Bachelor in Social Work (Bachelor's)

Tuition is Tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year is $38,500 per year..

The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program is a four-year on-campus degree offered at Messiah University. It integrates Christian faith formation with professional social work training through classroom study and extensive field placements. Students complete 600 hours of hands-on experience across three agencies, including a 425-hour senior field placement. The program prepares students for entry-level roles in social services and advanced standing in master's programs.

Focus areas include Christian faith integration, Social justice, Community engagement, International field placements, Interprofessional collaboration, Urban and rural service settings.

The program requires 120 credits, including 600 hours of field education distributed across the curriculum. The senior year includes a 425-hour block placement, with 130+ hours of applied practice earlier in the program.

Graduates enter roles such as child protective services caseworker, mental health worker, case manager, and community worker in agencies across the United States and internationally.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required. Submission of official transcripts, a personal statement, and two letters of recommendation is required.

The programme totals about 120 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, four-year program. For international students, tuition is above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 78% of applicants.

Messiah University’s identity is rooted in Christian community and the conviction that faith should shape academic and student life. Its motto, “Christ Preeminent,” guides the university’s approach to education, with values that include sharpening intellect, deepening Christian faith and inspiring action. The institution has grown into a private university of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, serving 3,454 undergraduate and graduate students.

Academic options span more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs, with over 150 undergraduate and pre-professional degree options and more than 20 graduate degree and certificate programs. Areas of study are organized across interests and career fields. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program connects classroom learning, clinical expertise, scholarship and professional development. Faculty research and continuing education also extend into international clinical communities, including advanced manual therapy teaching in Rome.

The university’s 375-acre campus is in Mechanicsburg, in central Pennsylvania, and provides an active residential setting shaped by Christian community. Average class size is 20, with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. International students should expect faith to be integrated into academic programs and daily experience, alongside opportunities for service, athletics and campus involvement. Students come from 33 states and 23 countries, adding an international dimension to campus life.