Should You Get a Master's Degree in Social Work?

From assisting young people with substance abuse issues to helping couples reduce marital conflict, you’ll take a lead role in helping others find meaningful and long-lasting solutions to the problems they face every day.

You’ll also find many opportunities for leadership in both public and private organizations.

Applying to MSW Programs

All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college with a background in the sciences and liberal arts. They must also have personal characteristics and qualifications consistent with the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

Advanced Standing program applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited social work program within the last five years, a letter of recommendation from their faculty field liaison or field instructor, a second letter of recommendation (usually from a faculty member), and grades of ‘B’ or better in all social work courses.

Human Service Professional applicants must also verify their employment history.

Core Concepts and Coursework

What You’ll Learn

You’ll take courses in social welfare policy, human behavior theory, the foundations of social work practice, cultural influences in social work practice, empirical research methods, social work perspective on assessment and diagnosis, advanced social work research, and professional practice organization. You’ll also take additional courses based on the electives you choose.

Your courses will cover human behavior and the social environment; social welfare organization design, development, implementation and evaluation; and ways to critically evaluate professional social work literature.

In some programs, you may, in addition, choose a specialization that further develops your knowledge in one of four key areas: health across the lifespan; mental health, substance use and trauma in context; children and families; and human services management and organizational leadership.

Field Work Requirements

All Master of Social Work programs require extensive field instruction. Adelphi University offers fieldwork in more than 1000 diverse health, mental health and social services agencies. During field instruction, you’ll interact directly with social work professionals and their clients, simultaneously training and offering services to the public.

Online Master of Social Work Programs

In Adelphi University’s Online Master of Social Work program, students receive a mixture of live, recorded, field and on-demand instruction. The program includes a three-week residency, during which students are introduced to each other, the program and its online resources.

(NOTE: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the usual delivery of the in-person portions of the Online Master of Social Work Program. Until circumstances allow otherwise, all in-person portions will be delivered virtually.)

Social Work Licensure

To become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a person must first earn a Master of Social Work from an accredited university or college such as Adelphi University. To become licensed, the social worker must also complete a state-determined number of clinically supervised hours. Some states require one, or even two, additional social worker license exams.

In New York, for example, a social worker must complete 2000 satisfactory client contact hours before taking the ASWB clinical exam. A passing grade on that exam will then entitle the applicant to a New York state social work license.

Jobs with a Master’s Degree in Social Work

A master’s degree in social work opens up a virtually unlimited number of possible MSW careers and job opportunities. They include:

• Child welfare worker
• Child and family social worker
• Behavior Analyst
• School social worker
• Therapist/Counselor
• Social worker
• Mental health and substance social worker
• Healthcare social worker
• Medical social worker
• Social work supervisor (managerial)

The type of role you take on depends heavily on the specialization you choose in your master’s degree program. For example, if you choose Adelphi University’s Substance Abuse and Trauma in Context specialization, you’ll be well-suited to many careers involving the diagnosis and treatment of addiction and substance use.

Those who take the Children and Families specialization often, unsurprisingly, choose to work with children and youths.

Your role will also depend on your skills and interests. Because social work is so diverse, it attracts a varied array of professionals who desire different occupations. Some are interested in a managerial position at a private social work agency, while others seek a public-facing, clinical role in a government agency.

What path you take will depend on the choices you make in school, in your fieldwork and after you graduate.

How much does someone with a master’s in social work make?

Social workers can earn a comfortable salary. Your compensation will vary significantly depending on who your employer is, your level of experience, seniority and skill, and your specialization.

Summary

Social work is a rewarding, fulfilling and exciting career that allows you to make a real and substantial difference in the lives of people around you. Whether you have a passion for helping vulnerable children who find themselves in conflict with their families or you wish to assist adults who have developed substance use disorders regain control of their lives, social work can give you the tools and credentials you need to help those who need it.