Keuka College Logo

Social Work

Be an Everyday Hero in Your Community with a Bachelors in Social Work Degree

Social work majors seek to understand the challenges people face in order to help them overcome, whether it's school or medical social work, adoption services, or help coping with anxiety, addiction, or grief and loss counseling, to name a few. It is a career where you can truly make a difference in someone’s life every day. And as a Keuka College social work major, you’ll be prepared to work in a rapidly changing, multicultural society. This professional degree is nationally recognized, and our students are prepared and encouraged to pursue advanced standing master’s level social work after graduation.

Keuka College’s BSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and actively integrates your coursework with hands-on, practical experience. In fact, the College was first among New York’s private and public colleges and universities in 2019 in terms of the number of graduates with a bachelor’s degree in social work.

HIGHLIGHTS

An Internship Every Year

Every student completes an internship (we call it Field Period®) every year. You get hands-on learning that combines classroom work with real-world experiences. A popular reason students choose Keuka College, Field Period® offers you a huge advantage entering the career of your choice. In fact, more than 94% of alumni say Field Period® was important in developing their careers.

Field Practicum

During your field practicum seminar course, you’ll be placed as a professional-in-training in a human service agency. You’ll work side-by-side with licensed field instructors in a safe, supervised environment—paving the way for you to transition from student to professional.

Faculty in Practice

Our faculty members will guide you through lectures, seminars, workshops, simulations, and case studies in social work. Each of your professors come to the classroom with years of real-world, professional experience, and are on the forefront of adapting to every change in this profession. They are highly committed to teaching the next generation of Social Workers.

Request More Information

We asked our students to tell you why Keuka College was the best choice for them — and why Keuka College could be the best choice for you.

Just fill in your information below and we’ll email or text what they said right now.

Loading...
Alex Leljedal Keuka College Graduate ’20 M’21

“What prepared me the most for my job is the teachings on one-on-one interactions and building a rapport with clients. We learned therapy models and techniques, theoretical frameworks, and the focus on individual relationships, which was the biggest preparation for me. Thanks to Keuka College, I learned how to conduct therapy sessions with actual experience in practice.”
 

— Alex Leljedal ’20 M’21

Keuka College’s BSW program will prepare you for a lifetime of work that is crucial to public health and wellness.

In combination with your classes, you will have opportunities for field work, research, and faculty mentorship to provide the foundation necessary to begin your career in this rewarding and much-needed field.

Keuka College’s BSW program brings a holistic understanding of social work principles through a blend of classroom and experiential, hands-on learning. You will learn from faculty whose life’s work is focused on advancing social justice and the practice of social work.

When you graduate, you’ll be prepared for careers in a variety of fields, including schools, hospitals, adoption, mental health, social welfare, aging programs, community outreach, family and youth services, and many more. 

Program Requirements

social work

What Can I Do with a Social Work Degree?

A Social Work Degree is Incredibly Versatile and opens a world of career opportunities including as a:

  • Behavioral Management Aide
  • Community Outreach Worker
  • Foster Care Case Manager
  • Hospice Social Worker
  • Medical Social Worker
  • Probation Officer
  • School Social Worker
  • Substance Abuse Counselors
  • Family Counselor
More Social Work Degree Career Ideas

Earn Your Master’s in Social Work

Keuka College also offers an online MSW program in both a Traditional or Advanced Standing program, depending upon what your bachelor’s degree is in. With either program, you’ll have the hands-on, practical experience prospective employers are looking for. 

Advanced Standing Program

If you have already earned a bachelor’s in social work (BSW), the advanced track MSW at Keuka College helps you advance your career at an accelerated pace. This program can be completed in less than two years through 100% online coursework and included field placements in your region. Click here to learn more. 

Traditional Program

If you already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, our less than three-year program offers 100% online coursework to fit  your schedule and your life. We also provide regional field placement services, connecting you with opportunities and potential employers in your area. Upon graduation, you’ll be fully prepared to sit for your licensure exam. Click here to learn more. 

 

Keuka College's Field Period

Much More Than An Annual Internship

A woman looks at a mountain. There is a goal flag on the top of the mountain, and dotted lines and milestone markers that track toward the goal.

icon of two people near a document

Build Your Résumé

And Your Own Professional Network

icon of experience gears

Get Real Experience

You'll Use in Your Field and Throughout Your Life

icon of a compass

Discover Yourself

Learn What You Like and Where You Want to Go

“

“With Field Period®, I learned what I believe is the true value of helping another, simply because you can. That is not something that can be taught in a classroom—it’s something that you simply have to feel. It is amazing what you can learn out there, and most of the time, ‘getting out there’ is the only way to truly learn it.”

— Miranda Milan ’19

Where Can a Social Work Field Period Take You?

  • Advocacy and Community Organization
  • Child and Family Welfare
  • Corporations
  • Elected Office
  • Health Systems and Hospitals
  • Mental Health Clinics 
  • Prisons
  • Private Practices 
  • Public and Private Agencies
  • Schools 
  • Senior Centers

At Keuka College, your social work faculty are more than just great teachers. They’re seasoned professionals and innovative educators committed to your success. With background and expertise in traumatic brain injury, youth and adolescent counseling, women’s rights issues, solution-focused casework practice, advocacy for the disabled and underserved populations, mood disorders, effects of the child welfare system, and domestic violence, each of your professors come to the classroom with real-world, clinical experience.

They serve as role models, leaders, practitioners, and advocates dedicated to helping you achieve your educational goals, paving the way to improve the health of the nation and the world.

ACCREDITATION INFORMATION

Keuka College’s Bachelor of Science in Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation.

Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process.  An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Board of Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. 

Accreditation applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.

Learning Outcomes

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) requires all programs to measure and report student learning outcomes. Students are assessed on their mastery of the competencies that comprise the accreditation standards of CSWE.
 
Click Here to Download the Keuka College Assessment of Student Learning Form

AFFORDABILITY

100% of Keuka College students receive financial aid.

  • All Keuka College scholarships and grants are renewable for up to four years and are in addition to state and federal financial aid.
  • You may also qualify for state and federal grants by completing the FAFSA.
Up to $112,000
Up to $28,000 per year in academic scholarships
awarded based on high school GPA.
Up to $40,000
Up to $10,000 per year in Keuka College grants
awarded based on financial need.
Learn More About Financial Aid Tuition & Scholarships

We can't wait to have you as part of our #KCFamily! Your admissions counselor is here to help guide and support you every step of the way.

Admissions Requirements

  • Submit an Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarship Opportunities.
  • Keuka College is test optional and believes there's much more to you than just a test score. The admissions committee considers all application materials in its holistic review of your eligibility. 
  • There is no deadline to apply, and we offer rolling admissions. The sooner you submit your application, the sooner you'll receive your admissions decision and scholarship. In most cases, you'll receive a response from us within 1-2 weeks. 

Next Steps

Take a Virtual Tour

Visit Campus

Apply Online

Visit Us

Ways to Connect

Ball Hall Icon Personal Tour

One of the best ways to explore Keuka College is through a personalized campus visit.

Icon of two people talking Campus Events

Get the full campus experience at the lake!

An icon with a laptop inside. Virtual Tour

Explore Our Campus Now: Take a Virtual Tour

See the Full Calendar
You Might Also Like
Social Work major Abby Butler quickly found her place in the Emergency Department of Unity Hospital in Rochester during her recent Field Period. "Social workers are like the glue between the doctors and the nurses," she said. "If they have a question, we answer it."

Keuka College Junior Abby Butler Finds ‘Future Me’ During a Transformative Field Period

The Social Work major spent a month helping to care for patients at Rochester’s Unity Hospital.

Associate Professor of Social Work Dr. Julie Burns, director of Keuka College's online Social Work program, says a sense of community is just as important in advancing online instruction as it is on campus.
Keuka College’s MSW Program Leader Bridges the Gap Between Online and On-Campus
Kimberly
Turning the Tide on the Opioid Crisis – One Conversation at a Time
Doctor Checks Scan
Keuka College Partners with Caring Gene® to Offer No-Cost Graduate Degrees in Nursing and Social Work to Address Provider Shortages
Nurse
Keuka College Partners with Caring Gene® to Offer No-Cost Graduate Degrees in Nursing and Social Work to Address Provider Shortages
Miranda Milan
Keuka College’s Field Period in Action: Social Work Student Makes a Difference in Nicaragua
Star Faculty Panel - Fall 2023
Keuka College Fall Star Faculty Panel Honors Trio of Talented Professors
Photo of Ball Hall from sidewalk leading to Norton Chapel
Keuka College Online MSW Attracts Students Nationwide in Its Inaugural Year
A&S
Schumer Urges Support for Keuka College’s Rural Community Clinic
Main
Keuka College’s McKenzie Low Sees Classroom Lessons Come to Life with Field Period® Internship
Group shot
Three Keuka College Professors Share Their Views During Fall Star Faculty Panel

Popular Searches

More at Keuka College