Finding a Path That Works: Keara Tolnay’s UofL Online BSW Story

For Keara Tolnay, choosing an online degree wasn’t simply a matter of convenience. It was about finding a learning environment that gave her the opportunity to succeed. 

A recent graduate of the University of Louisville’s online Bachelor of Social Work program, Keara says flexibility was one of the biggest reasons she chose to pursue her degree online at UofL. 

As a disabled student, Keara knew that a traditional, in-person college experience might not provide the learning environment she needed. Online learning gave her another path — one that allowed her to complete her work at her own pace and from home. 

“The opportunity to do things at my own pace, in my own home, has been absolutely phenomenal,” Keara says in her recent video testimonial. “And it has helped me succeed.” 

Finding flexibility without giving up the UofL experience 

UofL’s Bachelor of Social Work can be completed 100% online, giving students flexible access to coursework while still providing opportunities to put what they learn into practice. Students build foundational social work skills, explore issues of social justice and advocacy, and gain supervised experience through service learning and practicum placements.  

The program is offered through UofL’s Raymond A. Kent School of Social Work & Family Science and is designed to prepare students for entry-level professional social work practice as well as continued graduate study.  

For students like Keara, the online format can also create opportunities that once may have seemed out of reach. 

After completing her degree online, Keara describes finally visiting the UofL campus as “absolutely wild.” 

“This was nothing that I would have ever [thought] I was going to be able to [do] when I graduated high school,” she reflects in the video. 

That moment makes Keara’s story about more than earning a degree. It is about discovering a route to graduation that fit her circumstances — and realizing that a goal she once questioned was possible. 

Make your own path to a career in social work 

UofL’s online BSW is designed for students who want to help individuals, families and communities while developing the skills needed for professional social work practice. The program also offers transfer-friendly options, with eligible students able to transfer credits toward their degree and provides a pathway for students interested in continuing into graduate-level social work education.  

For prospective students wondering whether an online degree can provide a path forward, Keara’s experience offers a simple answer: sometimes having the flexibility to learn differently can make all the difference. 

Watch Keara’s story, then learn more about the University of Louisville’s 100% online Bachelor of Social Work. 

Listen to Keara’s story: https://uofl.me/4yUmZAW  

EXPLORE THE ONLINE BSW