Online BS in Social Work | Healthcare, Aging, and Medical

120

Credit Hours

Online* with 1 virtual intensive

Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Become an Advocate for Patients and Their Families with Liberty’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work – Healthcare, Aging, and Medical

Are you seeking a degree that can help you work in the dynamic and expanding field of healthcare and social work? Opting for our Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) – Healthcare, Aging, and Medical Social Work cognate can help lay the groundwork for this path! This program is designed to provide you with the essential knowledge, competencies, and abilities useful for a career in diverse healthcare environments, such as hospitals and clinics, as a medical social worker. Completing this cognate aims to prepare you for a career as a professional social worker with specialized expertise and skills.

Our healthcare, aging, and medical social work online degree is designed to provide the tools needed to address vital social issues with a comprehensive understanding of human psychology. This program focuses on training you to assess, connect with, and provide interventions for individuals, families, and communities. The skills acquired from our online BSSW are intended to prepare you to guide others toward a healthier life.

This online medical social work degree is designed to help train you to work with diverse and challenging populations. Study under seasoned professionals with firsthand human services experience and engage in social work field placements within your own community as you pursue your BSSW at Liberty.

Your officially conferred degree name will be Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) – Healthcare, Aging, and Medical Social Work.

*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

Liberty maintains strict compliance with all licensure requirements for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Not a Virginia resident? We want to help find the best program for you! To view educational requirements and whether a specific program aligns with the licensure requirements for your state, please review our licensure/certification requirements webpage.

Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026

Private Nonprofit University
600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Hospital Social Work Bachelor’s Degree?

Liberty University’s online Bachelor of Science in Social Work – Healthcare, Aging, and Medical Social Work aims to provide you with the tools to make a positive impact locally, nationally, and internationally. This program is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge essential for a compassionate and effective career in social work, with a focus on understanding human behavior—an important aspect in people-focused industries.

Key features of the program include:

Flexibility: Study at your convenience, balancing education with personal commitments.
Expert Faculty: Study under professors with real-world experience and a passion for student success.
Counsel on Social Work Education (CSWE) Accreditation: Ensures a high-quality curriculum that meets rigorous academic standards.
Career Preparation: Ideal for those aiming for graduate studies or roles in behavioral sciences.

Liberty has been a pioneer in distance education since 1985, so we understand the need for a degree program that shapes professionals without sacrificing personal responsibilities. The online BSSW program at Liberty is designed to blend academic excellence and practical application, offering you the chance to gain valuable skills that are in demand. With Liberty’s flexible online structure, you can advance your education without pausing your life, receiving support and guidance from readily available professors committed to your success.

What Will You Study in Our Medical Social Work Degree?

Liberty University’s online Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) program offers a comprehensive education that can help you pursue a career in the human services field. The course curriculum is designed to provide specialized training in various essential aspects of social work. You can learn about conducting assessments, developing intervention strategies, and mastering counseling techniques. These skills are crucial for practicing as a human services professional across diverse communities. The program can help you develop skills to assist families and individuals from various backgrounds in making positive life changes.

The BSSW program at Liberty is more than just classroom learning; it’s a journey toward understanding human behavior and using this knowledge to foster healing, growth, and thriving in people’s lives. You can learn to build effective case management systems, develop support networks, and identify communities and individuals in need. Your training will also cover how to research and implement systems that cater to client needs and respond to critical care situations like abuse or mental health emergencies. This well-rounded approach can expose you to both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed in the field of social work.

The healthcare, aging, and medical cognate will cover how to engage with clients and families about client education, resource connections, and navigating services. Another often-overlooked topic is integrating a client’s religion/spirituality into care, treatment plans, and intervention approaches. As a Christian university, we want to increase cultural and religious competency in these areas of practice, which can tremendously influence a client’s physical and mental health outcomes. Our aim is to develop you into a culturally competent social worker skilled at meeting the diverse spiritual needs of all populations and client groups.

Despite being an online program, Liberty’s BSSW degree does not compromise on providing hands-on experience. The program uniquely blends theoretical learning with real-world training, including field placements, that can help you gain skills that can enhance your future career. By partnering with Liberty, you can prepare for an immediate career in social work or for further graduate study.

Potential Career Opportunities

Counselor
Gerontology social worker
Group home/residential worker
Healthcare social worker
Hospital social worker

Note: Many states require an MSW to conduct clinically focused work such as crisis intervention, substance abuse counseling, cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical therapy, and motivational interviewing. Because requirements for becoming a social worker may vary, be sure to research your state’s licensure requirements for more information.

Featured Courses

Degree Information

This program falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences.
View the Undergraduate Behavioral Sciences Course Guides (login required).
Our online BSSW degree requires one 3-credit-hour 100% virtual intensive and 2 full-semester field placements.
Upon declaring this major, students will pursue the Gate process to gain approval into the program. Please see the Social Work Gates page for more information.
Please review our CSWE program evaluation for more information.

Degree Completion Plan

State Licensure Requirements

Individual state licensure requirements may vary and are subject to change without notice. View your state’s requirements here: licensure/certification requirements.

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

Request Information

Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no additional cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!

Undergraduate Full Time	$390/Credit
Undergraduate Part Time	$455/Credit
Military Undergraduate	$250/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Requirements for Our Undergraduate Online Degrees

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9595.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.*
- Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.

Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.

Transcript Policies

High School Transcript Policy

Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.

Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.

Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.

The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.

Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)

Unofficial College Transcript Policy

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
Cumulative GPA
A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Military Transfers

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES.

Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course)*
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
Potential college credit for military training

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of Liberty’s social work online degree?

While many online social work colleges offer their own versions of BSSW degrees, we believe Liberty stands out. Here’s why:

Unlike some online social work programs, Liberty’s online BSSW degree is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Earning your CSWE-accredited online social work degree from Liberty University can help you confidently pursue careers in social work upon graduation.
Improve your employment options by demonstrating your knowledge of strategic human services and relevant experience in the field. This online social worker degree program can help equip you with practical knowledge directly applicable to real-world settings.
Use our online BSSW program to lay the groundwork for graduate studies that can prepare you for a career in advanced research or clinical counseling.
This degree’s field placements can be completed at a location near you, so you won’t have to wait until you graduate to start making a difference in your community.
Complete a marketable bachelor of social work online while gaining valuable, real-world experience during your field placements. Our online social work degree program includes several field placement requirements — so you can pursue careers with real-world experience already under your belt.
Network with your peers and professors during your social work degree program’s 5-day, virtual intensive. Being an online student doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on career connections. Our virtual intensives offer distance learners an excellent opportunity to enjoy community and build camaraderie with other students.
Complete our online social work bachelor’s degree program coursework on your time. With our flexible online learning environment, you can access your online materials at any time.

Is a BSSW considered a social worker?

An online BSSW can help you become a social worker, yes. Because requirements for becoming a social worker may vary, be sure to research your state’s licensure requirements for more information.

Earning an online bachelor’s degree in social work can help you pursue entry-level positions in a variety of social work settings — such as adoption agencies, medical facilities, or human services entities. If you’re interested in becoming a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), you may need to pursue a Master of Science in Social Work.

However, an online BSSW can be your ticket to becoming a social worker. By partnering with Liberty, you can become a confident, prepared professional who is capable of excelling as a social worker.

Are you ready to change your future?

Apply Now

App Fee Waived This Week*

Request Information

*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

Choose a Program Level

Choose a program level

Associate

Bachelor’s

Master’s

Doctorate

Certificate

Select a Field of Study

Select a field of study

Select a Program

Select a program

Change

Legal First Name

Enter legal first name

Legal Last Name

Enter legal last name

Email

Enter an email address

Phone

Enter a phone number

Full Address

Enter an address

Apt., P.O. Box, or can’t find your address?Enter it manually instead.

Country

Select a Country

Street Address

Enter Street Address

City

Enter City

State

Enter State

ZIP/Postal Code

Enter Zip Code

Back to automated address search

Start my application now for FREE

You will be automatically taken to the application once you submit your request for information

By submitting contact information through this form, I agree that Liberty University and its affiliates may call and/or text me about its offerings by any phone number I have provided and may provide in the future, including any wireless number, using automated technology.

Message and data rates may apply. For additional information, text HELP to 49595 or 49596. You may opt-out at any time by sending STOP to 49595 or 49596. Visit for Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Chat Request Info Apply

Online BS in Social Work – Healthcare, Aging, and Medical Learn to Be an Advocate for Your Patients

Become an Advocate for Patients and Their Families with Liberty’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work – Healthcare, Aging, and Medical

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Hospital Social Work Bachelor’s Degree?

What Will You Study in Our Medical Social Work Degree?

Potential Career Opportunities

Featured Courses

Degree Information

State Licensure Requirements

Not sure what to choose?

Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Requirements for Our Undergraduate Online Degrees

Admission Requirements

Transcript Policies

Military Transfers

International Applicants

Admissions Office Contact Information

Ready to Apply?

Military

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of Liberty’s social work online degree?

Is a BSSW considered a social worker?

Are you ready to change your future?

Request Information About a Program

Request Info About Liberty University Online

Choose a Program Level

Select a Field of Study

Select a Program

Next: Contact Info

Legal First Name

Legal Last Name

Email

Phone

Full Address

Country

Street Address

City

State

ZIP/Postal Code

Request Information