Studying Social Work at Providence College
This school appears on our ranking of 20 High-value BSW Degrees in Metro Areas with Top Salaries for Social Workers.
The School of Arts and Sciences celebrated its 40th year of providing a Social Work Major for Providence College bachelor's students to learn the methods to protect at-risk populations from societal injustices. Chaired by Dr. Katherine Kranz, LICSW, in Howley Hall, the 126-credit curriculum applies Dominican values into human service practice to promote well-being in culturally diverse communities. Thanks to the 12:1 student-professor ratio, small courses like Group Processes, Child Welfare, Social Policy, Addictions, and Abnormal Psychology sharpen 21st-century skills. PhD-level mentors guide BSW seniors toward the capstone "Leading Change" project or Honors thesis. Social work study could be paired with the Black Studies, Global Studies, and Public Service minors too.
Outside the classroom, the CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work lets majors complete 200 hours of practicum before 400-hour senior internships. Popular field placement sites include Butler Hospital, Foster Forward, Rhode Island Kids Count, Sojourner House, Steere Rehabilitation Center, Tides Family Services, and Cranston Community Action. Providence College's own Feinstein Institute has the FriarServe Volunteer Program for extra hours. Undergrads choose from 100+ campus clubs, such as Students for Social Action (SSA), Phi Alpha, Women Will, Circle K, Best Buddies, and Students Organized Against Racism. Global missions of 1-3 weeks are available in 40 countries from Guam to Guyana. BSW trips to the NASW Rhode Island Annual Conference are also arranged.
About Providence College
Providence College was established by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph in 1917 with Pope Benedict XV's blessing at Harkins Hall with seminary training for 71 men. Expanded during Father Robert Slavin's Post-WWII tenure, Providence added the Liberal Arts Honors program in 1957 and became coeducational in 1971. Endowed for $213 million, Providence now enrolls 3,852 Friars of all faiths, including Social Work majors, as a private, civic-engaged Catholic ACCU member of the Big East Conference. Atop Smith Hill, Providence College occupies a 105-acre Elmhurst campus with Phillips Memorial Library in Forbes' 82nd best city for education. Linked to 35,074 LinkedIn alumni, Providence has trained Janeane Garofalo, Chris Dodd, John O'Hurley, Doris Burke, and more.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Providence the North's #1 best university and 12th top value with the 118th best part-time graduate education nationally. On Niche, Providence was named America's 17th best test-optional school, 123rd top private university, and 172nd best student life college. Forbes deemed Providence College the country's 151st best institution with the 157th happiest grads and 189th most worthwhile tuition. Times Higher Education placed Providence 239th countrywide for quality. College Factual applauded Providence for the 30th best BSW with the 16th highest-paid social work grads. In Washington Monthly, Providence College has the 70th best service participation and 137th best financial aid rates. The New York Times also rated Providence 166th nationally for most low-income student assistance.
Providence College Accreditation Details
In Fall 2017, Providence College had its Level IV regional accreditation renewed for another decade without sanctions by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) under president Brian Shanley. This institutional approval covers all 49 majors, including the Bachelor of Social Work, and 13 graduate programs for Federal Title-IV eligibility from the U.S. Department of Education. Providence is also authorized by the Rhode Island Office of Higher Education. Continuously since 1976, the BSW major has been specially accredited on eight-year cycles by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Providence College Application Requirements
Declaring the Social Work Major at Providence College involves passing the "more selective" admission process that had 55 percent success in 2016. The 1,030 first-year Friars all completed a secondary diploma or the GED certificate. Core prerequisites demand four years of English, four years of math, 3 years of foreign language, three years of science, and two years of history. Admitted freshmen generally rank in the top 30 percent of their class for an average GPA of 3.41. Although non-compulsory, Providence undergrads boast a mean SAT score of 1230 and ACT score of 26. Foreign students have an extra step to prove English proficiency with a minimum TOEFL pBT score of 577, IELTS score of 7.0, or equivalent. Transferring into the BSW, including through the Community College of Rhode Island agreement, mandates a cumulative GPA above 3.0 in 24+ credits earned.
Providence College has established an Early Action deadline of November 1st and Regular Decision deadline of January 15th for freshmen. BSW transfers are processed until April 1st for Fall or December 1st for Spring admission. Aspiring social workers can complete the Common Application or Undergraduate Admission form completely online. If necessary, extra materials are emailed to [email protected] or sent to 1 Cunningham Square in Providence, RI 02918. The Department of Social Work requests the following items:
• $65 application fee (or waiver form)
• Secondary school report and transcripts
• Counselor and teacher recommendations
• Class syllabi for transfer credit evaluation
• Standardized test score reports (optional)
• Typed, 500-word admission essay
Providence College Tuition and Financial Aid
Getting a BSW at Providence College costs full-time undergrads $47,870 for annual tuition. Students budget $980 for textbooks, $430 for the technology fee, $330 for the activity fee, and $185 for the psychology lab fee each year. Unless waived, student health insurance premiums bill $1,888 per term. Living at the Rhode Island campus adds $4,105 for housing and $3,105 for unlimited meal plans every semester. Total annual cost of attendance is approximately $64,984 for residents and $56,144 for commuters.
According to the NCES College Navigator, 78 percent of full-time Providence Friars share $71.1 million in annual financial aid that gifts $24,941 apiece on average. Institutional funds like the Albert Magnus Scholarship, Leadership Scholarship, Feinstein Scholarship, Roddy Scholarship, St. Rose of Lima Scholarship, McAlister Scholarship, and Family Grant are abundant. Social work majors can file the FAFSA form via code 003406 for Federal Pell and Educational Opportunity grants. Little Rhody natives may qualify for the Rhode Island State Grant and Academic Promise Scholarship. BSW majors graduate with median debt of $27,000 from Perkins, Direct Subsidized, and Direct Unsubsidized loans. The Federal Work-Study program also provides biweekly paychecks for campus or community jobs.
Learn more about Providence College at the Department of Social Work website.