Social Work

The Bachelor of Science in Social Work Program (BSSW) at The Ohio State University at Marion prepares students to assume beginning professional roles as direct service practitioners in social welfare organizations, and lays the foundation for further social work education at the graduate level. The major is built upon a sequence of courses that provides a strong liberal arts perspective and features social work courses designed to enable the development of a common base of skills in the areas of social policy and program analysis, human behavior in the social environment, diversity, social work practice, and social work research.

Students can complete their BSSW entirely at the The Ohio State University at Marion campus. Coursework in the degree program is delivered as a blend of distance-learning technologies with traditional classroom instruction. Courses at Marion are taught by both faculty within the College of Social Work and regional campus faculty.

Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification and state licensing board contact information at go.osu.edu/onground.

BSSW Field Placement

The BSSW field placement provides students with an opportunity to engage in generalist social work practice. Students are able to observe and participate in both direct and indirect service. The field placement is completed during the autumn and spring semester during senior year and is comprised of 420 total hours, 210 per semester at 15 hours per week.

What is Social Work?

Social work is a profession for those with a passion to help others. According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), social work practice consists of the professional application of social work values, principles, and techniques to one or more of the following ends: helping people obtain tangible services; providing counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families, and groups; helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health services; and participating in relevant legislative processes. The practice of social work requires knowledge of human development and behavior; of social, economic, and cultural institutions; and of the interaction of these factors. Many social workers specialize in serving a particular population or working in a specific setting, such as hospitals, schools, private practices, correctional facilities, community mental health agencies, and substance abuse treatment centers. If you want a career with meaning, action, diversity, satisfaction, and an abundance of options, social work is for you.