More Program Specifics
Understand the courses you’ll take, the curriculum requirements to meet, and the concepts you’ll gain mastery of. Get the detailed information you’re looking for, including specifics on our accelerated BSW-to-MSW program.
Social Work BSW
With RIC's Social Work bachelor's degree, social work isn't just a career–it’s a calling.
Our Social Work BSW graduates are prepared and eager to transform the world.
RIC's Bachelor of Social Work Program prepares future social workers to make an impact on individual lives, communities and systems. Through a rigorous curriculum and guidance from nationally recognized faculty, you’ll gain hands-on experience and professional skills to work effectively across diverse settings and create meaningful change.
High-Demand Social Work Careers
- Outreach Worker
- Case Manager
- Probation Officer
- Child Welfare Specialist
- School Social Worker
- Substance Abuse Counselor
Why Earn a Social Work Bachelor's Degree at Rhode Island College?
- The faculty in our nationally recognized School of Social Work are regarded as experts in their field.
- The School of Social Work is home to the Atrévete Center of Excellence for Latinx/Hispanic Social Work Practice and the Center for First Generation Social Work Student Success.
- Students pursing a Social Work degree benefit from experiential learning, including internships and field work at social service agencies.
- For those interested in earning a BSW and MSW degree in as little as 5 years – RIC is the only higher education institution in New England offering an accelerated BSW-to-MSW program.
- Topics covered include: human services, social work research methods, crisis intervention, substance abuse disorders, child and adolescent trauma and clinical social work.
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Are You Latinx/Hispanic? Will You Be the First in Your Family to Attend College?
RIC offers specialized pathways into social work for students who identify as Latinx/Hispanic and first-generation college students.
Learn how these programs bring opportunity and financial support:
- Atrévete Center of Excellence for Latinx/Hispanic Social Work Practice
- Center for First Generation Social Work Student Success
We're here to help remove any barriers to you pursuing a career in social work!
RIC is the only higher education institution in New England that offers an accelerated BSW-to-MSW program, which allows social work majors to earn both degrees in as little as five years.
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2026
The MSW and BSW programs have been reaccredited until 2026 by the Council on Social Work Education.
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Join Our Community
We're thrilled that you're interested in Rhode Island College and we want to make sure that nothing stands in your way of pursuing a RIC degree. Just let us know how we can help you with your next steps.
Our BSW Faculty
We prioritize hands-on, experiential learning with all students completing two semesters of an internship in a social service agency. We ensure that you're prepared to get to work – expanding opportunities to individuals through the transformation of unjust systems.
Dr. Mary J. Archibald
- Assistant Professor
Dr. Wendy L. Becker
- Associate Professor
Dr. Jesse Capece
- Associate Professor
Dr. Joshua D. Diem
- Associate Professor
Dr. Cary Donaldson
- Assistant Professor
Hear From a Student
La-Brina Almeida
“I had been working with homeless clients at the micro level, but for the first time, I was able to address social injustice at the macro level, the systems level. I realized that fighting for social justice is something that we can do both inside and outside of the clinical setting.”
– Bachelor of Social Work Major
Turning a Life Purpose into a Career
Brandi DiDino, whose love and life purpose has been child welfare for almost 20 years, recommends all social workers pursue an M.S.W.
Program Details
Requirements
Understand all admission, retention, fieldwork, honors, and course requirements for the Social Work BSW and BSW-to-MSW programs.
Program/Learning Goals
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- engage in entry-level social work practice that is informed by the best available evidence
- use policy practice skills to create and influence change
- apply social work values and ethics to guide their professional practice
- understand the effects of culture, oppression and human diversity in a multicultural society
- apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment to work with individuals, groups, families, organizations and communities
- work to achieve human rights and social and economic justice
BSW-to-MSW Program Details
Our five-year program can secure a pathway for you to have an impact in any community. In just five years you can earn both BSW and MSW degrees at Rhode Island College, in one of the limited BSW-MSW degree programs in the country. Our program conditionally accepts selected BSW students to continue into the MSW program.
Program Benefits
- Accelerate your path to a graduate (MSW) degree.
- Work one-on-one with social work professors in class, in research, and in the field.
- Be ready to work in a variety of settings, including: schools, health care, trauma, mental health, and substance use.
- Earn undergraduate and graduate degrees from an accredited, competitive and nationally recognized program.
Requirements
Understand all admission, retention, fieldwork, honors, and course requirements for the Social Work BSW and BSW-to-MSW programs.
Take the Next Step!
School of Social Work
The School of Social Work at Rhode Island College is a center of excellence for lifelong learning in social work and human services in Rhode Island and southeastern New England.
- phone401-456-8042
- placeGuardo Hall - Building 9 East Campus
