Why study Pre-Social Work?

Social workers are community troubleshooters. Through counseling, referral services or policy-making and advocacy, they help individuals, families and groups cope with problems. Those in the area of planning and policy help people understand how social systems operate and prepare ways of bringing about needed change in institutions such as health services, housing or education. Those in the area of counseling provide a variety of therapies in a wide range of settings.

Career Possibilities

Settings in which social workers are employed vary widely. In the public sector, they are employed primarily in departments of human resources, social services, mental health, health, housing, education and corrections. Those in the private sector work for nonprofit agencies, community and religious organizations, hospitals, nursing homes and other human service agencies. Some are also employed in business and industry, where they may counsel employees. A master of social work (MSW) degree is becoming more desirable and is generally required for positions in the mental health field, as well as for supervisory, administrative or research positions. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023), the median salary for social workers is $58,380.

Major Maps

• Guide: Pre-Social Work

Special Programs

Transfer programs are specially designed so that students successfully completing two years of full-time work at Blue Ash Campus may transfer into a four-year program with junior-year status.

Admission Requirements

This program is open to all students with a high school diploma or GED and the desire to succeed in college. Although admission is open, students accepted into the program must meet the academic standards of the program to advance to upper levels of study. To transition to the BSW program at the College of Allied Health, students must earn a 2.75 GPA or higher to be considered for admission.

All students entering Blue Ash Campus, except those who have taken college-level math and English, must take the college's placement test prior to registering for classes.

Transferring to UC Requirements

Transferring to UC Blue Ash College
Transfer applications are individually reviewed, and acceptance is based on receipt of application materials, as well as official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. An official evaluation of transfer credit from other colleges will be processed after the student’s file is complete.

Credits are accepted from any institution currently accredited by any of the six regional accrediting agencies. Enrollment Services shall have discretionary authority to accept credits from other institutions in consultation with program directors or department chairpersons. Application of transfer credit to the student's program is at the discretion of the appropriate program director or department chairperson.

Changing Majors within UC Requirements

Students changing majors from other programs or colleges within UC will be considered based on the same criteria as outside transfers.

International Student Requirements

Students who did not graduate from a high school in the United States of America must take an ability-to-benefit test and achieve the minimum specified score to be eligible for admission to a degree or certificate program at Blue Ash College. The scores will be used for placement in English courses and general advising for all courses.

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for the associate's degree, you must fulfill the requirements of the program from which you expect to graduate and must have at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. It is your responsibility to take the courses necessary for graduation. After freshman requirements have been completed, no more than nine sophomore credits should be taken in another college. Those credits and courses must have the approval of the academic adviser before they are taken. A student who changes programs or extends work beyond a two-year period must meet the published requirements of the program in the year of expected graduation. Transfer students must take at least one-half of the required course work in a selected program at Blue Ash Campus to qualify for graduation.

You must complete an application for degree, usually the semester before you expect to graduate. You should see your advisor for specific information well in advance of your final semester.

Application Deadlines

Students may enter the program during any semester. Several classes are sequential, however, and are offered only one semester per academic year. Entering during winter or summer semester may extend the length of the program.

Accreditation