Masters Degree in Social Work

A strong commitment to improving the lives of others is perhaps the best attribute for a career in social work. Social work involves assisting families in crisis or at-risk youth groups as well as segments of the population facing hardship due to poor social conditions. A master´s degree in social work allows individuals to specialize in particular areas of the field, and enables the successful pursuit of more competitive prospects within the field.

Masters Degree in Social Work – Facts

Today, there are over 190 master´s degrees in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. A master´s degree in social work, also known as an MSW, may take one to two years to complete, depending on the coursework and program chosen. In addition, 900 hours of fieldwork supervised by a social work professional is also required prior to receiving the degree. Within the field, a number of concentrations exist including mental health and wellness, family and child well-being, community organization and planning as well as public administration. A bachelor's degree is not required, although general education courses such as psychology and biology are recommended as is proficiency in another language.

Tops Schools for a Social Work Masters Degree

According to the U.S. News and World Report, the University of California at Berkley, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and University of Michigan at Ann Arbor are the top schools for a master´s degree in social work. Master´s degrees can also be obtained online with popular distance learning schools such as Capella University and the USC School of Social Work. For more information have a look at the sources listed above, otherwise a quick search online will yield effective results.

Work Possible with a Masters Degree in Social Work

Those seeking employment with an MSW become family and child social workers, community organizers, group home counselors or mental health assistants. In addition, caseworkers in welfare offices and program managers in charities, social service organizations and community development organizations are likely to have a graduate school background in social work. Other types of employment include teaching and consulting positions. Before obtaining higher level jobs, a prospective employee must complete state certification requirements. Each state has its own procedure for licensing or registering social workers, but it's customary for states to require at least 2 years or 3,000 hours of field work before certification can occur.

Salary and Outlook in Social Work

Employment in social work is expected to grow 14 to 19 percent by 2018, which is faster than average. Most job growth will come from the elderly population, consisting mainly of baby boomers, requiring more and more health and social services as they age. Substance abuse social workers are also expected to be in high demand as more and more individuals seek treatment and counseling for drug addiction and abuse. Social workers can expect an average salary close to the mean salary in 2009 - $50,470 per year. Child family and school social workers made significantly less at $43,057 per year. Medical and public health social workers made $48, 340 per year in 2009, while substance abuse social workers took home the least at $41,350 per year.

Overall, favorable job prospects and decent income levels make this a promising career choice for aspiring social workers. This is especially true for substance abuse and elderly care social workers. Specialization with a master´s degree in such lucrative subfields could be extremely beneficial.