Serve. Advocate. Elevate.
Change lives through compassion, action and professional expertise.
See the tangible difference your work makes in the lives of clients, starting with Owens’ Social Work Transfer Pathway, AA. Social work lets you grow personally, while combining compassion, critical thinking and action to help others.
Social workers take a holistic approach, examining how environmental factors affect individuals physically, mentally and emotionally. You’ll develop assessments and create interventions that help people cope with daily challenges and improve their overall well-being. The profession centers on guiding people to critical resources, providing therapy and advocating for systemic change to promote social justice for all.
Whether you’re helping children and families in crisis, supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, assisting with prisoner reintegration or working with aging populations, you’ll build a stable, fulfilling career while creating meaningful change.
Traits for standout social workers:
- Empathy: Understand and connect with the experiences and feelings of others.
- Communication: Listen actively, advocate clearly and navigate challenging conversations.
- Critical Thinking: Analyze situations and develop practical, thoughtful solutions.
Small Classes. Expert Guidance.
Our instructors are experts who take pride in your success. Combined with our small class sizes, you’ll get one-on-one mentorship and precise technical feedback tailored to your goals.
Award Type
Associate of Arts (AA)
Department
Department of Teacher Education and Human Services
Required Credit Hours
60-64
By the Numbers
2
Years of full-time study
10-15
Students per class, ideal for mentorship
Start Your Path: From Foundation to Field
You’ll begin by strengthening essential communication and analytical skills through courses in composition, introductory statistics, art and humanities and foreign language. You’ll also dive directly into the field with an introduction to social work course. Additionally, you’ll complete comprehensive coursework that provides the knowledge and skills needed to qualify for CDCA I: Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant – Preliminary certification, a credential overseen by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board (OCDPB).
In your second semester, you’ll begin to think critically about community challenges. You’ll study sociology and American government or participate in an addiction service internship, while exploring social welfare institutions and continuing your substance use disorder or foreign language sequence.
The third semester introduces you to the science and psychology behind human behavior through biology and general psychology courses. You’ll also develop cultural awareness and client assessment skills—both essential for effective social work practice—through coursework in multicultural diversity and social work assessment.
You’ll broaden your perspective throughout the fourth semester, with studies examining science and social issues, including social problems and marriage and family dynamics. Most importantly, you’ll apply your learning in a real-world setting through a 60-hour social work field experience and lab, putting theory into practice as you prepare for your career.
Student Learning Outcomes
Student will be able to:
- Demonstrate effective communication in their area or concentration of study.
- Demonstrate their ability to access and interpret information within their area or concentration of study.
- Think critically to anticipate, recognize, and solve problems within their area or concentration of study.
- Add value through service to their community or area/concentration of study.
Career Outcomes
This transfer-friendly curriculum provides a seamless pathway to a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree, offering a cost-effective head start on a rewarding career that truly matters. Owens’ transfer partners include Bowling Green State University, University of Findlay, Lourdes University and University of Toledo.
Upon graduation, you’ll be ready for meaningful roles across social work, human services, government and education—all fields actively seeking skilled professionals. Career opportunities span multiple specializations, from Social and Human Service Assistants to Health Care Social Workers, Child and Family Social Workers, Substance Abuse Counselors and Probation Officers. While some positions require additional certification or specialized training, all offer the chance to create lasting change in people’s lives.
Explore the employment data to understand trends in our area.
In Their Words
“I’ve always been able to get my questions answered and the professors are nice. Being a single mom, they’ve always helped me out. They’ve made it easy for me to graduate.”
Brittany Persinger, Social Work Program, ’25
Getting Started at Owens
Begin your high-quality education at an affordable price today!
Enrollment is easy—just fill out an online admissions application to get started. We’ll ask you to submit your transcripts for course placement and college credit.
Upon acceptance, schedule a meeting with your admissions advisor to register for classes. Next, attend an on-campus orientation and meet with your student financial services advisor to discuss ways to pay for college.