BSW (Bachelor of Social Work)

Bachelor of Social Work or BSW is a professional degree that is offered at the undergraduate (UG) level. The duration of a BSW course is usually three years and candidates need to positively complete the course within a maximum duration of six years.

Candidates can undertake BSW as a full-time course or even pursue it as a Correspondence/ Distance Education course. BSW course mostly comprises of three major parts which are foundation course, elective course and fieldwork.

BSW course is offered in both English and Hindi language. Some common topics that candidates are made to study in a BSW course include Introduction to Social Work, Social Problems in India, Social Work Research & Statistics, Social Work Administration and the likes.

BSW Eligibility Criteria

Candidates meet the eligibility criteria to pursue a BSW course if they have completed their Class 12 from a recognised board with passing marks. Candidates who have a background in the field of social work, sociology, psychology, or any related field are usually preferred if they want to pursue a BSW course.

Required Skills

Aspirants who want to undertake BSW course need to be well aware of the social problems of the area wherein they work and also possess good communication skills. Some other key skills that an aspirant should possess when thinking of pursuing a BSW course are listed below:

Empathy	Good listener
Good communication skills	Emotional intelligence
Social perceptiveness	Tolerance
Critical thinking	Ability to coordinate
Self-awareness	Ability to set boundaries
Integrity	Persuasion

BSW Course Curriculum 

The subjects taught as part of BSW course may vary from one college to the other. But some common topics that candidates are taught as part of Bachelor of Social Work course are listed below:

Course Curriculum for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
English-1	Introduction to Social Work
Social Science Foundation for Social Work: Sociology	Communication in Modern Indian Languages
Human Growth and Behaviour	English-2
Work with Individuals and Families	Work with Groups
Social Science Foundation for Social Work: Contemporary Development Studies	Field Work (practical component related to core subjects)
Gender Studies	Community Organisation
Social Policy	Computer Applications
Research Methods	Social Work Administration
Social Work Theories and Practice	Life Skills
Development and Communication	Health and Nutrition / Child and Youth Studies (Elective)
Social Exclusion and Inclusion / Global and Indian Social Movements (Elective)	Work with older adults / Social Entrepreneurship (General Elective)
Academic Writing	Human Rights / Education and Development (Elective)
Rural and Urban Studies / Informal Labour and Informal Sector (Elective)	Disability / Basic Counselling Skills (General Elective)

BSW Job Profiles

After completing BSW course, aspirants can either pursue higher studies in the field of social work. Apart from higher studies, candidates can also opt to pursue a job in the field of social work after completing their BSW course. Some popular job profiles that candidates can join after successfully completing their BSW course are listed below:

Job Profile	Description
Social Worker	In such a job profile, one provides appropriate resources, advice and support to individuals who are facing difficulties or problems in their personal/ professional life. A social worker helps individuals cope with any problems they are facing to fulfill their monetary, emotional and social needs.
Social Educator	In such a profile one needs to plan and organise events related to social issues. A social educator also needs to conduct committee meetings with the Public Affairs as well as Social Issues department.
Project Coordinator	Aspirants are hired at this job profile in an NGO. Project Coordinators need to help in the planning, budgeting and monitoring process of a project undertaken by an NGO. Apart from this, a Project Coordinator also needs to ensure that the project is undertaken is being conducted within the framework established and all documentation work is complete. A project coordinator also gets in touch with volunteers and ensures that the project is being completed as per timelines fixed for it.

BSW Related FAQs

Q. How any semesters are there in a Bachelor of Social Work?

A. The duration of BSW is 3 years and there are a total of 6 semesters in the undergraduate programme.

Q. What is the admission process for BSW?

A. There are various universities that offer admission to BSW course on the basis of merit and direct admissions, while there are some universities which offer admission to BSW on the basis of clearance of an entrance exam.

Q. What is the eligibility criteria for a BSW course?

A. The candidate should have done their Class 12 from a recognised board in any stream and should have secured a minimum of 45% aggregate.

Q. I have done my BA in Sociology, can I do BSW?

A. Yes. Candidates can apply for admission to do their Bachelor of Social Work. You can also apply for a Master of Social Work, however, the candidate has to meet the set eligibility criteria set, which may vary from university to university.

Q. Is the scope better after doing a BSW?

A. Yes. The scope is bright as there are many career options one can take up, work their way through and be a part of renowned NGOs, government departments, organisations and companies. However, it is advisable to do your Master’s to narrow down a specialisation.

Q. What are the career options after a BSW course?

A. After successfully pursuing a BSW course, candidates can work in areas such as NGOs, Rehab Centres, Schools, Organisations, Community Centres and various other departments which need professional help in Social Work.

Q. What is the salaries offered after a BSW?

A. If you are planning on starting your career after a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), the starting salaries start from Rs 15,000 onwards, depending which area you are working in.

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