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Bachelor's of Social Work

Traverse City Program

Your Social Work Degree is Within Reach in Traverse City

Our special partnership with Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) gives you the opportunity to complete your Ferris Bachelor's of Social Work degree in Traverse City.

A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) prepares you to make a real contribution. It also opens doors for a variety of career options. The comprehensive BSW program offered through Ferris State University gives you solid preparation to enter the social work field as a professional with a generalist perspective. The program is built around a practice model that is appropriate for a wide variety of human service settings, including child and youth programs, mental health and substance abuse agencies, senior centers, long term care facilities, employment agencies, and court systems. The BSW program prepares you for employment in positions such as child welfare worker, case manager, parole officer, client advocate and program coordinator. Also, the Ferris BSW program enables you to continue your education in graduate school - a necessary step for those wishing to advance in management and clinical positions.

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A Closer Look

The general coursework of the Northwestern Michigan College's associate degree provides a liberal arts foundation that includes courses in communication, math, science, humanities, psychology and sociology. All introductory social work coursework is offered at NMC during the first and second year of the program. This coursework provides, an overview of the history, values, and skills of the social work profession, and introduces students to the many job opportunities of social work.

In the third and fourth years of the program, Ferris coursework builds on the knowledge, skills and values introduced in the first two years, and includes advanced courses in the theory and practice models of social work, research, policy and advanced interviewing skills.

The program also requires an introductory field experience assignment (120 hours) and a two-semester field instruction assignment. (480 hours) These assignments are in approved agencies, and will be made in student's home/work area whenever possible. Your advisor will work closely with you to make sure your field assignments suit your career goals and fit in with your work and family responsibilities.

A Schedule You Can Live With

This program is offered in partnership with Northwestern Michigan College, so that all classes can be taken in Traverse City.

Classes That Work

Since the typical student in this program is already working either full- or part-time, course work is designed to build on job experience with a balance of practical and theoretical learning. If you're already working in the human services field, your papers and special projects may be work-related, so the time you spend earning your credits also enhances your job performance.

Your Best Choice

Choosing to complete your BSW through Ferris is a smart move for a number of reasons.

  • You can take the first two years of course work through Northwestern Michigan College and directly transfer into the Ferris program.
  • The program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
  • Classes are kept small - usually around 25 - so you get to know your instructors and fellow students.
  • All courses are taught by credentialed professionals with career experience in social work.
  • Ferris BSW graduates, with a strong academic record, are readily accepted into social work or related fields of graduate study.