Admissions and aid

Be a changemaker.

Are you passionate about creating change in communities where it's needed most? Commit to an education from VCU’s School of Social Work and graduate prepared to make a difference. Through an innovative curriculum, diverse field experiences, and ambitious and proactive research priorities, our school informs the leaders of today and prepares the leaders of tomorrow.

Want to know more about what makes VCU a great choice for students interested in social work? Explore our Why VCU and UNcommon Strengths pages.

Our programs

Bachelor of Social Work

Program details | Admissions info

B.S.W.

Master of Social Work

Program details | Admissions info

M.S.W.

Ph.D. in Social Work

Program details | Admissions info

Ph.D.

Minor in mental health practice

Develop foundational knowledge and skills through a strong preparatory framework for several career paths in the mental health field. Ideal for majors in biology, business, criminal justice, education, nursing, psychology and social work. Learn more

A heart inside a brain

Minor in social welfare

Develop your social work and social justice perspectives while complementing your bachelor's degree in another discipline. Take two foundational classes and select four of eight electives. Learn more 

Two hands reaching out, with a beating heart in between

Project PIRR

Project PIRR provides interdisciplinary training and funding for master's level students to prepare them as early intervention social workers. The program is available to M.S.W. students in both the on-campus and online formats regardless of full-time/part-time track, concentration or term start. Selected participants will receive a $10,000 stipend that will go toward their tuition each year they are in the project, with a service payback requirement for each year they receive the stipend. 

1,116

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1,116 students enrolled in total (Fall 2023) *

550+

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550+ field partner sites *

12,000+

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12,000+ living alumni *

I plan to work in a foster care worker role for a few years and work up to a family services specialist role, particularly working with youth involved in juvenile corrections. I see myself making the biggest impact in social work as a changemaker who disrupts the school-to-prison pipeline while working to reunify families.

Lindsay Pugh (she/her), M.S.W.'21 graduate and Fostering Success Scholarship recipient as a student.
Lindsey Pugh

Accreditation

VCU’s B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education – the accrediting body for all schools of social work at both the baccalaureate and master’s levels. The VCU Bachelor of Social Work Program is accredited by CSWE through 2027.