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Contact UsOnline Bachelor of Science in Social Work at a Glance
- Format
- 100% onlineSemester-based courses
- Credits and Transfer
- 120 total creditsUp to 90 transfer credits may apply
- Online Scholarship
- Up to $1,000 per semesterFor eligible fully online majors
- What You’ll Study
- Human behavior, social welfare policy, research-informed practice and generalist social work
- Potential Careers
- Case manager, family support worker, behavioral health technician and outreach or advocacy roles
- Colorado Tuition
- $326.25 per creditWith COF applied
How Does the Online BSSW Prepare You for Social Work Practice?
Social work combines an understanding of people, communities and social systems with practical skills for helping people navigate challenges and create change.
In MSU Denver’s online BSSW, you’ll study human behavior in the social environment, social welfare policy and services, research-informed practice and generalist social work with individuals, families, groups and communities. You’ll learn to approach issues such as housing insecurity, trauma, health disparities and discrimination with practical tools and a clear ethical framework.
Academic foundation: MSU Denver’s BSSW is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the national accrediting body for social work education.
What You’ll Learn to Do
- Build respectful, trauma-informed relationships and interview clients to understand their experiences and goals.
- Assess strengths, needs and risks, then develop realistic service plans.
- Advocate with and for clients in schools, health care settings and community agencies.
- Work with groups and communities, using research, data and reflection to improve practice and support policy change.
How Does Field Education Work in the Online BSSW?
Field education is a required part of the BSSW and one of the main ways you prepare for professional social work. It connects your coursework to supervised experience in a community organization, giving you opportunities to practice skills, learn from working professionals and build confidence before you graduate.
Complete Field Education Where You Live
Your coursework remains 100% online. Field education takes place in person, but you do not need to live near Denver or travel to campus. Both your junior-year volunteer experience and senior internship can be completed in your local community.
For the senior internship, MSU Denver’s Office of Social Work Internships supports your search with an information session, one-on-one guidance and referrals to approved agencies that may fit your interests and learning goals.
What to Expect
- Junior-year volunteer experience: Complete approximately 45 hours of service in a community human services organization.
- Senior-year internship: Complete 400 hours at an approved agency over two semesters, usually 13 to 14 hours per week.
- Faculty-guided reflection: Participate in an online internship seminar every other week to connect your field experience with what you are learning.
What Can You Do With an Online Social Work Degree?
Colorado Social Work Wages
Here are the annual mean wages for three social work occupations in Colorado. Actual pay varies by role, experience and credentials.
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- $70,760
- Healthcare Social Workers
- $67,170
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- $69,200
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025 Colorado data)
Your BSSW can prepare you for entry-level social and human service roles across many settings.
Graduates work in community mental health centers, schools, health care organizations, housing services, child and family programs, aging services and nonprofit agencies.
Potential Roles
- Social and human services specialist
- Case manager
- Family support worker
- Behavioral health technician
- Community outreach or advocacy roles
If your goals include graduate study or social work licensure, a CSWE-accredited BSSW provides a strong foundation and may qualify you for advanced standing in many MSW programs.
MSU Denver’s Classroom to Career Hub can help you prepare for your job search and begin building a professional network.
Need More Information Before You Apply for Your Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSSW)?
Tell us a little more about yourself and we'll reach out via email to help you.
Request InformationHow Much Does the BSSW degree Cost, and is There Financial Support?
Low in-state tuition, reduced tuition for many western states, and a scholarship built only for online majors MSU Denver is built to be the affordable online choice, whatever your pace.
Colorado Residents
With the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF) applied
$326.25 / credit
2026–27 rate, COF applied
What a term costs, tuition & fees included
Part-time (6 credits)
$2,655.92
$2,655.92
Full-time (12 credits)
$4,987.22
$4,987.22
COF reduces per-credit cost for eligible Colorado residents. Most Colorado students qualify.
Outside Colorado (WUE / RIT)
Reduced nonresident tuition for eligible western states
$663.40 / credit
2026–27 WUE/RIT rate
What a term costs, tuition & fees included
Part-time (6 credits)
$4,678.82
$4,678.82
Full-time (12 credits)
$9,033.02
$9,033.02
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) and Roadrunner Interstate Tuition (RIT) lower nonresident cost for students in participating states.
Planning the whole degree? The BSSW requires 120 credits. Up to 90 transfer credits may apply.
Up to $1,000
per semester
per semester
Scholarship for fully online majors. Declare a fully online major and you may qualify for up to $1,000 each fall and spring. No separate application required.
Learn about the online scholarship and other financial aid options
Veterans & military: MSU Denver is approved for VA education benefits. Veteran & military student services.
For exact, current figures, see the Undergraduate Tuition & Fees schedule.
Figures shown are 2026–27 rates and are for planning only. All rates are subject to change.
Apply Now for Free
Start with a free application to MSU Denver. You’ll enter as a pre-social work major, complete the required foundation courses and then apply to the BSSW program.
Your Path to the Online BSSW
- Apply to MSU Denver. Create your application account using your personal email, select Pre-Social Work (PRSW) as your major and indicate that you plan to study fully online. Start your free application.
- Complete the prerequisite courses. You can apply to the BSSW program while you are enrolled in the final prerequisites you need.
- Apply to the BSSW program. Submit the separate program application during the semester before you want to begin upper-division social work courses. New BSSW students can begin in fall or spring.
Social Work Student Services can help you understand the prerequisites and choose a full-time or part-time path. See BSSW application requirements and deadlines.
Transferring Credits?
Use Transferology to get an early look at how your previous classes may apply. Accepted transfer credit may meet general studies or prerequisite requirements and shorten your path to the BSSW.
MSU Denver Admission at a Glance
You are typically eligible for university admission if you have a 2.0 or higher unweighted high school GPA, are 20 or older with a high school diploma or GED, or have 24 or more transferable college credits.
Request More Info About MSU Denver's Online Bachelor of Social Work Degree
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- Program details and requirements
- Transfer credits and how they may apply
- Tuition, scholarships, and financial aid basics
- Start dates, deadlines, and next steps
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can complete your coursework for your entire Bachelor of Science in Social Work fully online from wherever you live. Our CSWE‑accredited BSSW program meets the highest national professional standards, giving you a premium, career‑ready education. Your field education is completed in or very near your own community with no need to come to Denver.
The BSSW requires 120 credits, and accepted transfer credit may shorten your path. After completing the prerequisite courses and being admitted to the BSSW program, you can complete the upper-division social work sequence in about two years full time or three years part time, including summers. Your academic advisor and Online Student Success Coach can help you understand how your credits apply and build a realistic plan toward graduation.
We’re extremely transfer‑friendly! We can quickly see how your past general education, psychology, and sociology courses line up with our curriculum. And because social work requires specific foundational prerequisites, like human biology, American government, and introductory social work, our transfer advisors will work with you one‑on‑one to maximize your hours so you can apply to the major on time.
The online BSSW prepares you for entry-level social and human service roles in case management, family support, behavioral health, community outreach and advocacy. Graduates work in schools, health care organizations, community mental health centers, housing services, child and family programs, aging services and nonprofit agencies. A CSWE-accredited BSSW may also qualify you for advanced standing in many MSW programs, shortening the path to graduate study if your goals include clinical practice or social work licensure.
Field education gives you supervised, in-person experience applying what you learn in a community organization. During your junior year, you’ll complete approximately 45 hours of volunteer service. During your senior year, you’ll complete a 400-hour internship at an approved agency over two semesters, usually 13 to 14 hours per week. Your coursework remains 100% online, and both experiences can be completed in your local community. For the senior internship, MSU Denver’s Office of Social Work Internships supports your search with guidance and referrals to approved agencies.