Your Social Work Degree and Career Guide
There are many career paths that you could take where you could have a big impact. Social Work is one of those career paths. When you earn your online social work degree, you may qualify for licensure to become a social worker. As a licensed or certified social worker, you’re able to have a positive effect on people and society alike. Social Workers help individuals effectively handle and cope with situations that may arise in their lives at any given time. They help people solve problems and deal with conflict. Social Workers may also work with groups of people on social issues and offer coping strategies that may not be tailored to just one person. Death or caring for an elderly parent are examples of a social issue or event that social workers may work with people in groups.
Some people, however, don’t always need one-on-one help and may benefit more from group counseling. Group counseling allows you to be around other people who are going through similar situations and allows others to sympathize with you. Social Workers work with people from all different ethnic, racial, social and economic backgrounds as well as many age groups.
According to CSWE.org, there are 3 different types of practice in Social Work:
- Micro: working with individuals
- Macro: working with groups of people
- Mezzo: deals with social and policy change on a larger scale. An example of a mezzo-level issue would be working to address the poverty level or addiction issues.
Bachelors Degree in Social Work
A Bachelors Degree in Social Work is the first step to becoming a certified or licensed social worker. Depending on the state where you plan to practice, you may either qualify to become a certified social worker or a licensed social worker. Some states may also require that you have a minimum of 400 supervised hours before you can receive your social work license. Social Work education at the Bachelors level prepares students to become social work generalists, as opposed to social workers who specialize in one or two areas.
Masters in Social Work
Social Work education at the Masters level prepares students to practice in their chosen concentration and is the minimum education level needed to do clinical work. To become a licensed social worker with a Masters Degree, students need to complete their MSW and have a minimum of 900 supervised fieldwork hours. Online universities offer some of the following concentrations for a Masters Degree in Social Work:
- School Social Work
- Clinical Social Work
- Mental Health and Addiction
- Health and Aging
Doctor of Social Work
There are 2 types of Doctoral level degrees in social work: the Doctorate Degree in Social Work (or DSW) and a PhD in Social Work. The DSW is considered to give more advanced training in Social Work, while the PhD in Social Work prepares students for careers in academia and research.
How to Get a Social Work Degree Online
There are some important school requirements and social work program components that you will need to familiarize yourself during the school selection and application process. You will need to know the following, which you can discuss with an admission counselor:
- Admission requirements
- Tuition and all costs associated with the program
- Social Work Program Accreditation
- Program Outcomes
- Time to Complete
- Learning format
- Professor accessibility
- Your state’s social work licensure and certification requirements
- Please be sure to check your program’s reciprocity agreement to ensure your program meets your state’s requirements to sit for the licensing exam.
- Internship requirements and opportunities
- Field Work hours’ requirements
- Alumni accessibility – are you able to tap into your school’s network of graduates?
Check out our online schools’ section for more information on the types of programs offered in social work.
Careers in Social Work
While there are many different career paths that you could choose within the Social Work profession, the main objective or goal is to help people. Finding what you’re most passionate about and societal issues you want to help improve and change will help guide you into choosing your social work specialty. For more information, please visit our social work career’s page.
What are the social issues that social workers deal with?
Social Workers deal with a multitude of social issues and may work with individuals, communities or government agencies. Their main objectives are to advocate for positive change and help people maintain or create healthy and positive lifestyles. Social Workers focus on helping people or communities and groups in the following areas:
- Poverty
- Substance Abuse and Addictions
- Aging
- Death and Grieving
- Healthcare Systems
- Acute, Chronic or Terminal Illness
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
- Bullying
- Physical and Emotional Abuse
- Adoptions
- Eating Disorders
- Behavioral Issues
As you can imagine, social workers are involved in many issues that overlap with other areas such as Counseling and Psychology. However, each profession is unique in their education requirements, program curriculum, state licensing requirements, groups and people they may work. Work settings and any ongoing education and certification requirements will also differ.