Bachelor of Social Work (Online)

Getting Started

Application Instructions

Along with your completed application accompanied by $25 non-refundable application fee, you’ll need to provide a few supporting materials.
 

• Complete your online application: Begin your online application, which lets you build, edit and save sections of your application along the way.
• Order your college transcripts: Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions where coursework was attempted. Transcripts should be dated within a year of your application. They must be sent through the mail, Parchment, eScrip-Safe, or the National Student Clearinghouse directly to Alvernia from the college/university where coursework was attempted. If your school requires an email address to send a transcript electronically, please use gradandadult@alvernia.edu. Sealed transcripts can also be mailed from the college/university to: Alvernia University, Graduate & Adult Education - Admissions, 400 St. Bernardine St., Reading, PA 19607. Transcript requests may take several weeks. We recommend that you order any transcripts as early as possible
• Provide evidence of high school completion/graduation: Documentation may include high school transcript, diploma, GED scores or equivalent. This admission requirement may be waived if an official college transcript is provided to validate completion of 15 credits or more from an accredited school. Please note that proof of high school completion may still be required for financial aid purposes. Documentation should be uploaded to your online application or mailed to: Alvernia University, Graduate & Adult Education - Admissions, 400 St. Bernardine St., Reading, PA 19607.
• Upload your Social Work essay, including the following prompts:
  • Describe your view of the role of Social Work in society.
  • Describe the experiences in your life which have directed you to the Social Work profession.
  • What individual or individuals have had the greatest influence in your life? Why?
  • Describe yourself and why you would make a good Social Worker.
  • List three areas of Social Work that you would consider choosing as a career. Why would you choose each of these areas of Social Work?
• Scores from the SAT or ACT are not required

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

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Note on Licensure – Social Work Programs

Alvernia University’s social work programs (BSW and MSW) are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the recognized accrediting body for the social work profession. Our programs are designed to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to qualify for licensing exams and meet the academic requirements for licensure. While no graduate program can guarantee licensure upon completion, we strongly encourage students to reach out to the licensing agency in their state of residence to confirm specific licensure requirements. For detailed information on licensure, students should visit the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) at www.socialworkers.org or the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) at aswb.org. International students are also advised to contact the relevant licensing boards in their home countries.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• Students participate in internships, interprofessional learning opportunities, community service and engagement activities.
• Phi Alpha Honor Society provides leadership opportunities and service initiatives for the community.
• Social Work Clubs in Reading and Philadelphia hold annual initiatives to meet the needs of the underserved.

Program Accreditation

Alvernia University’s social work programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of social workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than average for all occupations. The median annual wage in 2023 was $58,380.

• Addiction counselor
• Agency director
• Caseworker
• Child or family counselor
• Child welfare worker
• Crisis intervention worker
• Foster care and adoption specialist
• Criminal justice prevention and rehabilitation
• Foster care and adoption
• Department of Public Welfare employee
• Hospice worker
• Mental health rehabilitation specialist
• Nursing home social worker
• Religious social worker
• Therapeutic support staff

Get to Know Your Faculty

For more information about Alvernia’s Adult Education Social Work program contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 610-796-5187 or gradandadult@alvernia.edu. Or reach out directly to Social Work Program Director Michael Hassler at 610-568-1490 or michael.hassler@alvernia.edu.