Social Work Careers You Can You Pursue After Earning a BSW Degree

The need for social workers is growing. There are already more than 708,000 professionals in social work jobs in the United States, and labor experts expect that number to increase by 9% from 2021 to 2031.¹

If you’re looking to enter an in-demand-profession that lets you do meaningful work, you may want to choose social work. Earning a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree online is a good first step into this dynamic career field. According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), “With the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), you will be qualified for entry-level positions in areas such as mental health, aging services, or residential treatment.”²

Not all social work jobs are the same, which is what attracts many professionals to the field. Once you earn your BSW degree from an accredited university’s school of social work, you’ll have the opportunity to find work in a diverse number of specialties. Typical nonclinical Bachelor of Social Work jobs may include:³

1. Caseworker

   Caseworkers are the backbone of the social work field. Government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other groups employ caseworkers to provide one-on-one help to people in need. Caseworkers help guide individuals through conflicts, crises, and recoveries by serving as an individual’s advocate. They provide the information and assistance their clients need to face current challenges. For instance, a caseworker at a hospital can help a patient and family address financial issues and plan for care after leaving the hospital.

2. Family Service Worker

   Social workers who go into family service specialize in helping families during difficult times. They work for nonprofits and government agencies and provide education and services designed to help families overcome hardships and resolve conflicts.

3. Habilitation Specialist

   In this social work career path, habilitation specialists work with people with developmental disabilities. They help their clients learn social skills and how to live independently, when possible. Some habilitation specialists spend short periods of time working one-on-one with a number of clients, while others work within caregiving facilities helping a group of individuals every day.

4. Mental Health Assistant

   Working directly under a medical staff, mental health assistants help care for people experiencing mental health challenges. Assistants help improve quality of life by teaching patients daily living and coping skills. This type of social worker also may play a role in programs for clients with substance use disorders.⁴

5. Residential Case Manager

   A residential case manager is a type of social worker who oversees the day-to-day activities of residents in a shelter, group home, or other residential environment. Case managers are charged with understanding the needs of each resident and balancing daily activities to help residents get along and reach specific goals.

6. Activity/Workshop Director

   Numerous facilities, from rehabilitation centers to halfway houses to specialized schools, need people capable of designing and running activities and workshops that enrich and/or entertain. Professionals with social work degrees are uniquely qualified to design and run programs that address the specific social and developmental needs of a community.

7. Health Educator

   In this social work job role, health educators help clients learn about managing and optimizing their health. They provide health and wellness information and are often a link between healthcare organizations and clients and their families. According to the NASW, there are approximately 180,000 professionals working in healthcare social work, a specialty that dates to the early 1900s in the United States.⁵

8. Child Welfare Specialist

   A traditional social work role is serving as an advocate for children. In this social work job, child welfare specialists help connect children and their families with services. They are a voice for children in the legal system and provide services that help protect children from abuse and neglect. Child welfare specialists work to build healthy families and homes.⁵

9. School Social Worker

   A BSW degree may be a credential that opens doors to nonclinical social work jobs in schools. In a public or private school, there may be opportunities to serve as a liaison between the school and parents and caregivers by distributing materials, organizing parent education events, and more. There are also social work jobs available in social service organizations and preschools.⁵

What’s the Best Way to Earn Your Bachelor of Social Work?

If you want a career focused on helping others, you can take the first step by earning a bachelor’s in social work online.

Walden University’s online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program lets you earn a degree while continuing your personal and professional activities. As you engage in your coursework, you’ll learn from faculty members who hold doctoral degrees. You’ll practice what you learn in Walden’s Skills Lab, and by using video case studies.

Walden’s online BSW degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which means it meets the rigorous standards required for social work programs. Walden’s Master of Social Work (MSW) online degree program also has CWSE accreditation. And if you want to earn a master’s degree after completing your BSW, you may be eligible for Walden’s Advanced Standing option, which reduces the number of credits you need to earn an MSW.

You can learn more about these and other online social work and human services degrees by contacting an Enrollment Specialist at 855-646-5286. Invigorate your career by earning a social work degree that can prepare you for in-demand jobs addressing life-changing issues for your future clients.

Walden University is an accredited institution that offers an online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm
²Source: www.socialworkers.org/Careers/Career-Center/Explore-Social-Work/Types-of-Social-Work-Degrees
³Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
⁴Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm#tab-2
⁵Source: www.socialworkers.org/news/facts/types-of-social-work

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.