What you need to know about BASW: Core courses, Field work, and Career Impact

Published Date: 28 Aug 2025

What you need to know about BASW: Core courses, Field work, and Career Impact

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work(BASW) offered by Tribhuwan University(TU) is a four-year undergraduate course under the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. 

The course is designed to provide students with the knowledge, values, and skills needed for professional social work practice. 

Although primarily offered by TU, Purbanchal University, Pokhara University, and Kathmandu University also offer the course. 

The course is relevant in Nepal to prepare professionals to address social issues, support marginalized communities, and promote development and justice. 

There is a growing need in areas like mental health, disaster response, and policy implementation. 

This has increased the demand for trained social workers across NGOs, government, and community sectors. 

Are you an individual who is empathetic, socially conscious, and passionate about helping others? If the answer is yes, this is the course for you. 

If you have strong communication skills, emotional resilience, and a desire to solve social problems, this is the path you should consider.

Studying the course, you will be able to work with marginalized communities, advocate for social justice, and bring positive change in society.

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Eligibility

You must have passed grades 11 and 12 with a minimum grade of D+ in each subject or achieved 45% of the aggregate to be eligible to study the course. 

Along with this, you will also be required to pass the entrance examination taken by the University you desire to study in. 

Core Courses 

At the core, the course revolves around these areas: 

  • Human Behaviour and Society
  • Social Issues and Justice
  • Social Work Methods
  • Field Work and Practical Engagement 
  • Social Policy and Welfare
  • Research and Report Writing 
  • Ethics and Professionalism 


BASW syllabus (TU)

The course structure for the BASW program by TU is given below: 

Year 

Course 

Marks 

 

First

Introduction to Social Work

100

Basic Sociology for Social Work

100

 

Second

Basic Psychology for Social Work 

100

A Social Case Work Practice

50

Social Work Practice with Groups

50

 

Third 

Social Issues and Leadership Development

100

Social Issues and Leadership Development (Elective)

100

 

Fourth

Theoretical Ideologies of Social Work

100

Social Problem, Identifications, and Interventions

100


Field work 

Field work is an integral part of the course to provide students with practical exposure to real-life social issues and apply classroom knowledge in community settings. 

The field work usually begins in the second semester and has to be done each year. 

For the field work, you will be placed in NGOs, INGOs, government agencies that work for child welfare, women development, etc, community organizations, hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, and elder care homes, orphanages, or rural villages. 

The field work generally involves:

  • Case studies and documentation
  • Group and community engagement
  • Counselling, awareness campaigns, and social mobilization
  • Surveys and interviews 
  • Events or project planning 
  • Report and logbook maintenance
  • Presentation and reflection sessions 

These field works are supervised by a field supervisor and an academic supervisor who provide feedback and evaluation to the students based on their performance.

The aim behind fieldwork is to provide students  following opportunities:

  • Develop professional ethics, communication, and problem-solving skills 
  • Understand social realities and the needs of different populations 
  • Gain confidence to work in diverse social settings
  • Build connections with professionals and organizations

 

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Things you should know before studying the course 

There are certain things you should consider before deciding to study the course: 

1. Genuine Interest in Helping Others

Social work is a field that requires empathy and compassion. 

You have to be driven by a strong desire to support vulnerable individuals and communities. 

The field is also extremely emotionally demanding, so you have to be motivated beyond just getting a degree. 

2. Emotional and mental resilience: 

Being in the social work field, you will have to deal with various difficult social issues- poverty, abuse, trauma, discrimination, and many more. 

Being exposed to such environments can be emotionally taxing, so you have to be mentally prepared and emotionally strong. 

3. Field work commitment: 

The course requires regular fieldwork that requires time, active participation, serious commitment, and engagement with the communities and organizations. 

4. Communication and Interpersonal Skills: 

Since social work is a people-centered field of work, communication skills, and relationship-building skills are crucial that you may need to build or improve. 

5. Career Expectations:

You should be aware that social work might not offer high financial returns right away.

A career in this field requires patience. The results of your work take time to be seen, more than you anticipated. 

The driving factor for most successful professionals is purpose rather than income. However, it is one of the most meaningful and impactful career paths out there.

6. Ethical Responsibilities: 

You have to be ready to uphold confidentiality, a non-judgmental attitude, respect for diversity, and professional integrity. 

7. Continuous Learning: 

You have to have a lifelong learning mindset, critical thinking, since social issues are dynamic, and always be updated with policies, rights, and social trends.

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Career Scope

Once you complete your BASW degree, you will be prepared to build a career in various sectors that focus on social change, development, and community support. Some of the options are:

1. NGOs and INGOs: 

As a graduate, you can work as a social worker, community mobilizer, project coordinator, or field officer in different organizations such as UNICEF, Save the Children, and more. 

2. Government and Public Sector: 

Local bodies and ministries offer roles as social service officers, Child protection workers, or gender equality advocates to help implement policies and programs that support marginalized communities. 

3. Health and Mental Health Services: 

The degree also allows you to serve as a psychosocial counselor, case manager, or rehabilitation assistant in hospitals, mental health clinics, and addiction recovery centers. 

4. Educational and Child Welfare Organizations: 

You can also work as a school counselor, youth program coordinator, or child rights officer in schools, child care homes, and juvenile rehabilitation centers. 

5. Research and Development Projects: 

Many graduates also join research organizations as research assistants or evaluators to pursue studies on migration, gender, education, and public health.

6. Further Studies: 

If you want to further pursue academics, you can pursue a Master's in Social Work, or fields related to it like Development Studies, Psychology, Gender Studies, or Public Administration, which might lead to higher-level roles and international opportunities. 

7. International Scope: 

You might also be able to work in humanitarian aid, refugee support, international development, and global non-profit organizations with experience and further qualifications.

If you are unsure about the challenges you might face in this field and are looking for a people-centered course without the emotional burden and uncertainty, you might want to explore other options. 

The Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) and Bachelor of Information Management (BIM) courses, both offered by Aarambha College, could be suitable alternatives.

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Why choose Aarambha College for your future?

Aarambha College, affiliated with Tribhuwan University, is one of Chitwan’s Leading institutions for Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) and Bachelor of Information Management (BIM).

BHM is a degree that focuses on preparing students for a career in the hospitality industry. 

If you are passionate about hospitality, enjoy working with people, and adjust well in dynamic, service-oriented environments, BHM can be the course for you. 

Studying the course opens doors for you to work in the hospitality industry in various roles like manager, chef, front office operator, and other roles. It also prepares you to start your own business in the industry if that is what you desire. 

BIM is a degree that blends information technology and management studies, suitable for students seeking careers that combine technological and managerial skills. 

The BIM course is suitable for you if you are interested in both management and information technology, and prefer working with digital tools and data. 

Graduating from the BIM course, you will be able to work as an IT consultant, system analyst, project manager, and other roles in the IT industry.  

Aarambha College provides quality education with its experienced and dynamic faculty, well-equipped infrastructure, and focus on practical skills. 

You will also be provided with career development and placement support. 

Being located in Chitwan, you will feel closer to nature and can receive the same quality education without the overwhelming hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. 

Choose Aarambha College and kickstart your future in the desired field. 


 

 

 

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