What can I do with a Master of Social Work (MSW)?
According to the US Department of Labor, the projected outlook for overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 19% from 2012 to 2022. US News and World Report ranks Clinical Social Work as #31 in Best Health Care Jobs.
A Masters Degree is usually required for social work in he
alth care. Health care social workers typically work in hospitals in a range of fields: Oncology, pediatrics and mental illness areas to name a few. Healthcare social workers help people through difficult diagnoses, help with resources and sometimes diagnose or treat concurrent mental conditions. In any clinical setting you will be required to hold a Master’s Degree.
Substance Abuse social workers can work in a variety of areas including rehabilitation facilities, private practice, prisons, and juvenile detention centers. As the legal system places more emphasis on recovery and rehabilitation, jobs in this field are expected to grow.
Graduates from the Masters Degree Program in Social Work can also become nursing home directors, professors at universities, psychiatric crisis screeners and hospice workers. Some graduates work directly with communities to lead policy or advocacy organizations. These employers include Local, state and federal government agencies, development corporations, community action agencies and neighborhood and community centers.
There are also international opportunities for those holders of a MSW. Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations and its International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross employ social workers in their rural and urban projects in several capacities including social development, international adoption, community organization and post-traumatic stress.