What can I do with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work?
You
should know that not everybody possesses the aptitude to
become a social worker. This career is generally viewed as work
for the brave and the generous. This is for people who give
priority to the needy rather than their personal benefits.
Social workers are considered to be valuable employees of
society, because they prioritize social care. They patiently
work with different kinds of individuals, regardless of age, who
are usually people that are socially excluded like the elderly,
delinquent youths, and physically and mentally incapacitated
persons.
Graduate School
A
bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for entry into the
occupation, but many positions require an advanced degree.
Although a bachelor’s degree (BASW) is sufficient for entry into
the field, an advanced degree has become the standard for many
positions. A master’s degree in social work (MSW) is typically
required for positions in health settings and is required for
clinical work as well. Some jobs in public and private agencies
also may require an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree
in social services policy or administration. Supervisory,
administrative, and staff training positions usually require an
advanced degree.
Graduates
from an accredited undergraduate social work program may be
eligible for the advanced standing MSW program. The advanced
standing program allows qualified students to complete their MSW
degree in 32 credit hours. Applicants who graduated within the
past three years and have a minimum GPA of 3.2 in the last 60
credits may be eligible. Click here
for information on Salisbury University's MSW program.
Jobs
People
choose careers in the social work because they have a strong
desire to help improve people’s lives. Social workers are on
the frontlines, developing, advocating and delivering social
programs that are responsive to needs as homelessness, poverty,
family break-up, mental illness, disability, alcohol and
substance abuse, domestic violence and many other issues. As a
social worker you can help and individual face a disability or a
life-threatening disease or a social problem, such as inadequate
housing, unemployment, or substance abuse. Or you might choose
to help families that have serious domestic conflicts, such as
child or spousal abuse. Another professional route would be to
conduct research, advocate for improved services, or become
involved in policy development at the local, state or national
level. Many social workers specialize in serving a particular
population or working in a specific setting. These include:
-
Improving the social and psychological functioning of
children and their families
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Arranging adoptions, or help find foster homes for
neglected, abandoned, or abused children
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Working with senior citizens
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Helping people cope with job-related pressures or with
personal problems that affect the quality of their work
-
Working in a school with parents, guardians, or teachers to
ensure students reach their academic and personal potential
-
Medical and public health social workers provide
psychosocial support to people, so they can cope with
chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s
disease, cancer, or AIDS
-
Mental health and substance abuse social workers assess and
treat individuals with mental illness or substance abuse
problems
-
Social work administrators, planners and policymakers
develop and implement programs to address issues such as
child abuse, homelessness, substance abuse, poverty, and
violence
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