Bachelor’s Degree Completion Programs

The Elms College bachelor’s degree completion programs offered at Berkshire Community College meet all general requirements of Elms College. You enter this program with the required associate’s degree (and at least 60 credits) , satisfy Elms’ core requirements, and complete the requirements of your specific degree program.

Classes are held at the Berkshire Community College campus in Pittsfield on Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1-5 p.m., and are taught by Elms faculty. By completing your coursework in 10 eight-week sessions over a 20-month period, you can save thousands of dollars by completing your degree.

The bachelor’s degree program requires 120 credits. You can transfer in a maximum of 78 credits from regionally accredited colleges. A minimum of 42 credits must be earned through Elms College.

Social Work Curriculum and Courses

Recommended Course Sequence

Session 1 – Fall 1
SWK211 Professional Communication in SWK
SWK101 Introduction to Social Work

Session 2 – Fall 2
SWK302 Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
SSD202 American Government/Public Policy – Online

Session 3 – Spring 1
SWK301 Social Welfare Policy and Services
ART215 Art History II – Online

Session 4 – Spring 2
SWK315 Social Work Practice with Communities
MAT109 Statistics

Session 5 – Summer 1
SWK205 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
BIO105 Human Biology – Online

Session 6 – Summer 2
SWK XXX Advanced Group Work Practice Methods & Techniques
REL302 World Religions – Online

Session 7 – Fall 1
SWK402A Advanced Practice
SWK310A Social Work Research
SWK401* D Field Work

Session 8 – Fall 2
SWK402B Advanced Practice
SWK310B Social Work Research
SWK401* E Field Work

Session 9 – Spring 1
SWK404A Survey of Social Work Issues (Capstone)
SWK401* F Field Work

Session 10 – Spring 2
SWK404B Survey of Social Work Issues (Capstone)
SOC316 Race & Ethnic Groups – Online
SWK401*G Field Work

* 400 hrs. of fieldwork required outside of the program schedule.

Early Care and Education Curriculum and Courses

Take your interest in early childhood education and transform it into a rewarding career. The degree completion program offered at Berkshire Community College will provide you with the knowledge and skills to foster cognitive, social, and emotional growth in young children.
  • Earn your degree in 20 months
  • Classes held Saturdays (8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1-5 p.m.) on the BCC campus
  • Classes taught by Elms faculty
  • Financial aid available
Early childhood education specialists make an impact in public and private schools, childcare centers, daycares, and more.
  • Early childhood education specialists can earn an average salary of $35,000 per year, according to ZipRecruiter.
  • Preschool and childcare center directors can earn a median salary of $47,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
By accelerating your studies over 20 months, you can save thousands of dollars while completing your degree. All you need to do is:
  • Enter the early care and education program with the required associate's degree (and at least 60 credits)
  • Satisfy the Elms College core requirements
  • Complete the requirements of the early care and education program

Recommended Course Sequence

Session 1: Fall 1
EDU 318: Technology for Early Childhood Educators (3)
PHI 242: Ethics (online) (3)

Session 2: Fall 2
EDU 340: Writing in the Profession (3)
SWK 304: Intro to Cultural Competency (3)

Session 3: Spring 1
CSD 105: Sign Language for Early Childhood Educators (3)
SWK 303: Mental Health and Mental Illness (3)

Session 4: Spring 2
EDU 204: Introduction to Multicultural Children’s Literature (3)
ASD 301: Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders (online) (3)

Session 5: Summer 1
EDU 336: First and Second Language Acquisition (3)
EDU 338: Assessment of Young Children (3)

Session 6: Summer 2
EDU 337: Early Literacy and Bilingualism (3)
REL 215: World Religions (online) (3)

Session 7: Fall 1
EDU 327: Addressing Challenging Behaviors (3)
EDU 361: Advanced Case Studies in Child Psychology (3)

Session 8: Fall 2
EDU 362: Inquiry Based Strategies for Teaching Math to Young Children (3)
EDU 361: Health and Nutrition for Early Care and Education (3)

Session 9: Spring 1
EDU 372: Nature and Environmental Curriculum: An Inquiry-Based Approach (3)
EDU 363: Pubic Policy and Advocacy (3)

Session 10: Spring 2
SOC 316: Racial and Ethnic Groups (3)
EDU 373: Capstone Portfolio Seminar (3)

Courses and sequence subject to change