Mission and Overview

Program Mission

The mission of the B.A.S.W. program at Fordham University is to educate students to promote human rights and social justice and improve the well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities through culturally competent evidence-informed generalist social work practice embedded within an agency context. The B.A.S.W. program builds upon a strong liberal arts core to establish the social work competencies necessary to effectively serve diverse populations.

Program Overview

Fordham’s social work program builds on students’ broad liberal arts experience at Fordham University and combines high quality classroom and field education with an extensive student advising and support system. The social work program is administered and staffed by the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. All social work courses and activities take place at the Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses. 

The program actively consults and collaborates with other programs and majors within the undergraduate colleges of Fordham University.

The program and its faculty maintain ongoing relationships with the social work practice community to keep current and continually evaluate its curriculum in light of new knowledge, technology, social policies, and employment and market trends.

Students in the social work program must be matriculated at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, Fordham College at Rose Hill, or the Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies and are allowed to take courses outside the program at the Lincoln Center (Manhattan), Rose Hill (Bronx), or Westchester campus. They continue to participate in the overall activities of the University and can access all services available to undergraduate students. In matters outside the jurisdiction of the social work program, students are subject to the policies and expectations of their college of matriculation.

Following admission into the social work program, students participate in classes and activities of the Graduate School of Social Service and become members of the school community. The design of the program—including eight commingled classroom courses of undergraduate and graduate social work students; a 450-hour, yearlong field practicum and integrative seminar; and a faculty advisement system for students at each stage of the program—provides a challenging and stimulating educational environment.

Students are expected to complete the 31 credits of the major within a two-year period either on a full- or part-time basis. The major consists of eight required and sequenced courses of three credits each, and a 450-hour, year-long field practicum and integrative seminar of seven credits. Following admission, students are assigned a social work faculty adviser who meets with them individually and in group meetings. All students are enrolled in the program for two years. Students may enter the first year of the program in the fall or spring semester and all begin the second year in the fall.

The baccalaureate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education. Students who are admitted to the B.A.S.W. program within Fordham University are eligible for expedited admission into the advanced standing M.S.W. program of Fordham University. Advanced standing substantially decreases the number of credit hours required to complete a Master of Social Work degree. The New York State Education Department has granted Fordham University the authority to confer the B.A.S.W. Degree.

Fordham University offers a financial aid program to help students attend the undergraduate colleges. Some aid is available to both full-time students, taking 12 or more credits, and part-time students, taking six to 11 credits. Some aid is available to full-time students only, and scholarships and awards are also available. The University’s financial aid offices will answer questions and provide further information to prospective students.