If you have received the calling to become a social worker, the first step you will need to accomplish is to find social work degrees in Ohio that will fulfill the academic requirements needed to be licensed. Luckily, there are numerous higher learning institutions in Ohio that have received full accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) to help you meet your goals in professional social work practice. As home to the seventh largest economy of all 50 states, Ohio is in need of more qualified social workers and promises long-term job stability for graduates in the state. In fact, Ohio's second largest sector is in healthcare and education, where over 25,600 social workers are employed. In order to do your part in improving the social functioning of communities across the "Buckeye State," read on to find our final section in the accredited social work degrees in Ohio.
For the first half of our list, please see Social Work Degree Programs in Ohio (A-F) and Social Work Degree Programs in Ohio (G-T).
Online Social Work Programs For You
Union Institute and University
Department of Social Work
Headquartered on a main campus in downtown Cincinnati with satellite campuses scattered across Vermont, Florida, and California, Union Institute and University is a comprehensive four-year private non-profit institution that specializes in offering limited residence and online distance learning programs. Regionally accredited to confer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in over 50 academic areas, UI&U currently enrolls around 2,000 students from around the United States. In particular, the Department of Social Work is focused on training students for evidence-based practice from a strengths-based perspective to help at-risk individuals from diverse marginalized populations.
Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW)
Following the model established by the national Education Policy and Accreditation Standards of the CSWE, the Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) program is designed to engage students in a real-world approach to developing professional experience in working with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations. With daily access to faculty advisors who guide each individual student's academic progress, the program is delivered in a flexible, convenient format of online coursework to accommodate all scheduling needs. Through field practicum in their local area, students are also exposed to clinical processes, generalist practice methods, and interventions used in a range of public and private community-based organizations.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact
440 East McMillan Street
Cincinnati, OH 45206
(513) 861-6400
[email protected]
Program Website
University of Akron
School of Social Work
As one of the largest principal campuses in Ohio with a total enrollment of over 27,000 students, the University of Akron is a major STEM-focused public research institution situated on a 218-acre urban campus in the state's fifth largest city along the Little Cuyahoga River. Along with being ranked third among the country's top 50 campuses with the greatest wireless Internet connections by Intel Corporation, the University of Akron is designated as one of the "Best in the Midwest" by the prestigious Princeton Review. The School of Social Work is committed to improving the human condition by supporting academic inquiry, research, and discovery.
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW)
Using the state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities in the College of Health Professions, the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program was founded with the mission of preparing undergraduate students for competent and effective entry-level generalist practice with diverse client systems to foster empowerment toward social justice. Focused on integrating the knowledge, values, and skills of the helping profession in a liberal arts foundation, the program ensures that all graduates possess a range of prevention and intervention methods to advocate for human rights. While the BASW degree typically requires the completion of 128 credits, there is a unique Step Up Program available for students who have already completed an appropriate two-year associate's degree in a relevant field.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact
302 Each Buchtel Avenue
Akron, OH 44325
(330) 972-5974
[email protected]
Program Website
University of Cincinnati
School of Social Work
Renowned for being the founder of co-operative education to connect students to the workforce, the University of Cincinnati is a major public research institution of over 42,000 students on its beautiful urban campus in the heart of a region boasting nine Fortune 500 companies. Named to the list of the world's top ten most inspiring campuses by Delta Sky magazine, UC is currently ranked as the 129th best college and 63rd top public school in the country by the U.S. News and World Report. Even more importantly, the School of Social Work is highly acclaimed for offering graduate students the 104th best social work program in the United States.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Designed to prepare undergraduate students for successfully entering generalist social work practice to utilize their knowledge and skills in working with diverse client systems, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is focused on challenging students to learn about themselves and look outside to find ways to be of service. After beginning BSW courses in the junior year, students will choose from over 200 agencies in the greater Cincinnati area to complete a year-long field placement for two days per week. Students can also choose to follow a specialized curriculum in the Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Program or build their cultural competency in serving underserved Spanish-speaking populations with a Certificate in Service Learning in Spanish for Social Workers.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Available in a one-year advanced standing, two-year full-time, or three-year part-time format to accommodate each students' learning needs, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares graduates for a career in advanced social work through the blend of classroom instruction with unpaid field education. Throughout the program, students will be assigned to a local social service agency to complete 14 to 17 hours per week under the supervision of a qualified field instructor. After the foundation year, students can choose to specialize in Direct Practice to work with Children and Families, in Mental Health, and in Health and Aging, or concentrate in Social Welfare Administration and Macro Practice on an organizational level.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact
2600 Clifton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45220
(513) 556-4615
[email protected]
Program Website
University of Findlay
College of Health Professions
Nestled on a 390-acre urban campus in Findlay in northwestern Ohio within just 40 miles south of Toledo, the University of Findlay is a comprehensive forward-looking private institution offering real world-focused education to more than 4,400 students. Within the only city in Ohio to have been named one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People" three times, UF is ranked as the 49th best college and 19th top university for veterans in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. In the College of Health Professions, students can choose from a broad range of outstanding health-related programs that promote awareness of health, wellness, and education.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Intended for students with strong leadership skills, compassion for people, and the initiative to help individuals enhance their well-being, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is committed to fostering a commitment to social change through academic endeavors, real-world work experiences, community service projects, and extra-curricular activities. In order to complement the 120-credit curriculum with an emphasis on social service policy, human behavior, social work methods, and research, students will complete two internships for at least 500 clock hours spent in entry-level generalist practice. Over the past three years, 100% of graduates have been hired in social work professions or have been accepted into graduate school within three months.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact
1000 North Main Street
Findlay, OH 45840
(419) 434-6955
[email protected]
Program Website
University of Rio Grande
School of Behavioral Sciences
In partnership with the Rio Grande Community College as a comprehensive private institution granting two-year associate and four-year baccalaureate degrees, the University of Rio Grande is located on a contemporary 190-acre campus in the scenic rolling hills of southeastern Ohio with the safety of a small town community. With a student body of over 2,400 strong, Rio Grande offers studies in over 50 academic majors with on-campus and distance-learning courses through cyberspace. In particular, the School of Behavioral Sciences is home to a multi-disciplinary branch of helping professions to deliver accredited programs in psychology, social work, sociology, social studies education, and public administration.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
With the goal of preparing students for the challenges and rewards of beginning professional social work practice with a unique emphasis on the problem-solving relationship model, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program reflects a variable client system focus to develop effective social work practitioners who appreciate the diversity of societal and geographical environments throughout the region. On the pathway towards earning credentials as a Licensed Social Work (LSW) in Ohio, the program focuses on building an in-depth understanding on the transaction between the person and society and developing the skills needed to be agents of change. In the 120-credit curriculum, all students are required to successfully complete a series of four terms of practicum in approved social service agencies.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact
218 North College Avenue
Rio Grande, OH 45674
(740) 245-7262
[email protected]
University of Toledo
College of Social Justice and Human Service
Situated on an 813-acre urban campus in the heart of "Glass City" in northern Ohio within just one hour away from Ann Arbor in Michigan, the University of Toledo is the state's third-largest comprehensive public research institution with over 23,000 students. Boasting one of the nation's largest distance learning programs with a commitment to diversity, UT has been named among the "100 Best Colleges for African American Students" in a book by Erlene Wilson. Furthermore, the College of Social Justice and Human Service has been nationally acclaimed by the U.S. News and World Report for offering the 148th best graduate social work degree in America for improving the human condition.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
With its location in an urban post-industrial environment, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program serves a diverse student body to offer preparation in social work generalist practice to empower social systems to effectively deal with change in the 21st century. Through a rigorous academic curriculum and senior field experience, the program seeks to develop critical thinking skills, build an understanding of cultural pluralism, give attention to the values of the profession, and produce ethical social work practitioners for becoming proactive members of the change process. Students can also get involved in the on-campus Social Work Student Organization (SSWO) for participating in extra-curricular service activities and finding professional contacts.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Founded with a particular emphasis on the strengths and empowerment perspectives for promoting social justice, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program is committed to building the knowledge, practice skills, and ethics needed for graduate students to advance their social work career to respond to the voices of the poor, oppressed, and vulnerable. With an advanced generalist model, the program strives to prepare students to practice ethically in all social service settings, including hospitals, schools, prisons, mental health centers, community clinics, human service agencies, addiction treatment facilities, and non-profit organizations. Those admitted to the regular program will need to complete 60 credits in two years full-time or three years part-time, but Advanced Standing students with a BSW will only need 30 credits.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact
2801 West Bancroft Street
Toledo, OH 43606
(419) 530-5187
[email protected]
Program Website
Ursuline College
School of Graduate and Professional Studies
First established in 1871 by the Urusline Sisters of Cleveland as the first comprehensive private women's college in Ohio, Ursuline College is home to more than 1,500 students on a spacious 112-acre suburban campus in Pepper Pike within just 13 miles east of downtown Cleveland. With more than 40 degree programs rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition, Ursuline is currently ranked as the 54th best college in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. For more than a century, the School of Graduate and Professional Studies has helped to empower students for developing their voices and values to shape their professional lives in holistic education.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Building on the Ursuline heritage in a woman-focused institution, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is designed to prepare entry-level social work professionals for generalist practice through an integration of liberal arts education, Catholic values, and professional ethics standards. With a unique focus on interweaving gender dynamics into its major core, students are encouraged to analyze the different ways in which women and men interact as well as experience injustice in our changing world. In addition to the 58 credits required by the social work major, students will need to complete two full semesters of field experience in a social service agency to accumulate at least 480 clock hours of hands-on learning before graduation.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact
2550 Lander Road
Pepper Pike, OH 44124
(440) 646-8157
[email protected]
Program Website
Wright State University
Social Work Department
Named after the Wright brothers to foster a culture of innovation, Wright State University is a comprehensive urban public research institution with over 18,000 students on a 557-acre campus in Dayton. Not only has Wright State been rated among the "Best in the Midwest" universities by the Princeton Review, but it has also been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for the past four consecutive years. In the College of Liberal Arts, the Social Work Department is focused on preparing ethical leaders with the critical thinking skills needed to advocate for human rights in a changing society.
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW)
Featuring full CSWE accreditation since its inception in 1974, the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program has a proven track record of developing ethical, knowledgeable, and creative social work practitioners who pursue their work from a social justice perspective. Building upon a strong liberal arts foundation, the program trains students in generalist practice that can be applied within various social service agencies to ensure all graduates are optimistic about their abilities to enhance well-being across all levels of intervention. Within the 120-credit program, students have the opportunity to pursue five extra courses focused on the aging process and the needs of older adults to earn a Gerontology Certificate.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact
3640 Colonel Glenn Highway
Dayton, OH 4435
(937) 775-2751
[email protected]
Program Website
Xavier University
Department of Social Work
Located on a 189-acre urban campus in the center of Cincinnati on the border between Ohio and northern Kentucky, Xavier University is the sixth-oldest private Catholic institution and one of just 28 Jesuit universities nationwide with over 6,300 students. Known for having the region's highest graduation rate, Xavier is currently ranked as the 5th best college and 2nd top university for military veterans in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. The Department of Social Work prepares professional social workers for licensure in Ohio while fostering a strong commitment to promoting social justice and improving the collective well-being of communities.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
As one of the oldest baccalaureate-level programs in the United States with 30+ years of continuous accreditation by the CSWE, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program builds upon the university's Jesuit heritage to develop entry-level generalist social work professionals to help people and society with today's increasingly complex interpersonal problems. In the 120-credit program centered on social work values, students will work to develop the practice-based skills needed to strengthen individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and society at large as fully engaged citizens. In constructing a global perspective to respecting human diversity, social work majors can also choose a semester-long study abroad experience in Nicaragua, Australia, Japan, Italy, England, South Korea, Mexico, Costa Rica, and more.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact
3800 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45207
(513) 745-3244
[email protected]
Program Website
Youngstown State University
Department of Social Work
Standing proudly on a 140-acre park-like campus in the rolling hills of the suburbs just north of downtown Youngstown with over 15,100 students, Youngstown State University is a comprehensive four-year public research institution. Featuring more than 100 academic majors to choose from, YSU is unique for a university of its size in that it only offers courses taught by experienced and knowledgeable college professors, rather than graduate assistants. The Department of Social Work has a long-standing tradition of delivering the intelligence, energy, values, and heart needed to make a difference in the lives of people in need.
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Offered in a traditional four-year plan or a five-year plan with development courses, the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is structured to prepare undergraduate students for entering generalist social work practice to find successful employment in a broad array of human service settings. With a focus on solving problems in a multiple-level systems approach, the program combines general education, pre-social work, and social work courses to train students for becoming ethical practitioners in improving the social functioning of culturally diverse people. After completing the two-semester field internship, all graduates will be qualified for taking the Ohio Social Work Licensing Board examination to become licensed.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Established with the goal of developing ethical and effective professionals who will be able to utilize advanced knowledge in providing leadership in the expansion of social service delivery systems in today's diverse society, the Master of Social Work (MSW) program is focused on advanced social work practice with disenfranchised clients from a strengths-based approach. The program is focused on direct practice with individuals and families to gain awareness of available community resources, reinforce their aspirations, remove barriers they face, and improve the quality of their lives. Students can choose to complete the one-year advanced standing option, two-year full-time option, three-year full-time option, or four-year part-time option.
Accreditations
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (NCA)
Contact
1 University Plaza
Youngstown, OH 44555
(330) 941-1598
[email protected]
Program Website
When you choose one of these first-rate accredited social work degrees in Ohio, you will be taking the most essential first step towards obtaining the knowledge, skills, values, experiences, and competencies needed to assume in-demand roles in the field of social work to begin helping vulnerable populations improve social functioning.