Apply to the B.S.W. Program
Ready to join other students who are passionate about making a difference in people's lives? Explore our resources to help you get started, and contact us if you have questions along the way.
B.S.W. application deadlines
- Aug. 1 - Common Application opens
- Nov. 1 – Scholarship and Spring Application Deadlines
- Feb. 15 – First-Year Application Deadline
- March 17 – Fall Transfer Deadline
VCU School of Social Work uses a rolling admissions process, meaning decisions are sent out as applications are reviewed.
Deadlines may occasionally be adjusted for holidays or other reasons in a given year. Please check VCU's admissions site to confirm the most current dates, including decision and response deadlines.
B.S.W. admissions
Students interested in the B.S.W. degree must apply for general admission to VCU and can declare social work as their major at that time. As first- and second-year social work students, they will enroll in the required general education and foundational curriculum classes. Upon completion of foundational requirements and reaching junior standing, students may begin professional preparation courses (300- and 400-level) in the major.
If you will be a first-time college student, are transferring in credits from another institution or are applying under unique circumstances as an undergraduate, this is the path for you. To learn more about other transfer options to VCU, please visit our Pathways Program page.
About the B.S.W. Program
Our full-time B.S.W. Program prepares students for beginning-level social work practice by engaging them in a constant evaluation of what it means to work for the well-being of others and what a tremendous ethical responsibility and privilege it is to call oneself a social worker. The program is available on-campus and online.
Transfer to VCU’s B.S.W. Program
Joining VCU from another institution can be a big life transition. Fortunately, the School of Social Work’s Office of Student Success works in tandem with the VCU Transfer Center to make sure students feel connected before they even enter the classroom. Reach out to the Transfer Center for assistance planning your continued education at VCU at (804) 827-1349 or transferinfo@vcu.edu.
The VCU School of Social Work’s transfer agreement allows eligible Brightpoint Community College and Reynolds Community College students to earn their Bachelor of Social Work at VCU in as little as two years. Complete your associate’s degree in human services with a pre-social work specialization at Brightpoint or Reynolds, and you can seamlessly transfer to VCU’s nationally ranked School of Social Work.
Additional pathways for transfers:
After graduation, I will pursue my M.S.W. with a concentration in administration, planning and policy practice. My career goals include directing a public housing agency and serving in public health roles.”
Alum Oscar Kemp (he/him), B.S.W.'23, Fulbright recipient (Uganda); Critical Language Scholarship awardee (Tanzania)
I was inspired to choose the B.S.W. Program at VCU because of the amazing reputation of the program and the faculty in the program. Being in this program has been a gift and has shaped me into a well-rounded future social worker. The greatest skill I have learned from this program that will help me in my future career is self-advocacy. In the helping field, it is important for us to also speak up for ourselves! I hope to go into addiction counseling and get into the M.S.W. Program here at VCU after graduation!”
Alum Hilda Quansah (she/her), B.S.W.'25, B.S.W. student Commencement speaker; Virginia Council on Social Welfare Scholarship recipient; Association of Black Social Workers treasurer
Have questions?
If you're a prospective student interested in the B.S.W. Program, please reach out to the Office of Student Success at sswinfo@vcu.edu.
Upcoming B.S.W. admissions events
If there are no admissions events scheduled, please check out our complete public calendar or our current student calendar.