Social Work Degrees
Many people at various times in their lives need the assistance of a Social Worker to help get their lives back on track. Social workers may provide counseling as well as coordinate other services that a person needs to move forward after an illness, financial difficulty, family problem or life style change due to aging. Social Work degree programs train students to work in direct patient care positions at hospitals, schools, human services agencies, residential and psychiatric care facilities as well as in private offices. In addition to providing counseling services, Social Workers often address other issues in a person's life such as family relationships, housing, daycare, home health care and any other area that can help improve a person's quality of life.
Social workers need to be licensed or certified in all states with most states having multiple levels of licensing. A person's level of education and years of experience determine what license they can obtain although a number of states only issue licenses to those who have completed a master's of social work (MSW) degree. Opportunities for social workers are expected to be very good over the next decade, especially for those who have specialized training in gerontology or substance abuse and for those who work in rural areas.
Degree Options
- Associate's Degree – An associate's degree in social work will prepare students for entry-level human services assistant positions as well as administrative and clerical positions in the human services industry.
- Bachelor's Degree – A bachelor's degree in social work will enable graduates to become licensed social workers in many states and be employed as a social worker in many types of positions. However, some positions in school and health settings require a master's degree.
- Master's Degree – The most common social work degree earned, it qualifies graduates to become licensed in all states and to be employed in any field.
- Doctoral Degree – Doctoral programs are appropriate for those who would like to teach as the college level, conduct research or pursue a leadership or policy position.
Schools
Social work programs are available at many colleges, universities and online schools, typically in the department of social work. Some social work licensing boards require that a social work degree be earned at a program that is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Master's level programs accept students with a bachelor's degree in another field but some will award advanced standing to those who have a social work degree.
Coursework
Below are some examples of coursework a social work student may take:
- Human Behavior in the Social Environment – Covers theories of self and personality in relationship to family styles, social and ethnic groups, cultures and traditions.
- Social Work Practice – Students explore the integration of social work theories with process-oriented approaches to social work practice.
- Contemporary Social Policy – This course examines how social welfare policies impact social inequality, poverty, housing and health care.
- Social Work Research – Introduces students to the elements, concepts, methodology and issues of empirical research so that they can become more knowledgeable users of research studies.
- Clinical Practice with Groups – Students gain the knowledge and skills needed to direct clinical group practice in a variety of settings.
- Practicum - Students are required to complete one or more field work placements.
Aptitudes and Interests
Social Workers need to be mature and sensitive but be able to maintain emotional distance from a situation in order to provide objective guidance. They must be able to take initiative, work independently and build trusting relationships. Consistent follow-through and attention to detail when completing paperwork are also important.
Career Options
Some of the most common Social Worker career options are listed below:
- Family and School Social Worker
- Medical and Public Health Social Worker
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker
- Social Service Managers
- Probation and Parole Officers
Related Majors
- Psychology - Programs focus on behavior, emotions and therapy.
- Human Services - Broad-based education including psychology and social work courses.
- Sociology - Individual's behavior within societal contexts are studied.
- Addiction Counseling - Specialized focus on understanding and counseling patients with addictions.
- Mental Health Counseling - Specialized focus on understanding and counseling those with mental illness.
- Marriage and Family Counseling - Specialized focus on counseling children, couples and families.
- Rehabilitation Counseling - Specialized focus on counseling those recovering and/or adapting to a physical injury, illness or disability.
How To Evaluate Social Work Degree Programs
The following factors may be helpful when choosing a social work program:
- Licensing Exam Pass Rates - Since less than 80 percent of students pass social work licensing exams the first time, finding out the pass rate for a particular program can be useful.
- Licensing Requirements – Social work licensing requirements vary by state and by type of license so students need to verify the program meets their own state's requirements .
- Accreditation – The school needs to be accredited by one of the six regional accrediting agencies and will ideally be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
- Degree Level - Students should determine whether the level of degree (Associate's, Bachelor's, etc.) will qualify them for the type of work they would like to do.
- Field Placements - The type of field placements available should match the student's areas of interest.
Resources
Association of Social Work Boards
National Association of Social Workers
Center for Clinical Social Work
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