Social Work

About the social work major

The School of Social Work prepares you to be an effective and knowledgeable professional social worker, who is ready for practice in the twenty-first century. As a social worker, you'll assist with alleviating poverty, oppression, and discrimination. You'll enhance the quality of life for all people, particularly Indiana citizens, and the advancement of social, political, and economic conditions through excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.

Within the context of a diverse, multicultural, urbanized, global society, we prepare you to shape solutions to a wide range of interpersonal and social problems. In addition to top-notch faculty and classroom experiences, the B.S.W. program offers an extensive internship opportunity where students work in agencies, learn from veteran social workers, and discover what they would like to do upon graduation.

Skills and abilities the major develops: problem solving, critical thinking, relationship building, and research (IU School of Social Work, 2019).

Engaged learning experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IUPUI’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Career services

Our career services offers a variety of tools to assist students at every stage of their career path. Services are available to both students and alumni.

Student Outreach Clinic

The School of Social Work Student Outreach Clinic is a student-led free clinic where social work students provide social services to patients on the near eastside of Indianapolis.

Social Workers for Social Justice

Social Workers for Social Justice equips social work degree-seeking students for social work practice rooted in social justice.

Quick facts

Sample coursework

  • Child and adolescent psychology
  • Community behavior and practice
  • Field experience
  • History of social welfare policy
  • Introduction to social work
  • Social work research
  • Understanding diversity

Possible careers

  • Adoption welfare
  • Case manager or coordinator
  • Counselor*
  • Grant writer
  • Nonprofit program coordinator
  • Policy maker
  • Researcher

*This career requires additional training or education.

Where could I work?

  • Aspire Indiana
  • Centerstone
  • Community Health Network
  • Eskenazi Health
  • Indiana Department of Child Services
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Get your interest code

Where to get more information

IU School of Social Work

National Association of Social Workers

BSW Student Association

Arts, Humanities, and Human Services Cluster

This major is part of the Arts, Humanities, and Human Services (AHHS) cluster. The AHHS cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in art and design, education, general studies, journalism, liberal arts, and social work. The AHHS cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools. 

Learn about the AHHS cluster

Learn about other clusters

Meet with an advisor or career consultant

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