Social Work

Our Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) degree program* is built on St. Augustine College at Lewis University’s legacy of empowering a bilingual community through social justice. As a student in this award-winning bilingual social work program of study, you will be uniquely prepared to promote and support positive change for individuals, families, neighborhoods, and the world. Found within the curriculum is a visionary focus on empowering the Latino community of Chicago through social justice with classes offered for adults who are working full-time and wish to change or advance their profession. Graduating from our Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work program prepares you “to enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities by involving them in accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress.” (CSWE Educational Policy 1.0) Following CSWE’s Assessment of Learning Outcomes, all students are assessed to prove that as social workers, they are expected to master their professional training.

What Skills Will You Acquire During Your Social Work Schooling?

In our Bachelor of Arts in Social Work Program, you will be expertly trained to practice social work and perform social work jobs in diverse urban populations with particular attention to opportunities to improve social justice, well-being, and access to resources within communities of Latino descent. The mission of this ground-breaking degree program is to fill cultural, educational, and socioeconomic gaps, beginning with those in the multicultural and multi-linguistic neighborhoods of Chicago.

Social Work Accreditation

Lewis University’s bachelor’s program in Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Visit Lewis University’s Social Work accreditation page for accreditation information and program competencies.

Hands-On Internship Experience in Our Chicago Social Work Program

As part of our award-winning Bachelor of Arts in Social Work degree program, you will complete a social work internship, which is also called field instruction. This gives you important hands-on experience in a social service agency while under the supervision of a social worker in preparation for social work jobs. The goal of our internship program is to provide traditional and nontraditional students with the opportunity to practice the Social Work content taught in class while receiving constructive feedback from your Social Work supervisor. You will also be enrolled in a seminar class while in the internship to receive additional support. The internship is a total of 480 hours, which can be completed in one or two semesters. You will be eligible to begin your internship after successfully completing 9 of the Social Work courses, elective coursework, and a field contract that is approved by the program field director.

What are the Goals of a Social Work Program in Illinois?

The hands-on internship experience you get during your field instruction is a crucial part of your education. In SAC’s local social work program in Chicago, the hands-on social work internship allows you to gain professional experience, develop ethical principles, establish professional judgment, and more. Before you begin fieldwork, it is important to go over these field goals for a social work internship, because many times these same goals will help you find promising social work jobs after you receive your BASW degree.

High Standard of Excellence: Graduation Requirements

To graduate, you must complete 120 credit hours that include requirements that satisfy minimum general education requirements, elective requirements, and social work core course requirements. The 480-hour internship is part of the social work course requirements. You must also maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above at the time of graduation, complete an application to graduate, and have an exit interview with the Department Chair.

Learn More About SAC’s Social Work Schooling and Bachelor’s Degree

Still curious about our award-winning Bachelor of Arts in Social Work degree program, and how you can find a rewarding career that can make a difference in your community? Contact us today to learn more about the next step in your academic and professional career, and what you can do to make a difference today.  

Potential Career Paths with a BASW

Social work jobs cover a variety of fields and clients, allowing you to work with a diverse range of people.

Some career paths may require additional education, licensure, or other credentials.

Psychiatric Social Worker

Providing services to those living with mental health conditions, a social worker in this environment may provide psychotherapy treatment as well. Often you will work in a medical or mental health facility. The psychiatric social worker often provides therapy, both in individual and group settings.

Child and Family Social Worker

Often provide assistance to families and children, many of whom are on child welfare. They might help parents find the resources needed to keep their children or return home. But they also assist children who are in more stable circumstances at home.

School Social Worker

Social work jobs in the schooling system are an important part of assisting children who might be struggling in school. They participate in special education assessment meetings. They also help work with the problems a student may have outside of school (at home or in their community). A big aspect of social work in the school system is to help students get the resources they need to thrive and work to the best of their abilities.

Community Health Worker

Serving the community, these social workers are frontline health workers who are knowledgeable about the community they are working in. Community health workers are essential in all communities, from the inner city to the rural countryside. Community health workers are there to help members of marginalized communities who don’t have the time or resources to get the quality healthcare they deserve.

Environmental Health Worker

A Bachelor of Arts in Social Work can also help you access a career in environmental activism. These social workers study the natural and manmade resources that affect our planet in both negative and positive ways. Using strategies that focus on community outreach to help advocate local causes that have a direct impact on the local community.

Case Manager

Case managers help individuals and families identify their needs, connect with services, and navigate resources such as housing, healthcare, and financial assistance. They may work for nonprofit organizations, community agencies, or healthcare providers.