Bachelor of Social Work
Turn advocacy into a career
The Simmons Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program gives you the tools for a lifelong career as a changemaker.
Here, you’ll benefit from small, interactive classes, immersive practicum, service learning experiences, and world-class faculty mentorship. You will graduate with the confidence, training, and professional network to fulfill your calling as a generalist social worker.
Why choose the Simmons BSW degree?
In 1904, Simmons established the nation’s first MSW program for clinical social workers. Since then, Simmons has remained a national leader and innovator in social work education. We launched the PhD program in 1984, the BSW program in 2012, and the DSW program in 2021.
Our BSW program prioritizes skill development and hands-on learning by offering:
- Small Classes, Big Impact: Learn in a setting where your voice is heard, and your growth is personal.
- The Power of Simulation: We are among the few US programs to use trained actors to simulate clinical scenarios. Practice your skills in a safe, guided environment before you enter the profession.
- Varied Opportunities to Apply Classroom Learning: Our service learning and practicum requirements allow you to immerse yourself in community agencies to practice your social work skills in real life.
- Scholar-Practitioner Faculty: Our faculty — nationally recognized leaders in social work practice, research, and education — bring their diverse social work experience into the curriculum and classroom.
- Immediate Career Path: Graduate ready to work in a range of agencies, including community, government, residential, schools, hospitals, and child welfare.
- A Lifelong Network: Join the Simmons School of Social Work family, a community of alumnae/i leading the profession globally.
Flexible pathways to earn your BSW
Whether you are beginning your undergraduate career or transferring credits to complete your degree, we offer several options that fit your life.
- On-Campus BSW (Boston): Four years on our lively campus in Boston’s premier medical district, giving you unrivaled access to top hospitals and social service agencies.
- Degree Completion (Online BSW): Experience live, synchronous classrooms, asynchronous content, and in-person practicum placements in your own community.
- Accelerated 3+1 (BSW/MSW): Fast-track to a master's degree in 4 years.
What can you do with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work?
A bachelor’s degree in Social Work prepares you to take the Licensed Social Worker (LSW) exam and to apply for an MSW degree through our 9-month Advanced Standing MSW Program.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that social work employment will grow 6% through 2034. Our graduates secure social work roles in community agencies, residential programs, child protective services, school programs, geriatric services, and organizations dedicated to community activism.
Spotlight on Social Work Students and Alums
Meet Our 2025–26 Bonner Community Leaders
The Bonner Community Leaders Program is a unique opportunity for students who want to combine a strong commitment to service with personal growth, teamwork, leadership development, and scholarship. This academic year, Simmons announced a new cohort of Bonner Leaders including Ammy A. Cardenes Santana ’29, Gulsah Cayan ’29, Lily-Rose O’Brien ’29, and Mackenzie Oprea ’29.
Simmons Student-athletes Excel On and Off the Field
Early mornings and late evenings. Long practices and rigorous academic courses. Team bonding and unforgettable moments. These are just a few of the hallmarks of the student-athlete experience at Simmons, according to field hockey player Sydney Gonyea ’25 and softball pitcher Piper Kinney ’26.
Simmons Welcomes New Cohort of Bonner Community Leaders
The Bonner Community Leaders Program is a unique opportunity for students who want to combine a strong commitment to service with personal growth, teamwork, leadership development, and scholarship. We spoke with Ellie Foss ’28, Jocelyn Miranda Landaverde ’28, Bridget Swezey ’28, and Soraya Timas ’28 about what drew them to the program.
Ilana Feldman ’23MSW: Empowering Communication and Connection with the Special Needs’ Population
Ilana Feldman is a social worker in the Deafblind School at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts—the oldest school for the blind in the U.S.
Trans & Non-Binary Living-Learning Communities at Simmons Offer Residential Support and Allyship on Campus
The Trans & Non-Binary Living-Learning Communities (LLC) are for students who identify anywhere within the transgender and non-binary spectrum, as well as active allies. We spoke to students, staff, and Resident Advisors about how the LLC supports trans undergraduate students on campus.
Simmons Announces Passionate Leaders Project Scholars for Fall 2023
The Passionate Leaders Project supports Simmons undergraduates by enriching their academic & professional interests beyond the classroom. Students may request up to $4,000 to support their research, internships, and creative endeavors. This semester’s students produced research related to human rights, documentary film, healthcare access, therapeutic care databases, the neurodevelopment of fruit flies, Muslims’ experiences with healthcare in Boston, and software that supports Simmons’ food pantry.
Marina McCollum ’25 on Deconstructing Stigma: Changing Attitudes toward Mental Health
McLean Hospital recently launched Deconstructing Stigma: Changing Attitudes toward Mental Health. This campaign challenges popular and erroneous assumptions about psychiatric disorders. Social work major Marina McCollum is a participant in the program. She spoke with us about her personal experiences...
Meet Erin Curley ’20, Assistant Director of Community Service Programs at Northeastern University
Since she majored in Social Work at Simmons, Erin Curley has supported vulnerable individuals in her community. In her current role, she’s helping others engage as well by connecting Northeastern students with community service opportunities in Boston and beyond. Curley...
Highlights of Simmons BSW
100%
Feel that Faculty are Invested
100% of students report that faculty are invested in their success.
* results from the 2025 BSW student survey
90%
Rank Practicum Sites as Excellent
90% of students reported they would recommend their placement site to other BSW students.
* results from the 2025 BSW student survey
94%
Agree that are receiving a high-quality education
94% of students agreed that the content and skills they are learning is preparing them for a successful career in social work.
* results from the 2025 BSW student survey
1st
School of Clinical Social Work in the Country
The School of Social Work (SSW) is distinguished in many ways — with nationally acclaimed faculty, a strong emphasis on clinical practice, and our ideal Boston location among world-renowned teaching hospitals and research facilities.
125+
Years
For more than a century, Simmons has set the standard for clinical social work education and social justice advocacy.
500+
Agencies
Our extensive Boston internship network, with over 500 partner agencies, provides exceptional placements in hospitals, schools, and community mental health settings.
Our Faculty
Learn more about our BSW faculty
Tiffany Pinckney
Associate Professor of Practice and BSW Program Director
Gordon Chinamasa
Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Director of the BSW Program
Aqueela Culbreath-Britt
Associate Professor of Practice and Director of On-ground BSW Practicum Education
Patricia Galan-Cisneros
Adjunct Faculty