If you’re called to a career in the helping professions, you may have social worker and mental health counselor on your list of possibilities. Learning more about both master’s programs—and the careers they prepare you for—may help you decide.
Master of Social Work (MSW) and MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree programs have similarities. Both master’s programs prepare you for rewarding careers helping people in your community to make positive life changes. But the types of careers the two programs prepare you for are different.
Let’s take a closer look at these two master’s degree options and career opportunities in each profession.
Master of Social Work Degree
MSW programs prepare graduates to provide direct services to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities through curriculum that includes core courses and electives, skills labs, in-person residencies, and field experience. Walden University’s online master’s in social work degree program lets you customize your studies by choosing electives from focus areas like addictions, child and family, healthcare, military, and trauma.
When choosing a school of social work’s MSW program, an important feature to look for is Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation. A master’s degree from a CSWE-accredited MSW program is required to sit for licensing exams in most states.1 Each state has its own licensure requirements, so be sure to find out what you will need to practice as a social worker. Also, some CSWE-accredited MSW programs may provide the academic background for licensure as a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
Social Work Careers
There are job opportunities for all types of social workers. With an MSW, you can become a direct-service social worker, connecting people of all ages to services and resources like financial aid, food assistance, employment, housing, and healthcare. With an MSW degree, you may work in settings like schools, healthcare organizations, mental health clinics, centers for older adults, the military, correctional facilities, and nonprofit organizations.2
LCSWs can diagnose and treat clients and provide individual, couple, and group therapy,3 working in settings like healthcare organizations and public and private agencies.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a bright outlook for social worker jobs. Employment is expected to grow at a rate of 9% between 2021 and 2031, which is faster than the average for all occupations.4
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree
Clinical mental health counselors use their master’s education and training to help children and adults manage and overcome challenges. An online degree program can academically prepare you to seek state licensure or certification as a professional mental health counselor.
When choosing a master’s program in clinical mental health counseling, look for accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This accreditation means a university’s counseling program meets professional standards.
At Walden, the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program includes core coursework; two pre-practicum labs, which feature a four-day face-to-face or virtual synchronous experience; a practicum; an internship; and the completion of a capstone. You’ll also use interactive training tools to help you develop and strengthen your skills.
Some mental health counseling degree programs offer specializations that let you tailor your studies to the client population you plan to serve. At Walden, you can choose a General Program or focus your studies on Military Families and Culture; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; Addiction Counseling; Forensic Counseling; or Trauma and Crisis Counseling.
Careers in Counseling
You’ll find licensed clinical mental health counselors working in a wide variety of roles—as substance abuse therapists, military counselors, and marriage and family therapists, to name a few. Career settings include mental health and substance abuse centers, hospitals, private practice, schools, and correctional facilities.
Employment is expected to grow at a rate of 22% between 2021 and 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.5
Earn a Master’s Degree Online
When you’re ready to shift or advance your career, consider earning one of Walden’s online master’s degrees.
The Master of Social Work and MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling are two career-focused degrees that you can earn online while continuing to work and enjoy your personal life. The accredited university’s online learning platform lets you find the school-life balance that works for you: Set your weekly schedule and work anytime, anywhere you have an internet connection.
An online master’s program in clinical mental health counseling or social work can help you pursue your career goals in important job fields—where dedicated, well-educated professionals are vitally needed.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering online Master of Social Work (MSW) and MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree programs. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
1Source: www.cswe.org/accreditation/info/student-and-social-worker-information/
2Source: www.socialworkers.org/News/Facts/Social-Workers
3Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm#tab-2
4Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm
5Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.
Accreditation
Walden University's Master of Social Work (MSW) program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation is responsible for developing standards that define competent preparation for professional social workers and ensuring that social work programs meet these standards.
Note on Licensure
Walden University’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program meets the academic requirements to obtain the required credential to practice as licensed social workers in all states.
State licensing boards are responsible for regulating the practice of social work, and each state has its own academic, licensure, and certification requirements for practice as a social worker. Walden recommends that students consult the appropriate social work licensing board in the state in which they plan to practice to determine the specific academic requirements for licensure or other credentials. Walden enrollment specialists can provide information relating to the state-by-state requirements for licensure. However, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all licensing requirements for the state in which he or she intends to practice. Walden makes no representations or guarantees that completion of its coursework or programs will permit an individual to achieve state licensure, authorization, endorsement, or other state licensure or credential.
Note on Licensure
Walden University’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which is a requirement for licensure in many states. The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Because no graduate program can guarantee licensure upon graduation, we encourage students to consult the appropriate agency to determine specific requirements. For more information about licensure, students should visit the National Board for Certified Counselors at www.nbcc.org/stateboard, the American Association of State Counseling Boards at www.aascb.org, and contact the appropriate licensing body. International students are encouraged to identify and contact their appropriate licensing body. Learn more about professional licensure.