In this Faculty Spotlight, we talk with Challice LaRose, BSW Online Coordinator for the new online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program! Challice is a two-time WVU graduate with a BA in Philosophy and a Master of Social Work. This upcoming fall semester marks the launch of the BSW program’s first cohort of online students. We spoke with her to get insight into this exciting new offering and the work that goes into it.
Photo: Challice LaRose attending the 2025 Eberly College of Arts and Science commencement ceremony.
Could you tell me about the online Bachelor of Social Work program at WVU?
The Bachelor of Social Work online program stems from our on-campus program and the desire the School of Social Work has to train more social workers from across our beautiful state and beyond.
This online option for the BSW program is as new as it gets! I just started my role in July 2024 so I haven’t quite hit my first year here yet. Fall 2025 will be our first cohort of students, which is really exciting.
The program only admits in the fall semester due to the sequencing of courses, so that's an aspect of the program that I make sure students are aware of—especially if they’re finishing up an associate’s program.
One aspect about the program that I really stress is it is for transfer students who have close to 60 credits or have completed their associate's degree. Having an associate’s degree from a regionally accredited institution allows for the General Education Foundation courses required at WVU to be waived, leaving only the core social work program and courses to complete.
Since students are transferring into the program with a minimum number of credits, they only have two years of full-time instruction once they are admitted. I’ve noticed some confusion with that, as they might assume they still have four more years since that’s how long a bachelor’s degree takes. I tell them, “No, no, no! You've done the first two years already before you even got here! You just have two more!” I think that's a little bit of a misconception that might deter students who have not reached out to me yet.
We do have a part-time degree plan; that option is completed in three years, including two summer semesters, allowing students to complete the program as quickly as possible while keeping it manageable.
Another important aspect of the program to mention is students have at least one synchronous online course a semester. From what I understand, the way we’re structuring our program is pretty unique, and no other program at WVU is like it.
The synchronous courses are really important, and they serve several purposes:
- They allow students to connect to the other members of their cohort as well as their instructors
- They allow for real-time practice of necessary social work skills
- They help students feel more prepared for what they might be doing at their field placements
- They better prepare students for licensure
As for the application process, there’s a priority deadline of February 1st, which allows students to qualify for scholarships through the School of Social Work. During my first scholarship review, the BSW team was able to award funding to each student who had applied for scholarships. It was really nice to see just how many students were able to receive scholarship funding. Some of the scholarships do have requirements, such being a native West Virginian or graduating from a West Virginia high school—but there are more general ones too. I would encourage any student who is eligible for our scholarships to apply to any that they believe they could qualify for and to reapply the following year as well.
Our final application deadline is June 1st. Some students may need one or both of the prerequisite social work courses that we offer online in the summer. Because of that, we chose a deadline that gave students time to apply while making sure they could be prepared for the summer social work courses, which typically begin in late June.
So yeah—I think that’s the program in a nutshell. Or maybe a large nutshell!
You mentioned that this upcoming semester is the inaugural one for the program! What's something that you're really looking forward to?
I'm really excited for it! I actually know some of the admitted students from my previous job. I coordinated the Human Services associate program at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College prior to my position at WVU. I was there for almost seven years, so it’s awesome to see some of those students—who had either left, graduated, and/or entered the workforce—coming back now to finish their bachelor’s.
As with any launch of a new program, there will be some kinks to work out—we’ve already run into many, many, many of those. My goal is to make this launch as smooth as possible, so students don’t face barriers that could’ve been prevented. And really, this first group of students and I will be learning and growing together through this process.
I’m especially excited for the students who thought earning their bachelor’s—or graduating from WVU—might never be possible. I’m a native West Virginian, and I love WVU probably more than most people. I went to school here, my mom went to school here. I grew up going to WVU football games my entire childhood. To me, WVU is such a big part of the state and honestly my life as well. In my opinion, some of that stems from our state not having any professional sports teams, so people can be connected to and proud of the university—even if they’ve never been here, except for a sporting event or a family member’s graduation.
So, I think it’s a big deal for students who say, “I’m older, I have a family, I have a job—I can’t just uproot and move to Morgantown” to now have this opportunity to be a student here and eventually a graduate of WVU. I’m just beyond thrilled to bring this dream to students who never thought it would be possible.
As the program coordinator, what does an average day in the life look like for you?
I wear many hats on any given day. I have a teaching load, so I’ll be the instructor for some of the courses the students will be taking in the program. At the same time, I coordinate the online program, working on the behind-the-scenes aspects that keep a degree program up and running. We are also improving and/or redeveloping the courses in the program as most of them had never been delivered online before. While the online students take the same courses as the on-campus students do, the courses still need to be transitioned to the online format. We are spending a lot of time making sure those courses are built well and are ready before students take them.
In addition to teaching and program management, I also serve as the students’ academic advisor from start to finish. More often than not, I’ve also met and/or assisted the student through the application process. After students receive their acceptance letter from WVU Online, I send a personalized letter from the School of Social Work that outlines next steps, including scheduling an advisement meeting with me. From day one, I’m their advisor all the way through graduation.
Academic advising is a large component of my job. It’s undoubtedly one of the most important roles I have, but it’s also one of my favorite aspects of my work.
As we have a new group of students coming in, what pieces of advice would you give to them?
For online students, time management is really critical. It’s important to carve out the time you need for both class and life. I was a graduate student with a full-time job while completing the MSW at WVU, taking evening classes after working all day, so I know how stressful it can be - but it’s well-worth it as well as achievable, especially when the student is set up for success from the very beginning.
I’d also say that online programs and classes can sometimes feel disconnected. So, finding ways to stay engaged is important—whether that’s being more active in class discussions beyond just the minimum requirements, or participating in virtual events hosted by the School of Social Work or the University as a whole.
And it’s important to remember that online students still have access to many of the same services as on-campus students. Students should use those services when they need them—take advantage of the online library resources, and when they’re nearing graduation, utilizing the tools, such as resume reviews and interview help, offered by career services. The University, Eberly College, and the School of Social Work offer a variety of tools and services that support and elevate student success.
For programs like this, field placement and experiential learning is important. What does that look like in an online program?
Field placement is considered the signature pedagogy of an accredited social work program. It’s where students take the skills and knowledge they’ve learned and apply them in real-world settings—whether that’s enhancing their current job, taking on new responsibilities, or filling a need that hasn’t been addressed yet.
And for students who haven’t worked in the field before, it’s a chance to get their foot in the door and start doing the kind of work they’ll be doing after graduation. It often leads to job offers, too. I try to reassure students who are a little unsure about that part. Even in my previous program, I had many students receive job offers either during or right after their field placement.
The field placement, as of right now, will mirror the on-campus program in terms of requirements. It consists of students completing 400 field hours as well as additional coursework. Students will take a field course in both the fall and spring of their senior year—or what is their second year in the program if they are full-time. On a side note, this ties back to what I mentioned earlier about students not necessarily realizing that they are entering as juniors at WVU.
We also offer employer-based placements. I expect we’ll see more students in this online program already working in the field, which means they can potentially use their current job as their field placement. That can really ease the burden of trying to find an extra 20 hours a week when they’re already working full-time and juggling other responsibilities.
Online students will need to identify potential placement sites, especially since we may not be familiar with their local area. But we do have an entire field team dedicated to helping them through that process.
You mentioned that students already working in the field can use their current jobs for field placement. Why is that an important option to offer?
When I meet with students one-on-one, I always make sure to explain that option to them. I’m not part of the field team, so I don’t make the final decision, but based on the conversations I’ve had with students who are already in the industry, the work they’re doing is likely to count toward their placement.
I let them know they can reach out to our field team at any time with questions about this option. I’m glad we can offer employer-based placements for students who are already doing meaningful work—it can make the field process more manageable and relevant to their current roles.
Do you have any parting thoughts or anything you'd like to say to students, current or perspective?
I’d like for students to know that a degree from WVU is attainable—and this program was built with that in mind. It’s a flexible option for students while still ensuring they feel supported and prepared to enter the field as social workers and/or pursue their MSW.
This program is not only attainable—it’s also affordable, especially for out-of-state students. I met with a student from Hagerstown Community College in Maryland, and she was amazed to learn she qualified for in-state tuition. For some students, WVU’s in-state tuition rate could be less than what they’d pay at their own in-state schools. Of course, affordability is a big piece of the puzzle for students when looking at their options.
Lastly, we designed this program to educate the next generation of social workers—who are so needed, not just in West Virginia, but across the country. I don’t think people always realize how many different places social workers are making an impact. One thing I love about this field is how dynamic it is. It’s not just CPS. Of course, that’s an important role a social worker might be in, but social workers are also in hospitals, the criminal justice system, federal and state government, even on sports teams and in veterinary settings. They’re everywhere, filling critical roles, supporting and uplifting others, and advocating for necessary change.
I’m honored to be offering this opportunity to students who’ve wanted a degree like this to start making that difference in their community but haven’t found it to be within reach—until now.