What Can You Do With a Master’s Degree in Social Work?

If you want a fulfilling career helping others, social work is an ideal field. And, as in any profession, obtaining an advanced degree can be a valuable tool for furthering your pursuits. If you’re wondering what you can do with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, the answer is: You can help individuals, families, and communities thrive. Social work professionals work in a wide range of environments, from hospitals and universities to government agencies and corporations to communities of all types. Discover the many career possibilities for graduates with a master’s in social work. Though keep in mind that career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of an MSW program.

What Is Social Work?

According to the Council on Social Work Education, “social workers are a diverse group of professionals who share a commitment to helping enhance the well-being of people, communities, and society.”¹ Social workers can work one-on-one with clients, and clients range from individuals to couples to families and groups. Social workers can also help policymakers or community organizations address issues or develop programs or services. Those with an MSW could potentially work in public or private agencies, mental health clinics, schools, senior centers, military installations, hospitals, prisons, corporations, or even in an elected office.

What Is the Demand for MSW Graduates?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), career opportunities within the social work field are expected to grow 7% from 2022 to 2032, which is faster than the average for all other occupations.² As a result, the demand for MSW degree-holders is growing. With a master’s degree in social work, you could work in a variety of change-making roles to help people, groups, or communities overcome problems.

While a bachelor’s degree in social work is suitable for some entry-level positions, an MSW can provide the advanced knowledge and experience to practice at clinical and supervisory levels. In some states, earning a master’s degree in social work is a requirement to become licensed as a social worker.

What Are Traditional Career Paths in Social Work?

The majority of social workers in the U.S. are child, family, or school social workers, according to the BLS.³ Child and family social workers work directly with children and families, helping families provide a safe environment for children. When families are unable to do that, child welfare social workers may remove the child or children from the home and ensure they are supported through a range of services. School social workers work in public or private schools, counseling children and supporting their emotional, educational, and developmental needs.⁴

Nearly 200,000 social workers work as medical or healthcare social workers,³ according to the BLS, addressing client medical issues and obtaining the necessary care. Other social workers help patients in hospice or palliative care, ensuring they and their families receive care, counseling, and support when dealing with chronic or fatal illnesses.⁵

The BLS reports that more than 100,000 social workers are working as mental health and substance use disorder social workers.3 Mental health social workers serve clients with a variety of conditions, such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, depression, and bipolar disorder. Working in psychiatric hospitals or outpatient clinics, they help clients manage their conditions through counseling and care plans. Substance use disorder social workers also use counseling and care plans to help clients recover from addiction.⁴

What Are Other Types of Social Workers?

There are many other areas that social workers can focus on. Here are four types of social work that address particular populations:⁴

• Gerontological social workers help seniors access the community services and resources they need to live a long, healthy life.
• Criminal justice and corrections social workers work in courts, correctional facilities, or police departments to support inmates, their families, and former convicts with resources such as rehabilitation support and conflict mediation. These social workers may also work in crisis centers, supporting victims and helping them to recover from trauma.
• Military social workers usually work on military installations and support current military members and their families through a variety of issues, including deployments, combat, and transitioning to civilian life. Veterans social workers typically work for the Veterans Administration (VA) and provide counseling and assistance to former military members.5
• Occupational social workers are employed by unions or corporations to support the physical and mental health of employees and to improve both efficiency and morale.

Creating Change as a Social Worker

While most social workers work with individuals or groups, some do not. Instead, they use their education and skills to work on programs, advocate for change, conduct research, or change policies. Here are five types of social workers that work to create change on a macro level.⁵

• Administrative social workers typically serve as directors or managers for social service agencies or healthcare organizations. They may conduct research to understand community needs and they may work on policies to address issues and support the community.
• Community and advocacy social workers often work for government agencies or nonprofit organizations to manage community programs that focus on health and safety.
• Public health social workers address public health issues through their work for government organizations, educational institutions, or healthcare facilities. In this role, they may collect data and analyze it in order to understand trends and patterns and to develop solutions.
• Environmental social workers are employed by political organizations or community groups to understand the impact of environmental issues such as water quality and climate change and to develop solutions.
• Political social workers work for lobbying groups, nonprofits, or political campaigns and seek to create change through national, state, or local politics.

What Are Social Work Skills?

As you can see, there is a wide variety of social workers. All effective social workers call on a range of skills, whether they are working with children or addressing climate change policies. Among the most important qualities of social workers are these five skills:⁶

1. Interpersonal skills. Good social workers are able to work with a variety of people, from their clients to their colleagues to government officials.
2. Problem-solving skills. In order to find solutions to their clients’ issues, social workers need to have excellent, creative problem-solving skills.
3. Communication skills. When working with clients, communication is key. Social workers need to have good listening skills, and they also need to be able to convey ideas and solutions clearly, both verbally and in writing.
4. Organizational skills. Whether they’re working with individuals, families, groups, or communities, social workers need to be organized in documenting problems and working toward solutions.
5. Compassion. Social workers need to practice patience and empathy for their clients and their situations.

While some of these skills are intrinsic, all can be practiced and further developed in a quality graduate degree program in social work.

It’s also noteworthy that these skills are applicable in numerous careers and fields, from marketing to technology to product development. And as society grapples with complex issues of inequality, mental health, and social justice, social work skills are more and more valuable.

As with any profession, obtaining an advanced degree can be an important tool for furthering your career. To some, that may mean an increase in salary and responsibility; for others, it may mean better focus and impact. Furthering your career in social work can open doors to areas that interest you and provide you with better opportunities to help individuals, groups, and communities thrive.

Whatever your interests may be, the experience you build through earning your MSW degree can set you on the path toward career fulfillment. Read more about career options for social workers and how Walden’s online CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work degree program can help you reach your goals.

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

¹Source: www.cswe.org/Students/Discover-Social-Work/What-do-social-workers-do 
²Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm#tab-1 
³Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm#tab-3 
⁴Source: www.socialworkers.org/News/Facts/Types-of-Social-Work 
⁵Source: www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/types-of-social-workers 
⁶Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm#tab-4

Accreditation
Walden University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) Board of Accreditation. Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Board of Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

Note on Licensure
The Walden University Master of Social Work (MSW) program is designed to prepare graduates to practice as licensed social workers in many states. However, the requirements for licensure as a social worker vary greatly from state to state. Each state board that is responsible for regulating the practice of social work has its own academic requirements and issues its own license to practice as a social worker in that state. Additionally, students should be advised that the Walden MSW program is not designed or intended to prepare graduates for licensure as a school social worker; however, graduates might be eligible for licensure as a school social worker in their particular state of residence.

While Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide general information relating to the state-by-state educational requirements for social work licensure or certification, it remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to field education experiences, licensing or certification, authorization, or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of its coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure, certification, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential. Licensure eligibility determinations are ultimately determined by the appropriate state board that issues the credential to practice. Prospective students enrolling in licensure-leading programs are advised that relocation to another state may impact the student’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in another state. Prospective students are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.

Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.