The profession of social work seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals and to effect system-wide change through the pursuit of social justice. Social work seeks to help people overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges, especially the most vulnerable.

Social work uses a strength-based approach focusing on the person-in-environment model and its emphasis on social justice. In this approach, it is the role of the social worker to build upon an individual’s or system’s strengths, resources, supports, and skills. The profession of social work is varied, serving people young and old, from every walk of life, in a number of settings such as hospitals, schools, neighborhoods, and community organizations. It involves work with families, couples, groups, organizations, and communities. Social work is dedicated to the pursuit of social justice through direct service and through advocacy on the local, national, and global levels.

Michigan State University's Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) program is fully-accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and designed to meet the State of Michigan’s social work licensing criteria. Students who may be seeking professional licensure outside of Michigan will need to check with the appropriate licensing board in that state to verify that the program meets the requirement for licensure.