A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) prepares students for meaningful careers helping individuals, families, groups, and communities navigate complex social challenges. This Social Work degree emphasizes critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and hands-on learning experiences that reflect respect for diverse populations and lived experiences. Students examine the emotional, social, economic, political, racial, and spiritual factors that shape human well-being while developing practical skills for evidence-based and strengths-based practice. Offered at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU), the program prepares graduates to become competent, ethical social work professionals ready for entry-level practice, graduate study, and advocacy across a wide range of community and human service settings.
Connect: Social workers are needed at all stages of life to provide resources and use evidence-based strategies, strengths-based problem solving, and create just policies.
Advocate: Social workers are social activist who advocate for the vulnerable in a broad range of social issues that can include child welfare, poverty, aging, discrimination, mental health, addiction, disability, food and housing insecurity, health and more!
Empower: Social Workers are change agents! They provide intervention strategies to empower individuals, families, and groups to enhance well-being and assist in developing community conditions that support and protect human rights (NASW, 2021).
This program fits if you...
You’ll build the knowledge and real‑world skills you need to support people, strengthen communities, and grow as a compassionate professional.
You'll learn how to:
Graduates of MSSU's Social Work Program often work as a:
Make an impact, inspire change, and transform lives. Our hybrid Social Work program gives you the flexibility to learn and serve, all while balancing life’s demands.
Yes — for many students, a social work degree is absolutely worth it. Social work offers strong job stability, meaningful day‑to‑day work, and a growing need for trained professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, social workers earned a median annual wage of $61,330 in 2024 and the field is projected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
The highest‑paying areas of social work are typically in healthcare and clinical practice. Roles like hospital social workers, licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), and behavioral health specialists tend to offer the strongest earning potential, especially for those with an MSW and clinical licensure.
In Missouri, the degree you need depends on the type of social work you want to do. To work in most entry‑level social service roles, you typically need a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from an accredited program. If you want to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) or provide therapy, you’ll need a Master of Social Work (MSW) and state licensure.
Missouri Southern State University currently offers the BSW, and an MSW program is planned to launch as early as 2027, giving students a seamless path from undergraduate study to advanced clinical or leadership roles.
