If you want to help others improve their lives, a career in social work could be the perfect choice. Social work is a rewarding career field. You get to make a difference in your patient’s lives.
But there are other benefits, too. You can earn good wages and enjoy steady and stable work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 9% job growth over the next decade. Now is a good time to become a social worker.
The first step to becoming a social worker is to get a college degree. But what degree to be a social worker gets you the job? Some degrees for social work are better than others. Read on to find out what to major in to be a social worker and the best undergraduate degree for social work careers.
Social workers assist people in coping with different challenges and problems. From injuries and mental illnesses to addictions and life changes.
There are different types of social work professionals. Clinical social workers and healthcare social workers treat patients in hospitals and mental health clinics. School social workers have offices at schools and universities. But most social workers have one thing in common. They want to enhance the well-being of humans.
Your role as a social worker depends on where you work. Since you find social workers in diverse settings, job duties vary. But their commitment is to:
- Advocate for economic and social justice
- Help people overcome challenges
- Promote social welfare
Social workers help many different groups of people. Examples of who they help include:
- Aging population
- Children and teens
- College students
- Disabled individuals
- Immigrants and refugees
- Incarcerated people and those in the criminal justice system
- LGBTQ+ individuals
- People experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness
- People suffering from substance abuse problems
- Veterans
- Victims of violence and abuse
You need a degree in social work to find a job in the field. But you can enter the field at any degree level.
With the right degree–from an associate degree to a doctorate–you can pursue careers in social services. There is no one-size-fits-all for your degree in social work. But some social work positions want an advanced degree. This includes a master’s degree in psychology or sociology. It can also include a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.
Degree for social worker jobs varies as much as the individuals social workers help. Below you’ll find the best degree for social work careers. You will also find what social service major you should choose.
Not all social workers have a master’s degree. Some don’t have a bachelor’s degree. It’s possible to find work in the industry with only an associate’s degree.
Community colleges and vocational schools offer associate degrees for prospective social workers. They take about two years to earn. Some schools offer an Associate of Social Work degree. Others offer AAS degrees in sociology or psychology. Both degree types help you qualify for jobs in social services. Some schools even offer online social work programs.
Most associate degree programs require at least 60 credit hours. The courses you take include general education courses and studies in social work. Common courses cover social work topics such as:
- Abnormal behavior
- Assessment and case management
- Introduction to social work
- Introduction to sociology
Incoming students need either a high school diploma or GED for admission.
What degree for social worker jobs wants graduates of associate programs? With a social work degree online or on-campus, you can qualify for many different human services positions.
There are many entry level positions you can qualify for. The two-year degree is a good option for those who want to assist but not manage. You can work for a nonprofit organization that helps the homeless population. You can also work in a treatment center offering programs for addicts. You will find assistant jobs, but management roles demand further schooling.
A bachelors’s degree in social work opens the door to many different career options. With a BSW, you have skills that lead to careers in government agencies and other social service organizations.
You find the BSW available at most colleges and universities. The degree takes four years to complete, though some schools offer accelerated programs. Prospective social workers thinking about a master’s degree in social work should earn a BSW. This will open the door to a MSW degree.
Most bachelor’s degree in social work programs require 120 total credit hours. But you can transfer credits earned in an ASW degree program. This will shorten the length of time for your bachelor’s degree.
Common courses in a bachelor’s degree in social work program include:
- Applied research in social work
- Human diversity and social work practice
- Social welfare policy
- Social work as a profession
In a BSW degree program, you will also complete an internship or practicum.
With a BSW, you can qualify for licensing credentials. Licensing then helps you qualify for caseworker jobs in social and human services. Most government agencies hire caseworkers who have a BSW or higher and licensing. Nonprofit organizations also hire caseworkers. Licensed social worker jobs are available in many industries.
A BSW also qualifies you for director and manager roles in family services and social services. Few mental health services organizations hire BSW professionals. Employers in clinical practice and private practice look for candidates with a MSW degree.
Other jobs you can get with a BSW include:
- Clinical services director
- Clinical social work license professional
- Licensed clinical social worker
- Medical social workers
- Mental health counseling advocate
Social workers with a master’s degree increase their salary potential. They qualify for more advanced social work licenses and improve their career path.
With a BSW, social workers earn about $50,000/year. But with an MSW, social worker salary increase to about $53,000/year.
To get into a Master of Social Work degree program, you must hold a bachelor’s degree. Some programs prefer your degree be in social work, but others make exceptions for relevant degrees. But you also need to have relevant experience and GRE scores.
Master’s degree in social work students complete 48 to 60 credit hours. Most complete the degree in two years. Some schools offer online programs where you can earn online social work degrees.
In an MSW program (advanced standing programs), you can specialize your studies in an area of interest. Social workers specialize to help them obtain licensure and get clinical positions. Some concentrations in social work include healthcare policy or child and family services.
If you plan to seek licensing, you should enroll in an accredited program to earn your graduate degree. Your clinical social work license comes after you earn your degree.
MSW programs require students gain field experience during a supervised practicum. This gives aspiring clinical social workers experience when applying for a job.
Typical Master of Social Work courses cover topics such as:
- Assessment of mental illnesses and disorders
- Child and family social work
- Health policy and social services
- Labor statistics
You can become a social worker with an MSW degree. Job opportunities include:
- Clinical social workers
- Community practice specialists
- Mental health practice counselors
- School social workers
Doctoral social work degrees are the highest degree for social workers to get in the field. They prepare students for academic jobs and high-level social work careers. It takes students about five years to earn a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) degree. This includes the time needed to complete a dissertation.
In a DSW program, students complete coursework in a specialized area of social work. This area can include an area of interest that meets your career goals. Students who want to work with families or youth choose to specialize in family or adolescent services. Addiction, family crisis, criminal justice, and political science are also possibilities.
You also study social statistics and theory. You also study policy and social welfare. You take most of your courses within the first two years of your doctoral program. After completing your courses, doctoral candidates complete and defend a dissertation. This requires original research and knowledge of a specific area in the field. You complete your dissertation under the direct supervision of faculty.
Most social workers in mental health and counseling do not hold doctoral degrees. But if you want to become a researcher or professor, you need a PhD or DSW degree.
A doctorate in social work prepares students for high-level careers in academia, administration, and policymaking. Most colleges and universities hire professors with doctorates. Field researchers and social work administrators can also hold DSW or PhD degrees.
DSW Versus PhD
Few social workers obtain a doctoral degree in social work. You don’t need the degree to obtain additional licensing or advance your social work career. But if you want to hold an academic position at a college or university or work as an administrator, you should consider a DSW or PhD in Social Work.
The Doctor of Social Work degree is a good choice if you want to work in an administrative social worker role. Clinical social workers need only an MSW. But administrators for clinical social workers hold doctoral degrees.
A PhD is a good choice for aspiring professors and researchers.
Aspiring social workers get degrees that compliment their career goals. Whether you want to become a clinical social worker or work in individual and family services, you need an accredited social work degree. But what major is a social worker degree? And are some majors better than others?
What major is social work? This is a question asked by prospective social workers. They wonder what degree they should major in and what to do if their school doesn’t offer a BSW.
The best major to get for social workers is a bachelor’s degree in social work. But if your school doesn’t offer a social work degree, there are other options.
Anthropology
Not every student looking to become a certified master social worker starts out with a degree in social work. They major in something else. This can include anthropology.
Anthropology is the study of the human race. It examines biological and historical perspectives. Some programs offer concentrations that closely relate to social work. These include:
- Cultural anthropology
- Human behavior
The accredited program and its concentrations give you a thorough understanding of the human person. Anthropology lays a solid foundation for your social work education.
Biology
Since a standard MSW doesn’t have undergrad degree specifications, you can major in anything you want. So, a biology degree is a good choice.
Biology is the study of life. It is a functional undergrad degree that has concentrations in areas of clinical, health care, and medical social work.
Because you take many required science courses, you gain knowledge in research and interpretation. You improve your research skills and critical thinking skills. This can help you when you study for licensing or go to work in the field. Many biology majors earn an advanced degree in social work and end up working in the mental health field or as healthcare social workers.
Political Science
Believe it or not but some experienced social workers started their social worker education with a major in political science. In this major, you study political groups and governments. But you also study laws and policy and look at how they impact groups of people.
With a political science background, you can bring a unique perspective to a clinical setting. You have an advantage because of your knowledge of vulnerable populations. You know what affects them and how to help.
Because the major in social work prepares graduates for social work, it is a good bachelor’s degree program to get.
Psychology
What major is social worker friendly? Another good choice is psychology. This degree helps you prepare for many different career paths in social work. It also provides a strong foundation for an MSW program or other master’s degree programs.
The psychology major educational requirements help students gain knowledge of human behavior and the mind. Your classes also teach you how to analyze research and scrutinize theories.
Public Policy
While you won’t study mental health in a public policy program, you can learn skills that help your journey toward becoming a social worker.
Public policy teaches students how to analyze community problems. It also prepares students for lawmaking at the local, state, and federal levels. The mission of most public policy programs is to develop ethical leaders. The mission blends with social work and lays a strong foundation for future social workers.
Sociology
What degree best compliments the career? Sociology provides insight into how different groups of people behave. You study populations, communities, and groups. You study the human race through history, psychology, and economics.
Sociology covers many overlapping subjects found in social work. Your classes cover topics such as:
- Race and ethnicity
- Social psychology
- Sociology of business
- Urban sociology
Today’s social work students are not limited to traditional social work degrees. There are many online social work degrees offered at accredited schools.
You can earn:
- Associate’s degrees
- Bachelor’s degrees (BSW)
- Master’s degrees (MSW)
These social workers programs provide the same features that on-campus programs offer.
The most important thing to look for in an online program is its accreditation. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) is a national association that grants accreditation to more than 200 graduate programs. It also awards bachelor’s degree programs. It is a credential that most employers want their candidates to have.
If you have a lower-level degree but are thinking about continuing education options, consider taking the next step. Continuing education by earning a more advanced degree can improve your earnings and career path.
Most social work programs provide internship opportunities for students. Internships take place during the summer or the school year. Undergraduates earn up to three credits for an internship. Graduate students can earn more credits for the work they do.
Future social workers should plan to complete an internship at some point during the college career. Internships give you practical work experience before you graduate. Employers value experience, so having it before you get out of college helps.
Where To Find Internships
Nonprofit organizations hire college students for internships. Interns get an inside look at how an organization functions. They assist administrators and directors and help with fundraising campaigns.
The criminal justice system also hires social work interns. Interns work in the district attorney’s office or a local jail.
Some government agencies offer internships to college students. They work with social work degree programs and departments to take on several students each year. Your graduate program can help you find internships available in your area.
You don’t have to major in social work to become a social worker. But you do need a degree. Your degree level depends on what career path you want to take.
If you’re looking to get a clinical social worker license, you will need a master’s degree. An MSW opens the door for many licensing opportunities. Most employers in mental health social work and adult mental health look for candidates who have passed the social work licensing examination.
Not all prospective social workers have social work degrees early on. They get their start studying:
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Many degrees for social work overlap in studies. Classes that you take as a sociology major help build a foundation for a career in social services. Other social science courses in economics and public policy can also help you become a social worker.
Related Resources:
- What is the Best Degree Path for Becoming a Mental Health Counselor?
- What is the Best Degree Path for Becoming a Substance Abuse Counselor?
- 30 Best Bachelor’s in Psychology Degrees Online: Small Colleges
- 30 Best Bachelor’s in Sociology Online Degrees
- 30 Best Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs at Private Colleges