I want to major in Social Work in college, any advice???????

Question

I'm going off to college next year and I'm planning on majoring in Social Work, any advice???????

Answer 1

According to the US Dept of Labor:

*About 9 out of 10 jobs were in health care and social assistance industries, as well as State and local government agencies.
*While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement, a master’s degree in social work or a related field has become the standard for many positions.
*Employment is projected to grow faster than average.
*Competition for jobs is expected in cities, but opportunities should be good in rural areas.

Typical Education needed:
A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) degree is the most common minimum requirement to qualify for a job as a social worker; however, majors in psychology, sociology, and related fields may qualify for some entry-level jobs, especially in small community agencies. Although a bachelor’s degree 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. College and university teaching positions and most research appointments normally require a doctorate in social work (DSW or Ph.D.).

Skills Needed:
Social workers should be emotionally mature, objective, and sensitive to people and their problems. They must be able to handle responsibility, work independently, and maintain good working relationships with clients and coworkers. Volunteer or paid jobs as a social work aide offer ways of testing one’s interest in this field.

Specialties:
Most social workers specialize. Although some conduct research or are involved in planning or policy development, most social workers prefer an area of practice in which they interact with clients:

1) Child, family, and school social workers provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and academic functioning of children.

2) Some social workers specialize in services for senior citizens, running support groups for family caregivers or for the adult children of aging parents, advising elderly people or family members about choices in areas such as housing, transportation, and long-term care, and coordinating and monitoring these services.

3) Child, family, and school social workers typically work for individual and family services agencies, schools, or State or local governments. These social workers may be known as child welfare social workers, family services social workers, child protective services social workers, occupational social workers, or gerontology social workers.

4) Medical and public health social workers provide persons, families, or vulnerable populations with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, or AIDS.

5) Mental health and substance abuse social workers assess and treat individuals with mental illness or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

6) Other types of social workers include social work planners and policymakers, who develop programs to address such issues as child abuse, homelessness, substance abuse, poverty, and violence.

What are the working conditions:
The work, while satisfying, can be emotionally draining. Understaffing and large caseloads add to the pressure in some agencies. To tend to patient care or client needs, many hospitals and long-term care facilities are employing social workers on teams with a broad mix of occupations, including clinical specialists, registered nurses, and health aides.

FYI: I have two good friends who were/are social workers. One worked in a tough city working with kids who were being abused. She burned out. Another is still in the field. She has tried all sorts of positions: Residential counselor in an adolescent half-way house, chaplain in a hospital, mental health counselor at a social services dept, youth director at a church, and for a few years has been a counselor then a coordinator/administrator of mental health/wellness programs for an employee assistance company. She loves her job. I'd suggest you change the type of work you do, if you start to burn out...that's what I've done, and I have a psych degree.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Yeah be prepared for low pay, hard work, people neglecting other people, and lots of sad situations. Social work is not an easy job! Make sure you are ready to take on the challenges of being a social worker.

Answer 3

I agree with the comment that was just left. You will work long hours and not get paid that well. If you truly have a calling in life to help people and dont care about the previously mentioned issues, then go for it. However, you will need at least a Masters level degree to get started.

Answer 4

If you feel that this is your calling in life I would say to get your BSW without any student loans. You will forever be paying on them with a career in Social Work.

Pay as you go, work for the University, etc.

Answer 5

Chemistry

Answer 6

The pay is low. The work is never ending. It's depressing as hell. You could do better in another field. My wife is a social worker so I know! My cousin also has the same degree & she's a stay @ home mom now.