The mission of the School of Social Work at NC State University is to prepare students for practice that addresses social, economic, cultural, demographic, and political changes affecting individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. Through teaching, advising, research, and scholarship, the school emphasizes: professional ethics, belonging, and community engagement.

BSW Program

NC State has offered a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) since 1974. Our program is among the earliest accredited BSW programs in the United States. We prepare students for entry-level professional social work practice and graduate-level academic studies. Our curriculum incorporates a professional foundation that includes Social Work Practice, Human Behavior and Diversity, Community Social Services, Social Policy, and Research Methodology for Social Workers. Social work elective courses offer opportunities to study in depth various social work practice areas, such as child welfare, aging, health care, addiction recovery, African American families, school social work, hunger and homelessness, soldiers/veterans/families, legal aspects of social work, and international social work (through Study Abroad), among others. Students complete three 40-hour pre-professional placements and a 420-hour practicum placement in a social service setting. Upon degree completion, students are eligible for state licensing or certification. For more information about our BSW program curriculum, please visit the School of Social Work's BSW Curriculum Page. ​

Minor in Social Work

The School also offers an undergraduate minor in social work. The social work minor is an excellent choice for students with primary interest in another academic area (major), such as  sociology, political science, psychology, nonprofit studies, or Spanish or another language. The minor must be completed no later than the semester in which the student expects to graduate from their degree program. 

MSW Program

The School offers a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. There are two MSW program options: Advanced Standing and Traditional. The Advanced Standing MSW option is a 12-month intensive, full-time program requiring 39 credit hours and begins in May. The Traditional MSW program is a two-year, full-time program requiring 60 credit hours and begins in August. The School of Social Work does not admit MSW students in the spring. For more information, please visit the School of Social Work website.

Student Organizations and Clubs

Baccalaureate Student Social Work Association (BSSWA)

Graduate Student Social Work Association (GSSWA)

Men in Social Work (MiSW)

Phi Alpha Honor Society (Epsilon Kappa Chapter)

Pride in Practice

Faculty

Plans