Social workers are committed to advocating for and serving vulnerable populations. Their efforts amplify the voices of the underserved in an effort to provide them with the resources they need to live more fulfilling lives.
A bachelor of social work prepares you for a career of service at the state, federal, or private level. UW offers a dynamic setting led by student-centered faculty with strong connections to the community.
Join a program that equips you with the ethics, compassion and skills you need to be an effective social worker.
Tuition and Fees
Program Requirements
Department
Social work allows you to turn your passion for helping others into action. The University of Wyoming BSW program provides you with the knowledge and skills you need to help improve the quality of life of individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations by combining classroom and supervised internship experience.
At UW, you have the convenience of completing your BSW at one of two campuses.
Due to the high demand for social workers, many of our students are offered employment prior to graduation. With the bachelor of social work (BSW), you will be qualified for entry-level positions in areas such as mental health, child welfare, healthcare, aging services, or residential treatment. You will need a master of social work (an MSW) to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). BSW holders can enroll in advanced standing MSW programs, which means they can complete their master's degree in just one more year after receiving their bachelor's!
Students who wish to declare social work as their major are considered "tracking majors" until they have been admitted into the professional program. In addition to completing university requirements, tracking majors complete the social work prerequisites in preparation for submitting their application.
The following prerequisites must be completed with a C or higher prior to admittance:
How to Apply
View all admission requirements.
Several graduates of the BSW program choose to pursue their master of social work (MSW) shortly after. The MSW degree is required for graduates who want to work in healthcare, administration, or education settings.
The University of Wyoming offers a standard and advanced MSW program. The standard MSW is for students who have an undergraduate degree that isn’t a BSW. The advanced standing MSW is for students who have an undergraduate BSW degree.
A BSW from UW is the first step to a fulfilling career in social work. Graduates will have the qualifications necessary to work in most generalist social worker roles in the state they’re licensed. These roles can be found at rehab centers, crisis centers, or nursing homes. BSW graduates may also qualify for jobs as child welfare workers and case managers.
Social Work Careers
The social work program at UW presents unique opportunities for passionate students to immerse themselves in their education. Here are a few highlights that make our program stand apart.
The baccalaureate and master's degree programs in social work are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), 333 John Caryle Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314.
UW offers the bachelor of social work program in two locations to make it the most convenient for you. Pursue your BSW degree at UW-Laramie or UW-Casper!
Collaborate with faculty on social work research. Faculty research interests include grief and loss, individuals with disabilities, veterans, forensic social work, human trafficking, the impact of the pandemic, stress, international, qualitative inquiry,critical social work theory, feminist practice and social work education.
Hone your skills through 900 practicum hours over two years (Standard Program) or 500 hours in one year (Advanced Standing Program). Students in the M.S.W. program have completed field practicums at Wyoming Children's Law Center, VA hospitals and clinics, Wyoming Behavior Health, and in schools across the state.
The social work faculty at UW bring years of firsthand experience and notable research to their classes. They’ve curated an academic environment that challenges students, preparing them beyond the standard curriculum that may be found in other educational settings. Notable professors include Dr. Neely Mahapatra, an accomplished educator with published research focusing on violence against minority women, refugees and other immigrant populations among many more. Kym Codallos, another notable faculty member, has partnered with a local prison and jail to provide social skill group opportunities for BSW students.
Students get the opportunity to embark on different research and research-type projects. For example, recently, several BSW students were beneficiaries of a national opioid grant and conducted research projects on examining the opioid and drug epidemic in the United States. In addition, students can apply for the McNair Scholarship and upon acceptance conduct independent research with the support of a faculty and graduate student mentor. The McNair Scholars present their research at the McNair Research Symposium on campus and also at a national peer-reviewed conference. Students are also given the opportunity to work on research-type projects in several classes. They present their research at various forums such as the UW’s Annual Shepard Symposium on Social Justice or at the Undergraduate Research and Inquiry Day.
Student Organizations & Networking Opportunities
Social work student organizations, such as the Associated Students of Social Work (ASSW) and the Division of Social Work's Epsilon Delta Chapter of the Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society provide opportunities for students to participate in community service and fundraising events. There are also numerous cross-campus networking opportunities between the Laramie-based students and the UW-Casper-based students to collaborate on service projects. Past activities have included raising funds for the fight against breast cancer, collecting diapers for the families of Mercer House, collecting supplies for U.S. troops stationed abroad, cooking and serving breakfast at the Casper Rescue Mission and raising funds to benefit local agencies.
Experiential Learning Opportunities
A number of hands-on learning opportunities exist for BSW students. These include simulation training with standardized humans acting as clients to reinforce core skills and a practicum at a social service agency under the supervision of an experienced social worker. The purpose of these opportunities is to make the students' assimilation into their careers as seamless as possible. With prior experience in real-world situations, graduates are better equipped to navigate the challenges they will face.
- Shelby Spivey, BSW Class of 2022
