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Graduates of the B.S.W. program at Rider are prepared to enter entry-level positions in the field of social work and are equipped with the foundational knowledge and skills to pursue the M.S.W. (Master of Social Work).

Graduates can apply for licensure as a Certified Social worker (CSW) in the State of New Jersey, elevating employability for generalist social work careers.

Sample Careers for Generalist Social Work Practice:

• Case Manager
• Victim Advocate
• Child Welfare Worker
• Family Liaison
• Behavioral Specialist
• Care Coordinator
• Intake Specialist
• Residential Facility Worker
• Youth Worker
• Disabilities Advocate
• Home Study Case Manager
• Shelter Worker
• Resource Manager
• Community Agent
• Activities Coordinator
• Geriatric Support Worker
• and many more

Our 51-credit program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of social work theory, methods and practice, including social justice, human rights, and cultural humility. Learning takes place across a combination of foundation and practice courses taught by experts in social work and culminates with required practicum placements in real-world settings in the final year of study.

Rider’s close proximity to New Jersey’s state capital offers students the opportunity to gain valuable experience through capital-city adjacent field placements, service learning and other professional practice while building connections throughout Trenton and across New Jersey. 

In addition, our campus’ accessibility to the major cities of Philadelphia and New York provide further opportunities for students to gain diverse experiences in the social work field. Students also benefit from learning from our expert and richly experienced faculty who serve as who share their field-based knowledge and connections with them.

Admission to the B.S.W. Program

We’re excited that you’re considering our program to begin your social work profession! Here is what you need to know for admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work Program (B.S.W.):

When to Apply

• You decide! We understand that you are ready at your own time and therefore, applications to the B.S.W. Program are accepted on a rolling basis.

How to Apply

• One application does it all! All students admitted to СÓÅÊÓƵ may declare the social work major without formal application to the program. The B.S.W. Program follows the University general admission requirements for first-year undergraduate students and transfer students. The requirements are:  

For Standard Admittance (first year undergraduate student):

• Graduated from an accredited high school or passed the GED examination before the anticipated date of enrollment.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
• Completion of 16 academic units in a college preparatory curriculum including 4 years of English, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and 9 other academic courses in Humanities, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Social sciences, and Sciences.
• Completion of an essay responding to the Common Application prompts.
• A minimum test score of 850 is required for test submitters (in addition to the minimum 2.5 GPA)

For Transfer Admittance:

• A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5
• Completion of a minimum of 12 or more credits from another college/university. if transferring as a freshman or sophomore.
• Completion of a minimum of 58-60 credits including general education requirements if transferring as a junior.
• An essay with a minimum of 250 words addressing your goal in transferring to Rider at this point in your academic career.
• An official transcript from each college/university attended.
• If fewer than 30 credits earned, official High School transcript is also required.

We make it easy!  If you would like to transfer social work course credits, submit your official transcript and your potential transfer credits are reviewed by the B.S.W. Program Director.  

Already a student and you want to change your major to social work?

• Students admitted to СÓÅÊÓƵ and who change their major to social work, are required to meet with the Program Director for an orientation and to review the course sequencing plan.  
• If completion of the program is feasible given your earned credits to date and your expected date of graduation, you may complete a Change of Major Form.  
• The form is submitted to the Chair of the Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Social Work for approval in person or via email at vthompson@rider.edu.
• Once approved, the Chair submits the Change of Major Form to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for final approval and the form is sent to the registrar for processing.  

Learn more about financial aid, tuition and the various options we offer to make your college education affordable.

Learn More

Program Candidacy status was granted during the 2024-2025 academic year. 

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (B.S.W.) Program has achieved candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA). Candidacy status indicates that it has made progress toward meeting standards of program quality evaluated through a peer review accreditation process. A program that has attained candidacy status has demonstrated a commitment to meeting the accreditation standards but has not yet demonstrated full compliance.

Students that are admitted to candidate programs in the fall (or later) of the academic year in which the program is granted candidacy status will be retroactively recognized as graduates from a CSWE-BOA accredited program as long as the program attains initial accreditation. Candidacy is typically a 3-year process and attaining candidacy does not guarantee that a program will eventually attain initial accreditation.

Candidacy applies to all program options, which include locations and delivery methods.

Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program.

Review our program’s candidacy status in .

For more information about social work accreditation, contact .

Per the CSWE Board of Accreditation’s recognition body, the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), and Accreditation Standard B5.0.1(d), baccalaureate social work programs are required to post this form publicly on their website and routinely update findings every two (2) years, at minimum. Programs provide CSWE with a website hyperlink to their posted form. Competency-based student learning outcomes are published in the CSWE Directory of Accredited Programs.

Form AS B5.01(d) Student Achievement Assessment Outcomes