Create Positive Change in the Lives of At-Risk Youth and Their Families with a BSSW – Child and Family Degree
Are you passionate about working with children and adolescents? Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) – Child and Family program provides training in effective ways to bring hope and healing to the hurting. Through this program, you can learn how to address many of the challenges facing today’s youth and their families – including grief, family stress, neglect, substance abuse, bullying, poverty, and immigration.
At Liberty, our goal is to help you serve with excellence, compassion, and a strong commitment to justice. As you pursue your BSW, you’ll explore cutting-edge social work research and practices – which can help you gain a well-rounded understanding of the issues affecting adolescents and families. The skills taught in this program can be applied to many different career settings, such as adoption and foster care agencies, group homes, residential treatment facilities, schools, community centers, counseling practices, international work, and missions.
Partner with us for your BSW degree and see how to make a lasting impact in your local community and beyond!
Award-Winning Campus
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education that equips students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence helped us rank as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Why Choose Liberty’s Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work – Child and Family?
We’re committed to offering a high-quality education. Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). In addition, our bachelor’s in social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) – so you can be confident that your degree aligns with industry standards.
Want to take your learning beyond the classroom? Our BSW degree provides valuable opportunities to gain on-the-job experience. In addition to your other coursework, you will engage in 2 field placements. This will allow you to learn under practicing professionals and see how the topics you’ve studied are applicable in the real world.
Additionally, our faculty members bring a wealth of experience to the classroom. Drawing on what they have learned in their own careers, our professors will impart real-world insights and practical wisdom to you. Their expertise extends beyond theory, offering you a valuable perspective on the challenges and opportunities you may encounter in your career.
What Will You Learn in Our Bachelor’s in Social Work – Child and Family?
Our core BSW curriculum covers a wide range of topics – from chemical dependency and mental health to research and statistics. Our courses place a strong emphasis on ethics and integrity, so you can train to become a Champion for Christ.
Not only that, but you will have the chance to explore historical and contemporary issues surrounding social welfare and policy in the United States. You’ll also examine how the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of humanity are connected – which is essential for understanding how to comprehensive care to clients. The skills taught in the program can help you learn how to work with diverse populations, such as individuals, families, and groups.
Within the child and family cognate, you will dive into topics such as:
- Major developmental psychopathology areas, from infancy through adolescence
- Recent shifts in approach to child protective services, kinship/foster care, adoption, group/residential care, reunification, prevention, and community engagement
- Services, practices, and legal frameworks designed to ensure the well-being, safety, and permanency of children and adolescents
- Theories, empirical research findings, and interventions related to behavioral, emotional, and cognitive disorders
- Trauma-informed, evidence-based interventions for children
- Ways to address challenges related to grief and loss, bullying, school-related issues, trauma, poverty, substance use, mental health, family dynamics, and immigration
Our program places field experience at its core, so you can gain hands-on practice in real-world settings and put your skills to the test. This well-rounded course of study can help shape you into a competent and empathetic social work professional.
Review the Degree Completion Plan and check out our featured courses below to learn more about what you’ll be studying!
Featured Courses
PSYC 345 – Exceptional Child
SOWK 462 – Children and Family Services and Practice
SOWK 464 – Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents
SOWK 466 – Trauma-Informed Interventions with Children and Families
Highlights of Our BSSW – Family and Child Social Work Degree
We want to see you succeed! That’s why we offer various ways for you to take your classroom knowledge and apply it to the real world. Through our social work degree, you can potentially gain hands-on experiences in social work through the following opportunities:
- The Department of Psychology offers activities and events that can deepen your awareness of social injustices and allow you to learn from industry leaders on how to go about making a difference.
- Join one of our clubs and student organizations, such as the Social Work Club, where you can network with peers and professors alike.
- Pursue field experience opportunities and internships that allow you to gain invaluable work experience. You could potentially do so in Lynchburg, at home, through our Washington Fellowship program, or even internationally!
Bachelor’s in Social Work – Child and Family Degree Information
- Residential
- 122 total credit hours
- Transfer in up 75% of your total degree
- This program falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences
- View the Degree Completion Plan
- View our course catalog
- Our BSW degree requires 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.
Potential Career Fields for Graduates of the BSSW – Child and Family Social Work Degree
- Adoption
- Children’s behavioral health
- Family advocacy
- Family support
- Foster care
- Group homes/residential treatment
- Hospital social work
- Prevention services
- Psychiatric social work
- School social work
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.
Admission Requirements for Our Social Work Bachelor’s Degree
Every application is reviewed by the admission committee on a case-by-case basis, meaning there are no set minimums for acceptance. However, all applicants must submit the following documents* for admission:
- Admission application
- Official high school transcripts
- Official college transcripts (if applicable)
- Results from the CLT, SAT, or ACT are not required for admission, but may be used in consideration for merit-based aid.
- Admission essay
*Note that additional documentation may be requested by the admission committee after your application has been received.
