Degrees

Degrees in Tucson

About the ASU School of Social Work in Tucson

Operating for more than 50 years as the only school of social work in Tucson, the ASU School of Social Work in Tucson offers in-person bachelor’s and master’s degrees at its location in downtown Tucson as well as online degree programs. Students enrolled in the School of Social Work Tucson learn from award-winning faculty and engage with policy, clinical practice and social justice in the Southwest Borderlands.

For undergraduates, we offer a Bachelor’s in Social Work tailor-made for transfer students. Juniors and seniors majoring in social work focus on courses in general social work practice, social policy and services, human behavior in the social environment, research and field instruction in community agencies. Undergraduate social work students may also pursue specializations in Public Child Welfare, Domestic Violence and Social Work Practice in the Borderlands.

Our graduate programs are nationally renowned and well-respected in the community. In Tucson we offer Advanced Direct Social Work Practice in both a standard and an advanced standing format. The Advanced Standing program is for students who have completed a Bachelor’s in Social Work within the last six years and the Standard program is for general applicants. We also offer several certificate programs and a specialized focus on Social Work Practice in the Borderlands.

The ASU School of Social Work is deeply embedded in the Tucson community. ASU has graduated thousands of students from its Tucson location and each year, students dedicate 90,000 service hours to the community through practicum experience. The School of Social Work has approximately 250 agency affiliations within Southern Arizona and offers twice per month professional development training for students, alumni and community members. ASU faculty and community professionals work together to provide quality education and preparation for professional practice.

School of Social Work photo gallery

Scholarships

The ASU School of Social Work awards more than $25,000 per year in scholarships to Tucson social work students through the Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Fund, the Ann Weaver Nichols Scholarship Endowment and other schoolwide scholarships.

The Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship was established in 2011 in memory of Zimmerman, an alumnus of the ASU School of Social Work Tucson, who died during a mass shooting at former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords “Congress on Your Corner” event at a Safeway grocery store. Zimmerman held the position of outreach director for Congresswoman Giffords and had dedicated his life to social work. He was known for his dedication to serving others, his belief in democracy, and his uncompromising respect for every person. Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Scholarships are awarded to School of Social Work students at the Tucson location. Since 2011, 72 students have received scholarships from the Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Fund, with the average award being $4,000.

Learn more about the Gabe Zimmerman Memorial Scholarship

The Ann Weaver Nichols Scholarship Endowment was established in 2010 to support Tucson based students with financial need, especially those who are raising children as single parents or grandparents and who have a commitment to promoting social change to benefit vulnerable populations.

Ann Weaver Nichols joined ASU as a faculty member in 1970 in the School of Social Work, which at the time was only housed on the Tempe campus. She commuted from Tucson to Tempe to teach and when she discovered that several students drove from Tucson to attend her classes, she began teaching a course in Tucson. She kept track of student applications from Tucson and advocated for a Tucson component of the School of Social Work to meet the growing demand of students in Southern Arizona, which launched in 1978. Her tenure at ASU spanned 39 years, where she trained more than 1,700 social workers and worked to advance social justice and human rights across Arizona.

Since 2010, 31 students have received scholarships from the Ann Weaver Nichols Scholarship Endowment, with the average award being $2,000.

Learn more about the Ann Weaver Nichols Scholarship Endowment

Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions

The ASU School of Social Work in Tucson is part of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. The Watts College is committed to fearlessly taking on the most daunting challenges facing society, with nationally ranked degree programs, internationally recognized faculty and practically applied research that address issues facing communities both locally and globally. Our four schools – Community Resources and Development, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Public Affairs, and Social Work – bring inclusion, creativity, systems-level thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit to our mission of creating more vibrant, healthy and sustainable communities.

Transfer to ASU from a Southern Arizona community college to earn a bachelor’s degree

Seamless transfer, guaranteed admission, 400+ degree pathways and personalized support – on campus or online

ASU partners with community colleges across the state to support learners who would like to transfer to ASU and complete their bachelor’s degree.

In Southern Arizona, ASU has MyPath2ASU® transfer partnerships with:

Central Arizona College
Cochise College
Eastern Arizona College
Pima Community College
Tohono O’odham Community College

These partnerships offer students a seamless transition to ASU, enabling students to successfully complete their bachelor’s degree.

Since 2002, nearly 6,500 students have transferred to ASU from Southern Arizona community colleges with over 64% graduating within six years, in comparison to 59% nationally.

Learn more about transferring to ASU

Transfer student profile: From Pima Community College to ASU

Jennifer successfully navigated her transfer from Pima Community College to Arizona State University using the MyPath2ASU transfer program and tool. Drawn by ASU's exceptional academic resources and robust programs, she is now earning her degree in nursing with the ASU Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation in Phoenix. She advises future transfer students, "Reach out to your advisors, they are all so kind and willing to help you! If they don't have the answer, they will find someone who does!" Jennifer is on track to graduate in December of 2024 and plans to pursue her nursing career in Tucson.

Jennifer Ortiz

I decided to transfer to ASU to finish my Bachelor's in Science in Nursing, as ASU has great academic resources and will truly prepare me to become a great nurse!

Degrees

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