BSW
Get details on Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) courses, fees, subjects, scope, exams, careers, eligibility & degree in India. Know BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) career options, earning opportunities
About
BSW course or Bachelor of Social Work is a professional degree majoring in the field of social work offered at the undergraduate (UG) level. Typically, BSW degree course has a duration of three years that is further divided into six semesters. In some cases, candidates need to mandatorily complete the course within a maximum duration of six years. Candidates can undertake BSW as a full-time course or even pursue it as a Correspondence/ Distance Education course. BSW course comprises of three major parts including foundation course, elective course and fieldwork. Colleges in India offer a BSW degree course in both English and Hindi medium. Some common topics that candidates need to study in a BSW course include Introduction to Social Work, Social Problems in India, Social Work Research & Statistics, Social Work Administration and the likes. Scroll down to know more details on a BSW course including its eligibility criteria, subjects, top colleges, skills required, job profiles and more.
BSW Course: Eligibility CriteriaCandidates must meet the eligibility conditions to pursue a BSW course. Space below mentions the educational qualifications required to pursue a BSW course in India:
Candidates must pass Class 12 from a recognised board. The minimum qualifying score accepted by most of the universities is 50 per cent aggregate. However, some colleges might have no minimum score. Candidates must check the eligibility criteria set by a particular college before applying for admission. For UG level admission, there is no preference for the stream studied in Class 12. However, candidates who have a background in the field of social work, sociology, psychology, or any related field are preferred if they want to pursue a BSW course.
BSW Subjects/SyllabusThe subjects taught as part of BSW course may vary across colleges. Candidates can check some of the common topics taught in the BSW course in the table below:
| Course Curriculum for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) | |
|---|---|
| English-1 |
Introduction to Social Work |
| Social Science Foundation for Social Work: Sociology |
Communication in Modern Indian Languages |
| Human Growth and Behaviour |
English-2 |
| Work with Individuals and Families |
Work with Groups |
| Social Science Foundation for Social Work: Contemporary Development Studies |
Field Work (practical component related to core subjects) |
| Gender Studies |
Community Organisation |
| Social Policy |
Computer Applications |
| Research Methods |
Social Work Administration |
| Social Work Theories and Practice |
Life Skills |
| Development and Communication |
Health and Nutrition / Child and Youth Studies (Elective) |
| Social Exclusion and Inclusion / Global and Indian Social Movements (Elective) |
Work with older adults / Social Entrepreneurship (General Elective) |
| Academic Writing |
Human Rights / Education and Development (Elective) |
| Rural and Urban Studies / Informal Labour and Informal Sector (Elective) |
Disability / Basic Counselling Skills (General Elective) |
There are more than 200 BSW colleges in India. Candidates can refer to the table below to find some of the top BSW colleges in order of popularity:
| Name of BSW College | BSW Course Fee (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Hindustan College of Arts and Science | 66 K |
| IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open University | 17.4 K |
| MCC - Madras Christian College | NA |
| Amity University, Noida | 6.36 L |
| School of Distance Education, Bharathiar University | 36.6 K |
| Amity University, Mumbai | 2.55 L |
| SJC Bangalore - St. Joseph's College | NA |
| DAVV - Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya | 71.13 K |
| Madras School of Social Work | 96.02 K |
| NEF College of Management & Technology | 1.25 L |
Aspirants who want to undertake BSW course need to be well aware of the social problems of the area wherein they work and also possess good communication skills. Some other key skills that an aspirant should possess when thinking of pursuing a BSW course are listed below:
- Empathy
- Good listener
- Good communication skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Social perceptiveness
- Tolerance
- Critical thinking
- Ability to coordinate
- Self-awareness
- Ability to set boundaries
- Integrity
- Persuasion
After completing BSW course, aspirants can either pursue higher studies in the field of social work. Apart from higher studies, candidates can also opt to pursue a job in the field of social work after completing their BSW course. Some popular job profiles that candidates can join after successfully completing their BSW course are listed below:
| Job Profile | Description |
|---|---|
| Social Worker |
In such a job profile, one provides appropriate resources, advice and support to individuals who are facing difficulties or problems in their personal/ professional life. A social worker helps individuals cope with any problems they are facing to fulfill their monetary, emotional and social needs. |
| Social Educator |
In such a profile one needs to plan and organise events related to social issues. A social educator also needs to conduct committee meetings with the Public Affairs as well as Social Issues department. |
| Project Coordinator |
Aspirants are hired at this job profile in an NGO. Project Coordinators need to help in the planning, budgeting and monitoring process of a project undertaken by an NGO. Apart from this, a Project Coordinator also needs to ensure that the project is undertaken is being conducted within the framework established and all documentation work is complete. A project coordinator also gets in touch with volunteers and ensures that the project is being completed as per timelines fixed for it. |
Q. How any semesters are there in a Bachelor of Social Work?
A. The duration of BSW is three years and there are a total of 6 semesters in the undergraduate programme.Q. What is the admission process for BSW?
A. There are various universities that offer admission to BSW course on the basis of merit and direct admissions, while there are some universities which offer admission to BSW on the basis of clearance of an entrance exam.Q. What is the eligibility criteria for a BSW course?
A. The candidate should have done their Class 12 from a recognised board in any stream and should have secured a minimum of 45 per cent aggregate.Q. I have done my BA in Sociology, can I do BSW?
A. Yes. Candidates can apply for admission to do their Bachelor of Social Work. You can also apply for a Master of Social Work, however, the candidate has to meet the set eligibility criteria set, which may vary from university to university.Q. Is the scope better after doing a BSW?
A. Yes. The scope is bright as there are many career options one can take up, work their way through and be a part of renowned NGOs, government departments, organisations and companies. However, it is advisable to do your Master’s to narrow down a specialisation.Q. What are the career options after a BSW course?
A. After successfully pursuing a BSW course, candidates can work in areas such as NGOs, Rehab Centres, Schools, Organisations, Community Centres and various other departments which need professional help in Social Work.Q. What is the salaries offered after a BSW?
A. If you are planning on starting your career after a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), the starting salaries start from Rs 15,000 onwards, depending which area you are working in.| Course Level | Degree |
| Course Type | entry |
| Course Entry Level | UG |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Total Seats | 0 |
| Min Fees | 0 |
| Max Fees | 0 |
| Paid Course | Not Available |
