that will affect your future. We at the I.U. School of Social Work are prepared to help you with this process by highlighting some reasons why social work at Indiana University is a good choice for your future.
- Social work is both a challenging and rewarding profession, and it continues to be one of the faster growing professions in the U.S. economy!
- Social work “is the only undergraduate major that educates students to be professional social workers. BSW graduates are prepared for immediate entry into direct human service professional positions –ready to excel in careers in social work and ready to do post-graduate work at the master’s degree level” (National Association of Social Workers).
- Based on advanced degrees and years of experience, incomes from social work positions range from $25,000 to over $80,000.
- Social workers provide services to individuals, families, groups, and communities. They are often involved in organizational planning and management.
- Some of the settings in which social workers may be employed include: Advocacy programs, aging services, children and youth services, community action agencies, criminal justice agencies, disability service agencies, domestic violence programs, hospices, income maintenance programs, international relief programs, public health agencies, schools, substance abuse programs, the list is a long one!.
- Part of the students’ educational experience includes hands-on opportunities to practice skills learned in the classroom. The Bachelor of Social Work program requires two internships where students interface with actual clients in agency settings. They also have opportunities to do service learning in several of their courses; a feature very much appreciated by students and community members alike. As a result, students are well prepared to enter directly into a professional work setting upon graduation, or continue on toward a master’s level graduate education.
As one of the oldest Schools of Social Work in the nation, the Indiana University School of Social Work has provided quality social work education since 1911. Our Bachelor of Social Work program (BSW) is accredited, and students are taught by nationally recognized, full-time faculty and seasoned practitioners. Consequently, BSW graduates are equipped with knowledge, values, and skills to enter into a variety of social work practice fields.
Purpose + Change in the World + Improving Lives + Options = A career in Social Work
Contact Us Today
School of Social WorkIndiana University East
Tom Raper Hall, TR150
2325 Chester Blvd.
Richmond, IN 47374
Phone: (765) 973-8535
Fax: (765) 973-8590
The complete BSW degree is offered on three of our campuses:
- IUPUI (Indianapolis)
- IU Bloomington
BSW Application
2010-2011
Available in the Social Work Office TR150. To ensure fall enrollment in the junior classes, sophomores should apply by the priority deadline of APRIL 1, 2010.
MSW APPLICATION
MSW applications should be submitted by May 14, 2010 to secure a slot with the 2011 cohort. You may also pickup an application from the office of Social Work during regular office hours, TR150. For additional information contact Ed FitzGerald, Director 973-8422 or Sheila Armstead, Field Coordinator 973-8534.
