Bachelor of Social Work Admissions

To apply to Boise State University, you must submit the online undergraduate application. In the application, select the following options:

• In the Semester and Major section of the application, indicate you are interested in taking courses “Entirely through online delivery.”
• In the Semester and Major section of the application, select your academic area of interest from the major drop-down list.

Apply to Boise State University

Contact the registrar offices of all the universities and colleges that you’ve attended to obtain transcripts that can be emailed to Boise State. You can also get a copy for yourself to reference.

If you have served in the military, please make sure to send your Joint Services Transcript and/or Community College of the Air Force transcript.

How to Request Official Transcripts

Log in to the undergraduate application portal to access the program application for the online Bachelor of Arts in Social Work.

The program application includes the following:

• Two application essays
• A professional resume
• Three notarized forms
• A completed background check
• Two letters of recommendation

Write and submit two application essays. Each essay must be between 750 to 1,000 words and uploaded as its own Word, Google Doc or PDF document. You will submit both essays individually through your program application.

Essay One

Carefully review the ethical principles found in the NASW Code of Ethics. Keeping the mission of the profession in mind, respond to the following:

1. Beyond your personal desire to assist people, discuss why you have chosen to pursue a degree in social work.
2. The NASW Code of Ethics preamble states that “the primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people” and highlights our six core values. Keeping these core values in mind, share how you will contribute to the profession and the mission of social work.
3. Briefly discuss your personal strengths and limitations as they relate to your success as a social work student and a future social worker.

Essay Two

Carefully review the ethical principles found in the NASW Code of Ethics. After reviewing the ethical principles, respond to the following:

1. Social workers serve all types of people whose backgrounds, beliefs and experiences may be different from their own. What experiences make you prepared to work with and serve all populations?
2. What knowledge, skills and training do you need to be effective in providing service to all individuals you may encounter in practice?

Develop and submit a professional resume as a Word, Google Doc or PDF document. You will submit your resume through your program application.

Your resume should include any paid or unpaid social work experience, including volunteering or service learning. List your experiences in chronological order, with the most recent activity listed first. We recommend formatting your resume as if you are applying for a position in social work.

Include the following details for each experience:

• Agency or company name
• City and state where the agency or company is located
• Start and end dates (format: mm/dd/yyyy)
• Position title
• Major responsibilities of the position

Complete, notarize and upload the three required forms (PDF): Criminal and Substantiated Abuse History Disclosure, Applicant’s Verification of Candor and Accuracy and Ethical Statement. If applicable, submit any required supplemental documentation. You will submit these forms and supplemental documentation through your program application.

Please DO NOT sign the forms until you are in the presence of the Notary Public. You are required to bring photo identification that includes your name and signature on it.

You can find notarial services at banks, libraries and mailbox/photocopy shops (i.e., Mailboxes Etc., The UPS Store, Postal Annex, etc.). Some locations require appointments, and a small fee may be charged at the discretion of the notary.

Note: Answering “Yes” to questions on the Criminal and Substantiated Abuse History Disclosure form does not necessarily mean you will be denied admission to the social work program. Additional documentation and/or information may be requested if the supplemental documentation is deemed insufficient.

All social work students are required to complete a background check. Order your background check by completing the following steps:

• Visit Boise State’s CastleBranch portal
• Select “BJ53: Background Check”
• Create an account and follow the prompts to place your order
• Pay the background check fee ($45)

The background check typically takes five to 10 business days to process once you place your order and pay the fee.

If you have misdemeanors, felonies or any other offenses that will appear on a background check, you are also required to complete a background narrative. Please describe these incidents and explain what you learned from the experience.

About the Background Check

To ensure the safety and well-being of all clients and patients, background checks are becoming a standard requirement for employment in social services and health care. Background checks are required by most agencies that serve as field work sites for social work students. It is, therefore, important that all applicants being considered for admission into Boise State’s online BSW complete a background check before starting the program.

The School of Social Work offers professional education in preparation for social work licensure and practice. Evaluation for the license to practice social work in Idaho and other states also includes a review of the applicant’s criminal record. After graduation, a past conviction may impact your ability to be licensed as well as your employability. For more details regarding the background check requirement, see the College of Health Sciences Background Check Policy.

You need two letters of recommendation to apply to the social work program. You will submit information for both recommendations through your program application.

One letter must be from an academic source (i.e., an instructor or professor), and one letter must be from either work or volunteer activities (i.e., a manager or supervisor). Letters from your peers or colleagues will not be accepted.

Include the following information for each recommendation:

• Recommender’s first and last name
• Recommender’s organization or place of employment
• Recommender’s position or job title
• Your relationship with the recommender
• Recommender’s telephone number
• Recommender’s email address

Once you have completed steps three through eight, you are ready to submit your application. Congratulations!