Community Advocacy and Social Policy ,BA
Advocacy, Community Development, Community Organizing, Diversity, Oppressed Populations, Policy Analysis, Policy Change, Social Interventions, Social Justice, Social Services
Are you searching for your opportunity to explore issues of diversity, oppression and privilege, and to examine advocacy and intervention strategies as preparation for engaging in social change? This flexible program provides you with the tools you need to advance your social justice aspirations.
The Bachelor of Arts program in community advocacy and social policy focuses on advocacy strategies through an in-depth exploration, analysis and comparison of social service systems and policies from an empowerment perspective.
The program emphasizes examining the needs of historically underserved individuals, families and communities. Policy analysis and social change are critical themes in developing an advocacy knowledge base, as are the equally important themes of prevention and social well-being. Students complete courses in two core areas: diversity and oppressed populations, and social issues and interventions.
While the BA program in community advocacy and social policy is fully accredited regionally under the Higher Learning Commission, it is not accredited through the Council of Social Work Education because it does not lead to a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Students ultimately interested in pursuing a master's degree in social work can build a strong foundation within this program.
- College/school:
Watts College of Public Service & Community Solut
- Location: Downtown Phoenix, West Valley or Online , ASU Local
- Second language requirement: No
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
- First required math course: MAT 142 - College Mathematics
- Math
intensity: General
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required to change majors to this program.
Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local, an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.
ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.
ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Apply professional theories to working with diverse, oppressed and marginalized populations in both micro and macro practice.
- Apply social justice techniques to advance human rights, and social and economic justice.
- Identify and apply advocacy concepts and methods that support and advance social, economic and environmental justice.
Global Education programs give students the chance to witness how policy, advocacy and social service systems function internationally, providing an opportunity for them to develop a valuable skill set that can give them an advantage in their career, as well as personal enrichment. Enhancing global awareness, communication competency and leadership skills through study abroad can better prepare a student for a career in social services.
Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, participation in one of the more than 300 Global Education programs encourages students to build communication skills that span intercultural boundaries, challenges them to adapt and persevere, exposes them to differences across the world that they can't experience from textbooks, and increases their ability to work with diverse groups of people.
Graduates are prepared for employment in the social services arena, such as performing basic case management tasks, staffing hotlines and warmlines, making referrals to needed services, recruiting volunteers, and developing and providing training.
In addition, advocate positions are part of many organizations and areas, such as hospitals and the behavioral health system.
This degree program also prepares students to pursue graduate education.
Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
| Career | *Growth | *Median salary |
|---|---|---|
|
8.6%
|
$38,520
|
|
|
7.2%
|
$59,990
|
|
|
14.1%
|
$46,190
|
|
|
6.5%
|
$47,290
|
|
|
17.2%
|
$43,390
|
|
|
14.9%
|
$56,570
|
|
|
9.1%
|
$74,240
|
School of Social Work
|
UCENT 800
social.work@asu.edu
602-496-0800
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
