Overview

Social work is a profession for those with a passion to help others. Social work practice consists of the professional application of social work values, principles and techniques to one or more of the following ends: helping people obtain tangible services; providing counseling and psychotherapy with individuals, families and groups; helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health services; and participating in relevant legislative processes.

The practice of social work requires knowledge of human development and behavior; of social, economic and cultural institutions; and of the interaction of these factors. Many social workers specialize in serving a particular population or working in a specific setting, such as hospitals, schools, private practices, correctional facilities, community mental health agencies and substance abuse treatment centers.

Graduates of the Social Work major from The Ohio State University will:

use social work values and ethics to guide professional practice.
apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment to guide practice at multiple levels.
possess knowledge and skills for working effectively with diverse and vulnerable populations.
analyze social policy; promote social, economic and environmental well-being; and challenge injustice.
employ empirical evidence to inform, evaluate and improve practice.
develop a professional identity, with a commitment to life-long learning.

Possible careers

Students who pursue a degree in social work have a broad range of career possibilities. Graduates are prepared to work in careers such as aging and gerontology, child and family welfare, developmental disabilities, domestic violence, health care, homelessness, justice and corrections, international social work, mental health, policy and planning, school social work, and substance abuse treatment. Social workers are administrators, therapists, community organizers, educators,and researchers. They work with a diverse population, helping people in large cities and in small communities.

Some students use the undergraduate social work major as preparation for various other graduate and professional programs including business, law, medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy and public health.

Accreditation

Both Ohio State’s BSSW and MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Human Biology
Psychology
Sociology

Social Welfare

Social Work

Lifespan Development

Minority Perspectives

Social Work Survey or equivalent

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-01-12 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-10-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-11-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-15 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Columbus, United States
Lima, United States
Marion, United States
Mansfield, United States
Newark, United States

Disciplines

Social Work View 782 other Bachelors in Social Work in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

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TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

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AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Successful completion of university preparatory courses

High school performance (class rank or GPA), including participation in accelerated programs like Honors, AP and IB; Ohio State does not have minimum requirements for class rank or GPA

Standardized test score (ACT or SAT); Ohio State does not have minimum requirements for ACT or SAT scores

Ability and desire to contribute to and engage with a diverse campus community

Experiences that demonstrate leadership or engaged involvement(e.g., co-curricular activities, work experiences or military service)

Status as a first-generation university student

High school performance if adversely affected by physical, mental or learning environment factors

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

45526 USD / year

≈ 45526 USD / year
Out-of-State

42423 USD / year

≈ 42423 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

13641 USD / year

≈ 13641 USD / year

Living costs

Columbus

United States

940 - 1520 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Social Work.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Possible careers

Accreditation

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Columbus

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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