Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree
At a Glance
- 100% Online Courses
- Free to Apply
- Fastest Path to a BSW in Oregon
- $499 Per Credit
Pending accreditation approval, this program will launch Fall 2027.
Bring Hope in Life’s Most Challenging Moments
Become a compassionate advocate who is equipped to walk alongside those whose lives have been impacted by crisis, trauma, addiction and grief. With a bachelor’s in social work, you’ll have the training and tools to empower others as they take steps toward healing and health.
Help others navigate their hardest seasons with support and hope.
Your Fastest Path to a Bachelor’s in Social Work
Earn your bachelor’s in social work (BSW) in just 16-24 months through our online 90-credit accelerated program. You’ll need fewer credits to graduate – which means a faster timeline to your degree and a lower cost with the same George Fox reputation of excellence, care and support.
At George Fox, you could earn your bachelor’s and master’s in social work in just two years when you continue on to our Advanced Standing MSW program, which can be completed in as few as 8 months.
Exact time to degree depends on transfer credits. At George Fox, students starting with zero college credits can finish in as few as 24 months!
Ready for the next step?
Find out how much you’ll pay, how long it will take, and how your credits will transfer.
A BSW Designed for Working Students
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Learn Online in Community
At George Fox, you'll be connected with a cohort – a small learning community – that you’ll interact with throughout your classes. You’ll have access to a wide variety of university support, including an academic advisor and professors who care deeply about your success.
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Courses That Fit Your Life
Our flexible, asynchronous online courses follow a weekly rhythm for engaging with content and assignments, but you are free to do the work any time during the week that works for your schedule.
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Supported Field Experience
During your time as a social work student, we will help you find and complete an internship, resulting in 450 hours of practical experience before graduation. If you’re working in a relevant field, completing your practicum requirements at your current job may be possible.
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Taught By Experienced Faculty
You’ll be mentored by a diverse faculty that shares your passion for equity, social justice, inclusion and service. They are experts in a wide range of disciplines, from early childhood development, grief, and geriatric social work practice to alcohol and drug counseling, crisis response and intervention, adoption, and child welfare.
What Will I Study?
The George Fox social work program takes a holistic approach to the practice of social work, offering courses that cover the wide spectrum of the human experience. Through the coursework and internships offered, you will be trained to work with a wide variety of populations.
- You will build a strong foundation of social work practice that includes ethical and professional values and skills.
- We teach the Generalist Model of Social Work Practice and the four stages of practice: engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
- Social work students develop knowledge and skills related to working with individuals, families, groups and communities.
- We don’t shy away from the hard topics, including diversity, equity, human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.
- You will learn about policy practice and analysis. How does law affect the individual?
- Research projects will develop strong research skills to help inform your social work practice.
Career Outlook Job Prospects
According to state projections, Oregon’s private health care and social assistance sector is expected to add 40,400 jobs by 2034, growing by 13% and making it the fastest growing industry in the state. Nationally the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the demand for mental health and substance abuse workers will grow by 17%, while healthcare social workers should grow by 8%, between 2024 and 2034.
Generally, those hired in the field hold some variation of the following titles:
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Healthcare Social Workers
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Community and Social Service Specialists
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Probation Officers
- Case Managers
Meet a Growing Need
Like many states, Oregon is facing a growing shortage of behavioral health professionals, particularly child, family and school social workers. According to Oregon’s Behavioral Health Talent Council, there is also a critical need for more substance abuse disorder providers and behavioral health talent in rural areas.
You can be part of bridging the gap and providing vital care to communities in need.
A Degree at a Nationally Ranked Private University Is More Affordable Than You May Think
- No Online Course Fees
- Free to Apply
- Competitive Online Tuition Rate
- Financial Aid Available
- Tuition Rate Hasn’t Changed for Five Years
- Less Credits Required = Lower Cost for You!
Spiritual Integration
George Fox University’s mission calls us to serve with integrity, passion and hope. We prepare social workers who honor the dignity and worth of all people as unique individuals created in the image of God and advocate for marginalized and vulnerable communities.
While our faculty express their own Christian worldview, they welcome every voice and perspective to the conversation, modeling how not to impose your worldview on another person, but rather honor and engage the worldview of each individual to accomplish their goals.
Learn more about spiritual integration in our social work programs
Program Start Dates
August 2027
Apply by July 30, 2027
January 2028
Apply by November 15, 2027
Continue Your Journey With
Graduate School
With your bachelor's in social work, you'll be prepared to take your learning to the next level and pursue a graduate degree. At George Fox, you can continue on to the Master’s in Social Work (MSW) Advanced Standing program and earn your master’s degree in just 8 more months! Our MSW program is also offered online in a format designed for working students.
Other Behavioral Health Graduate Programs at George Fox
FAQ
Yes! We accept students from any state within the United States. Our clinical placements are primarily within the greater Portland area, so you will need to work closely with our clinical placement coordinator to arrange an approved internship in your area.
If you are not accepted to the BSW program, you can work with your admissions counselor and Career and Academic Planning (CAP) coach to switch to another Accelerated Online Degree program major. We encourage you to meet with your admissions counselor early to ensure that you meet all the requirements for the social work program and are set up for success when it’s time to apply to the program.
You Can Do This
We believe you have what it takes - and our program is designed for the success of working adults:
- An accelerated online format allows you to focus on one class at a time - perfect if you're working full-time or raising a family
- You can earn free credits for prior work and life experience
- You'll journey alongside a cohort of peers in your program
We know it's a big step. That's why you'll have a dedicated staff person to walk with you from start to finish.
Contact a Counselor
Lauren Bergman
Admissions Counselor, Accelerated Online Degrees
Request Information About Social Work
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George Fox University is required to make cost of attendance (COA) information publicly available on this website. All stated financial information is subject to change.