4 CSWE-Accredited BSW Programs in Arizona: 2025 Student Guide

Looking for CSWE-accredited programs to study social work in Arizona? You’ve made a smart career choice. Arizona has three CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programs. Each program helps you build a career in this rewarding field.

Proper credentials matter a lot while learning about accredited social work programs. The Council on Social Work Accreditation (CSWE) accredits schools of social work. This accreditation becomes significant if you want to get licensed. These CSWE BSW accredited programs in Arizona follow strict standards that prepare students for generalist social work practice.

Students find these programs valuable because they combine classroom learning with real-life experience through field placements at agencies across the state. Every program needs at least 400 hours of field education. Graduates become eligible for Arizona’s LBSW licensure after completing their program.

Your career outlook seems bright. Social work employment should grow about 6% from 2024 to 2034, faster than average. Arizona BSW graduates can expect solid job prospects and meaningful career opportunities.

This guide shows you each Arizona BSW program’s unique features, costs, and requirements. You’ll find it easier to choose the right program for your social work education experience.

Arizona State University (ASU)

Arizona State University runs the Southwest’s leading social work program that offers one of the most detailed BSW degrees. With over 1,200 BSW students enrolled at different campuses, ASU has grown into a 6-year old leader in social work education.

ASU Program Overview

ASU’s Bachelor of Social Work helps you become a social work generalist who can work with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. You’ll develop skills in advocacy, case management, problem-solving, and referrals. The program is one of the largest CSWE-accredited programs in the region. Students learn social policy, human behavior in social environments, practice methods, and research. The accredited program’s professional values focus on justice, dignity, human relations, integrity, and competence.

Format & Flexibility

ASU’s BSW program stands out when it comes to flexibility. You can get your degree through several options:

• On-campus classes at Tempe, Downtown Phoenix, and West Valley campuses
• ASU Sync format for transfer students (live classes via Zoom)
• Fully online BSW program with sequential course design

Students from Western states can join the Western Undergraduate Exchange program. This program lets them pay reduced nonresident tuition at 150% of Arizona resident rates. So whatever your location or schedule looks like, ASU has a way for you to earn your CSWE BSW accredited degree.

Field Education

At ASU, students complete a supervised 480-hour practicum over two consecutive semesters (one academic year). You’ll work in a social service agency with a professional social worker as your Practicum Supervisor. This hands-on training lets you apply theoretical knowledge in real-life settings while building critical professional skills. Students can work in nonprofit organizations, residential treatment centers, community behavioral health agencies, government agencies, and school settings.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Arizona residents will pay a base tuition of approximately $11,822 plus extra fees for the 2025-26 academic year. Students can access Pell Grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study opportunities. Students looking at child welfare careers might qualify for Title IV-E funding through the Child Welfare Education Program. Start by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to check your federal assistance eligibility. Then explore ASU’s Scholarship Universe for more funding options.

Special Features

ASU’s BSW program stands out in several ways. The program’s faculty ranks among the nation’s top social work researchers, and many write textbooks used in social work programs nationwide. The 2022 graduate outcomes show exceptional success—89% of graduates found jobs, earning 32.5% more than typical Arizona workers. ASU graduates added $1.58 billion in state and local taxes in 2022, with job growth of 3.9% yearly from 2012-2022.

Admission Requirements

The professional BSW program at ASU has specific requirements:

• Finish minimum 56 semester hours with a 2.0 or higher cumulative GPA
• Complete English 101/102 and Math 142
• Keep a minimum 2.75 GPA in core social work classes (SWU 171, 291, 295, 303, 306, 340, 374, 311, 312)
• Complete 60 hours of human services experience (part of SWU 291)
• Submit applications by October 1st or February 1st for next semester

Students who maintain a 3.5 GPA in social work courses can join the BSW Honors Program. This program includes thesis work and graduate-level courses.

Northern Arizona University (NAU)

Northern Arizona University has a distinctive Bachelor of Social Work program in the state’s high plateau region that specializes in rural and Indigenous social work practice.

NAU Program Overview

Northern Arizona University’s BSW program has maintained continuous accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1988 and prepares students to become generalist social work practitioners. The program aims to educate competent social workers who can address poverty, structural racism, and oppression while championing human rights and social justice. NAU’s curriculum stands out because it specifically caters to the rural and Indigenous populations of the Southwest, giving students specialized training for these underserved communities. Students learn the foundations of social work knowledge, values, and skills that help them work with people from different backgrounds and complex social systems.

Format & Flexibility

Students can complete their BSW degree through several paths:

• In-person classes at the main Flagstaff campus
• Face-to-face instruction at the Southern Arizona Yuma campus
• A fully online BSW program option

Students can choose the learning environment that matches their location and personal needs. The traditional semester format makes the program available to both full-time students and working professionals who want to advance their careers.

Field Education

In NAU’s BSW program, students complete 480 clock hours in an agency setting. Students can pick between two field placement models:

• Concurrent Field Placement: 18 hours weekly (240 hours per semester) alongside coursework
• Block Field Placement: Full-time agency placement for one semester

Arizona’s cultural diversity creates excellent opportunities for placements in federal, state, tribal, county, municipal, voluntary, and private settings. Field supervisors help students apply their classroom knowledge to real-life situations, connecting academic learning with professional practice.

Tuition & Financial Aid

The 2024-25 academic year was $13,008 for in-state tuition and fees, while out-of-state students paid $29,880. Room and board runs about $14,432 yearly. The good news is that 97% of NAU students get some type of financial aid. NAU gives out more than $400 million each year in scholarships and financial aid, and 55% of students graduate without debt. Financial help includes:

• Merit-based scholarships (first-year students average $8,219)
• Need-based grants (average $8,068)
• Federal loans and work-study opportunities

Special Features

The BSW program excels at preparing students to serve vulnerable populations. Students learn to become strengths-based practitioners who can improve client resilience and leverage natural community resources. Social work graduates typically have $19,000 in federal loan debt, with $201 monthly payments. BSW graduates with a 3.3 GPA or higher can join the one-year Advanced Standing MSW program if they apply within five years of finishing their bachelor’s degree.

Admission Requirements

The BSW program at Northern Arizona University has several requirements:

• 24 credit hours (completed or in progress)
• A grade of “B” or better in SW 220 (Introduction to Social Work)
• A minimum 2.25 GPA

Students need to submit the BSW application found on the Department of Social Work website. The program maintains higher academic standards for admission, retention, and graduation than the university’s minimum requirements because of social work’s professional nature. Students should reach out to a Social Work Academic Advisor early to get help with the application process.

Grand Canyon University (GCU)

Grand Canyon University stands out as Phoenix’s faith-based option among CSWE-accredited programs in Arizona. The university blends Christian values with detailed social work education since its full accreditation in February 2024.

GCU Program Overview

Grand Canyon University’s Bachelor of Social Work program blends professional social work education with Christian principles. This CSWE-accredited program serves over 300 BSW students. Students learn to improve the well-being of individuals, families, and communities while working with people from different backgrounds. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences created a curriculum that helps you understand human behavior in social contexts. The program earned full CSWE accreditation in February 2024, which remains valid until 2032.

Format & Flexibility

GCU lets you choose between traditional campus-based learning and fully online study options. Students can attend evening and weekend classes. Online BSW students get access to GCU’s digital learning platform, expert faculty, peer networking opportunities, and online library resources. Students on campus attend classes in Phoenix and enjoy campus events, academic services, and spiritual life activities.

Field Education

Whatever format you choose, you’ll complete in-person, supervised field experiences in professional settings. These practicum experiences match CSWE standards and let you observe and participate in various educational settings. Your fieldwork helps you apply theories and concepts from coursework to real-life situations. This hands-on experience builds skills you need for effective social work practice.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Campus tuition costs $16,500 per year before scholarships. GCU has managed to keep this rate unchanged since 2009. Online students pay $485 per credit. Traditional campus students in 2024-25 received about $7,300 in GCU-funded scholarships. Students can access various financial aid options including academic scholarships, grants, and loans without paying any application fee.

Special Features

The program’s faith-based viewpoint makes it unique among Arizona’s accredited social work programs. BSW graduates can smoothly transition into the Master of Social Work program, which also holds CSWE accreditation. Graduates find careers in hospitals, outpatient facilities, healthcare settings, private practices, schools, and child welfare agencies.

Admission Requirements

High school graduates need either:

• 0+ unweighted GPA, or
• 5+ unweighted GPA with ACT score of 19 or SAT score of 1000

Transfer students must have a 2.25 GPA with 25-90 transferable credits or a 2.75 GPA with 6-24 transferable credits. GCU doesn’t charge an application fee or require an enrollment deposit.

University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix rounds out Arizona’s quartet of CSWE-accredited programs. The university offers its Bachelor of Science in Social Work through an online delivery model that suits working adults.

Program Overview

The Commission on Accreditation has granted CSWE accreditation to University of Phoenix’s BSSW program, making it a qualified professional pathway. Students learn social work theory and professional applications while preparing for state licensure at the bachelor’s level. The program strengthens students to become effective, ethical, and culturally aware social workers who promote social change in an ever-changing global environment. Students develop core competencies to assess, intervene, and evaluate in a variety of social scenarios.

Format & Flexibility

Working adults will appreciate this program’s flexible structure. Each course runs in 5-week blocks to create a streamlined learning experience. Students complete most coursework online, but the program has an important in-person field education component without residency requirements. Students can balance their professional responsibilities while earning their degree. The 120-credit program builds career-relevant skills through each course.

Field Education

Students complete at least 400 supervised hours through either two 15-week Field Education Experiences (200 hours each) or one 15-week block placement. Approved agency sites host these experiences under qualified social work professionals’ supervision. Students demonstrate CSWE standard competencies and connect classroom knowledge with ground practice.

Tuition & Financial Aid

University of Phoenix’s undergraduate credit costs $398. Students get a guaranteed flat tuition rate from enrollment through graduation. Each undergraduate course costs about $1,364 with the resource fee included. Students can access The Phoenix Scholarship ($1,000 toward their degree), federal grants, and student loans. The program offers a risk-free three-week trial without financial obligation.

Special Features

Faculty members average 25 years of professional experience. Social work field projections show 8% growth between 2023-2033, moving faster than other professions. The skills-mapped curriculum ensures assignments develop relevant career skills. The University’s career services give lifetime access to coaching, résumé building, and interview preparation.

Admission Requirements

The application process stays simple with:

• No application fee
• No SAT/ACT requirements
• No essay needed

Students pick their program, choose a start date, and submit their application before the deadline, usually a week before courses begin.

Online BSW options

Online education has changed social work programs in Arizona. Students who couldn’t attend classes due to location or schedule conflicts can now access CSWE-accredited programs online. Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University offer fully online, CSWE-accredited BSW programs that maintain the same academic standards as traditional campus programs.

The online programs are a great fit for three main groups: rural Arizona residents, professionals who need to balance work and studies, and military families who move frequently. Grand Canyon University also offers an online BSW program where students can use digital learning platforms, connect with faculty, and access detailed online library resources.

Students choose online BSW programs for several compelling reasons:

• Schedule Flexibility – You can complete coursework around your work and family commitments
• Local Field Placements – You can fulfill internship requirements in your community
• Credential Equivalence – Your diploma matches what campus students receive
• Financial Benefits – You save money on moving and travel costs
• Digital Competency – You learn tech skills needed in modern social work

ASU’s CSWE-accredited online BSW program prepares students thoroughly for their careers. Students complete a supervised 480-hour practicum in their local area, which ASU’s Practicum Education Office coordinates. This setup helps students affect their communities while building professional skills.

Field experience remains essential to online education. Students can work in various settings like hospices, youth organizations, community centers, and support services. The program helps students develop fundamental social work abilities in assessment, client engagement, evaluation, intervention, intake, and research methods.

University of Phoenix structures its online bachelor’s program into five to six-week courses that students can apply right away. Students build job-ready skills throughout their educational trip without waiting years to use what they learn.

BSW Curriculum

CSWE-accredited programs in Arizona follow a standard curriculum that gets students ready for generalist social work practice. Students need 120 credit hours to earn their bachelor’s degree. The program has general education, social work core courses, and field education components.

BSW programs teach fundamental social work knowledge. The core curriculum has these main courses:

• Social policy and services
• Human behavior in the social environment
• Social work practice methods
• Research methodologies
• Field instruction in community agencies

Students can choose electives that match their career interests beyond these basics. This complete structure helps you build skills you need to work in the field. You’ll learn to plan and implement evidence-based interventions, apply professional case management skills, and stand up for human rights and social justice.

Arizona’s CSWE BSW accredited programs teach skills that match professional standards. Students learn critical thinking, work with diverse groups, adapt to different practice settings, and assess interventions with individuals, families, groups, and communities.

Arizona’s social work education stands out because it reflects the state’s unique cultural mix. Programs build strong connections with Native American populations, Hispanic communities, and border regions. To name just one example, Northern Arizona University offers special training to work with rural and Indigenous populations of the Southwest.

Your classroom learning blends with real-world experience. Field education is central to social work training, and you’ll need minimum of 400 supervised hours in community settings. This hands-on training happens in behavioral health centers, schools, hospitals, and community organizations.

Your BSW coursework becomes more focused as you progress, and you’ll end up ready for various roles. Social workers serve as advocates, make referrals, manage cases, and solve problems in organizations of all sizes.

Field Education Requirements in Arizona

Field education connects academic study with professional practice in all CSWE-accredited programs in Arizona. Students must complete between 400-600 hours of supervised practice experience at approved agency settings.

BSW students usually complete one practicum placement over an academic year that spans two consecutive semesters. Programs give students different options based on their needs:

• Concurrent Placement: Students spend 18-20 hours weekly at agencies while taking regular coursework (approximately 240 hours per semester)
• Block Placement: Students immerse themselves full-time at agencies during one intensive semester

Students must meet several requirements before starting their field education. These requirements vary slightly between institutions:

• Social Work major acceptance
• Senior academic status
• Core social work courses completed with minimum grades (often B or better)
• GPA requirements (typically 2.25-2.5)
• Human services experience documentation (40+ hours at ASU)
• Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card
• Professional and ethical behavior agreements signed

Professional social workers who complete certification training serve as Practicum Supervisors for students. Students get to apply theoretical knowledge in real-life settings while they develop key skills for professional practice.

Students work in various settings such as behavioral health centers, schools, hospitals, community organizations, and specialized medical facilities. Each placement helps students combine academic learning with hands-on experience in assessment, intervention, evaluation, and case management.

CSWE requirements emphasize understanding diverse populations, applying ethical principles, and showing core competencies. Social work programs in Arizona structure their field components to match these professional standards. This preparation helps graduates qualify for their original social work licensure.

Career Outlook for BSW Social Workers in Arizona

Social work graduates from CSWE-accredited programs in Arizona enter a job market that’s growing faster than ever. Career prospects look promising as social work positions in Arizona should grow by 2.6% each year through 2033. This growth will create thousands of new positions statewide.

The healthcare and social assistance sector, which covers many social work roles, expects to add 137,000 jobs by 2033. The state especially needs child, family, and school social workers, with about 8,000 new positions expected through 2030. Arizona’s population growth of 13.9% since 2010 drives this trend.

New professionals have excellent opportunities because of a 42% turnover rate and a 7.4% full-time vacancy rate. BSW graduates from accredited social work programs can find jobs right after graduation.

Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows varying salaries by specialization:

Arizona’s social workers earn about $53,588 per year. Without doubt, these earnings combined with growth rates higher than the national average make social work an attractive career choice in Arizona.

Major employers of BSW graduates include Banner Health System, Arizona Department of Child Safety, Maricopa County Human Services, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Community Bridges Inc., and Southwest Behavioral Health Services. Jobs also exist with federal agencies like the Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, schools, community mental health centers, and hospitals.

The field grows faster than average, and your CSWE BSW accredited degree prepares you to work in a stable profession that helps Arizona’s communities in many ways.

Arizona Social Work Licensure Pathway

The Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners manages social work licensure and provides three credential levels for CSWE-accredited program graduates. You should first decide which license matches your education and career goals.

A bachelor’s degree from a CSWE BSW accredited program and passing the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examination are required for the Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) credential. This starter license allows you to provide non-clinical services under supervision.

The Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) path requires a master’s degree in social work from an accredited program. You can perform non-clinical services independently once you pass the appropriate ASWB exam.

The Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credential has these requirements for clinical practice:

• A master’s or doctorate in social work
• 3,200 hours of supervised clinical experience completed within 24 months
• At least 1,600 hours with direct client contact psychotherapy
• Minimum 100 hours of clinical supervision (50+ hours under an LCSW)
• Passing the ASWB clinical examination

The Board’s website helps you check your degree program’s CSWE accreditation status. Supervisors must submit documentation of supervised experience in sealed, signed envelopes during the licensure process.

Arizona’s licensure law works as a “practice act” and limits psychotherapy to professionals who hold the highest level license (LCSW).

Next Steps

Your BSW degree from Arizona’s CSWE-accredited programs opens multiple career paths. A clear understanding of these options will help you maximize your investment in education.

The Advanced Standing MSW programs attract many graduates. You can complete your master’s degree in just one year at ASU, NAU, or GCU. This accelerated path saves both time and money.

Licensed graduates can start their careers in direct practice positions such as:

• Case Manager
• Social Service Specialist
• Child Protective Services Worker
• Behavioral Health Technician
• Community Outreach Coordinator

Your career prospects improve with specialized certifications beyond simple licensure. You can pursue credentials like Certified Case Manager (CCM), Trauma-Informed Care Specialist, or Substance Abuse Counselor Certification.

ASU’s BSW Honors Program welcomes students with a 3.5 GPA in social work courses. Barrett Honors College reviews applications monthly starting November 1st. Students must complete a thesis and 18 credit hours of graduate coursework instead of undergraduate equivalents.

Application deadlines differ among institutions. Most schools set October deadlines for spring admission and May deadlines for fall enrollment.

Start Today

Your BSW program choice marks a crucial step in your trip to becoming a licensed social worker in Arizona. Four CSWE-accredited programs offer different advantages that match various educational needs and career goals. Arizona State University’s program stands out with multiple campus options. Northern Arizona University excels at preparing students to serve rural and Indigenous communities. Grand Canyon University brings a faith-based point of view, while University of Phoenix caters to working adults with flexible schedules.

CSWE accreditation matters no matter which program you pick. This credential shows your education meets professional standards and qualifies you for state licensure after graduation. On top of that, it takes hundreds of supervised hours in community settings to connect classroom theory with hands-on experience in all four programs.

BSW graduates’ career outlook in Arizona shows promise. Social work jobs grow faster than average statewide, with thousands of new positions expected through 2033. A BSW degree will open doors to healthcare facilities, schools, government agencies, and community organizations that offer competitive starting pay.

After finishing your BSW, several paths lie ahead. You could start work as a case manager or social service specialist right away. Some graduates move on to accelerated MSW programs or get specialized certifications to boost their credentials. Without doubt, these programs will equip you with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed to succeed in social work.

Your final choice depends on the program’s format, location, cost, and your personal values. Arizona’s CSWE-accredited programs suit different needs, whether you learn better in person, online, or both. The trip needs commitment and hard work, but you’ll find rewarding career opportunities serving communities of all types throughout Arizona.