two students crouching down to be with small children
Major (BSW)
School of Social Innovation 
On-Campus Employment Opportunities
Internships
Study Abroad
Admissions 
Assessment of Learning Outcomes 
Current Students College Catalog 
Related Majors 

Transform Lives and Build Communities With In-Demand Professional Skills

Today’s social service agencies, healthcare systems, and community organizations are actively seeking qualified professionals who can address complex societal challenges.

At Champlain, you’ll start building practical skills your first semester and graduate with over 400 hours of direct field experience—plus the CSWE accreditation employers recognize and respect.

  • Turn Your Passion for Helping Into Professional Impact

    Social work professionals create positive change at all levels—from supporting individuals through personal challenges to developing community-wide solutions that address systemic issues.

    This dynamic, growing field offers diverse career paths in mental health, healthcare, child welfare, substance abuse treatment, community development, and advocacy. At Champlain, you’ll gain the practical skills and ethical framework to make an immediate difference in people’s lives while building a rewarding, sustainable career.

  • Experience the Champlain Advantage

    At Champlain, our Upside-Down Curriculum puts you in social work courses immediately—no waiting two years to start building professional skills. You’ll benefit from:

    • Small classes taught by licensed social work professionals with current field experience
    • A social justice framework that employers recognize and value
    • Multiple field experiences beginning in your first year
    • A supportive campus community that mirrors the collaborative nature of professional social work
    • Personalized guidance from faculty who know your name and career goals

    Our Burlington location provides direct access to social service agencies, healthcare facilities, and community organizations where you’ll build professional connections and gain practical experience that employers value.

  • By the time you graduate, you will:

    • Apply professional social work practices to help clients navigate complex personal and social challenges
    • Develop assessment and intervention strategies that address needs across diverse populations
    • Master case management techniques used by today’s leading social service agencies
    • Create and implement community-based solutions for systemic social issues
    • Build a professional portfolio demonstrating your ability to work effectively with individuals, families, groups, and organizations

     

two students hug as a greeting, smiling

Different by Design

Accelerated Master’s Pathway

Our CSWE-accredited program creates a direct pathway to advanced standing in MSW programs—complete your master’s degree in just one year instead of two, saving valuable time and tuition costs.

Real-World Practice Environment

Burlington’s progressive community provides the perfect learning laboratory for developing professional skills in agencies addressing today’s most pressing social challenges.

Immediate Hands-On Experience

You’ll apply classroom concepts in real-world settings throughout your education, building professional connections and workplace-ready skills long before graduation.

92%

of Social Work majors in the Class of 2023 achieved career success within six months after graduation. That’s success you can see.

7%

Projected growth of overall employment of social work professionals 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sample Courses in the Social Work Major

Our curriculum blends theoretical knowledge with practical application, preparing you for immediate career success. You’ll take courses in:

Career Possibilities

What jobs can I get with a Social Work degree?

You’ll Find a Career In…

  • Outreach work
  • Case management
  • Probation
  • Child welfare
  • Substance abuse counseling
  • Social services
  • Behavioral and mental health

More Inside Social Work Major