The field of social work is one that is of increasing importance in American society. In the name of social justice and social equity, there is more of a focus today than ever on ensuring that all members of the population have access to vital community resources so that everyone can live to their fullest potential.
Social workers ensure that people of all kinds are able to cope with and solve difficult problems in their daily lives. Clinical and healthcare social workers help people with mental illnesses to get the help and care that they need.
Given that there is more focus today on preventative health care, the role of clinical and health care social workers is growing vary rapidly, as is the need for child and family social workers.
Employment of social workers overall is going to grow at least 12% by 2024, and the demand for health care and clinical social workers will soar by 19% by 2024, which is much faster than average.
If you want to become a social worker with the best career prospects, you should consider obtaining your Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW). Also, if you want to work as a clinical or healthcare social worker, you must earn your MSW to obtain your license.
What Social Workers Do
Depending upon the type of social worker you are, you will have different duties, but generally, all social workers do most of the following at some point. For social workers who earn their MSW, you will have the opportunity to work at a higher level, and possibly as a manager of other social workers at some point. As noted above, clinical and health care social workers must have their MSW and earn higher pay.
- Determine which communities and people need social assistance
- Assess the needs of the client, as well as their personal situation, support networks and strengths so you can determine the best way to meet their needs
- Help the client to deal with any changes and challenges in their lives; some of these can include serious illness, mental health issue, divorce, or death of a child or close loved one.
- Respond to any emergency or crisis situation, such as sexual abuse of children
- Follow up with the client every week or month to ensure that the situation is improving
- For clinical social workers, provide mental health and psychotherapy services
As a social worker, you will help people overall to deal with their life challenges. You may work with clients who have disabilities, and people who have illnesses and addictions. Many social workers may actually work with community organizations, groups and policy makers to improve programs, services and policies.
Clinical Social Workers
Clinical social workers are specialists in diagnosing and treating mental health and emotional problems, which may include anxiety and depression. You may provide either individual, couple or group therapy. Also, they work with their clients to help them to come up with better ways to change their behavior or to deal with difficult home situations. Clinical social workers also may refer their clients to other services and resources.
A clinical social worker can come up with a treatment plan for the patient, while a doctor may make changes to that plan depending on progress made. Note that many clinical social workers work in their own private practice once they have their license and several years of experience.
Healthcare Social Workers
These special social workers help patients to deal with and understand a medical diagnosis and to make any adjustments needed to where they live or work. These social workers often help people to transition back home after a long stay in a hospital. They may also give information on health care support services for patients who are recovering from illness or surgery.
Licensing
All social workers must be licensed after they graduate from their MSW program. This is the case for both clinical and nonclinical social workers. For licensing information for your state, you should contact the Association of Social Work Boards.
Overview of a Master’s in Social Work
Many of the social worker positions that have more responsibility and higher pay, especially ones in the clinical and healthcare areas, require you to earn your MSW, which takes approximately two years. An MSW program will prepare you with advanced coursework that will help you to develop better clinical assessment and management skills. All MSW programs will require you to complete a supervised internship or practicum experience.
Most MSW programs have several concentrations that you can choose, depending upon your career goals. These will vary a bit by university, but generally, you can expect these:
- Medical and mental health: Provide support and counseling to patients and families dealing with major mental health issues.
- Addiction and substance abuse: Work with people who have these types of problems, and also work with their families to organize any needed interventions, and therapy.
- Family and child social work: Working with parents, family and children to overcome some of the many struggles that families face, such as poverty, domestic violence, child abuse etc.
Accreditation
As you are looking at possible MSW programs, you should ensure that the university and program have proper accreditations. The first accreditation you should look for is for the entire university, and should be an accreditation from one of these regional bodies:
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC-CIHE) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
It is important to keep the above information in mind as you consider these online MSW programs:
#1 Arizona State University
The MSW program at Arizona State University will improve the prospects of your social work career by offering you the skills that you will need to create practical solutions to the most difficult issues in communities in your work area. This program concentrates on advanced generalist studies so that you will develop culturally effective and competent services practices.
This program takes two years full time.The faculty of this renowned MSW program are experts in child welfare, health and behavioral health, community practice and global social work, among others. Professors also have expertise in forensic social work, human trafficking, gerontology and other areas.
More information:
- Campus: Tempe AZ; online
- Type: Non-Profit
- Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges, CSWE
- Tuition: $599 per credit hour
- GRE/GMAT Required: No
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On Campus Requirements: No
- Programs Offered: Master of Social Work
#2 Boston University
For almost 100 years, Boston University has provided an outstanding social work education that provides social and economic justice, as well as the empowerment of groups that have been historically oppressed. This program is two to three years in length and recognizes the demands on the profession that change regularly. It strives to meet them through the highest quality online instruction, research, practice and scholarship.
This program offers concentrations in clinical social work and macro social work. It also offers the following tracks:
- Traditional track: 65 credits, and may be completed over nine semesters. You will take foundation and advanced classes online, and attend live sessions in the classroom on Sundays or Mondays. Two internships are required.
- Human services track: This is for people who have at least two years of human services experience. It also has 65 credits, and most can be completed online, but live classroom sessions also are required on Sundays or Mondays. You only have to do one 1000 hour internship.
- Advanced standing track: If you have a CSWE-accredited social work degree. You can apply up to 25 credits of your BS degree towards your MSW.
More information:
- Campus: Boston MA; online
- Type: Non-Profit
- Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges, CSWE
- Tuition: $489 per credit hour
- GRE/GMAT Required: No
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On Campus Requirements: Yes
- Programs Offered: Master of Social Work
#3 Catholic University of America
If you want to help others and to make a difference in your community, you should consider becoming a clinical social worker though Catholic University of America. As a licensed clinical social worker, you will be able to provide essential mental health care services that are designed to treat and prevent many types of behavioral and mental health issues for people in all types of classes and from all walks of life.
The coursework that you will take in this accredited program includes classes in:
- Medical and public health
- Mental health
- Substance abuse
- Elderly care
- Child welfare
- K-12 social work
Your foundation coursework includes the following:
- Diversity in a Multicultural Society
- Human Behavior and the Social Environment I
- Human Development and Psychopathology
- Social Welfare Policy and Services I
- Social Welfare Policy and Services II
- Social Work Research Methods
More information:
- Campus: Washington DC; online
- Type: Non-Profit
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission Higher Education
- Tuition: $445 per credit hour
- GRE/GMAT Required: No
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24 months
- On Campus Requirements: No
- Programs Offered: Master of Clinical Social Work
#4 Florida State University
Florida State University offers a two year online MSW that is focused on clinical social work. It does not matter if you have a bachelor’s degree in social work or if you have a degree in another field, you can get your MSW here. Some of the benefits of this accredited program include:
- Taking your classes either at set times with other students, or taking them as your schedule allows on your own
- Being able to interact regularly with the College of Social Work’s Office of Professional Development, so that you can get a jumpstart on your career when you are nearing graduation
- Joining a vibrant virtual learning community on Blackboard
You can participate in either the traditional program or the advanced standing program, depending upon your background:
Traditional
- For students who have a bachelor’s in another field
- Clinical focus
- 61 credit hours
- You take two classes per semester
- Two field placements
- Three years to complete the degree
- Two required weekends on campus
Advanced standing
- For students who have a bachelor’s in social work
- 39 credit hours
- Take two classes per term
- Two years
- One field placement
More information:
- Campus: Tallahassee FL; online
- Type: Non-Profit
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- Tuition: $435 per credit hour
- GRE/GMAT Required: No
- Minimum Time Commitment: 24-36 months
- On Campus Requirements: Yes
- Programs Offered: Master of Social Work
