Social Work
What can I do with a major in Social Work?
Social work is a profession concerned with promoting the well being of people and includes assisting individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities to achieve life enhancing goals as they learn to cope with or shape the social and environmental forces affecting daily life. The professional Social Work curriculum equips students with knowledge, values, and skills necessary for generalist practice. Through required field experiences, it provides students with supervised opportunity to muster the requisite competencies in actual practice situations. "Social work is, unfortunately, a growth field," laments Ronald Feldman, Dean of Columbia University, School of Social Work. "It is society's misfortune that the need is so high but society's fortune that well-trained professionals will be there to address the needs."
Relevant Coursework:
Sociology, Psychology, Urban Problems, Criminal Justice, Human Development, Social Work Skill and Methods, and Field Experience.
Skills:
- Desire to Help Others
- Sensitivity
- Emotional Maturity
- Advising Skills
- Listening Skills
- Establish Good Relationships
- Record Keeping
- Written/Verbal Communication
- Knowledge of Second Language (especially Spanish) is helpful.
Outlook for Field
Expected to grow due to aging population, an increasing number of children living in poverty, and continual rise of drug abuse. Increasing opportunities for those speaking Spanish/Asian languages or willing to live in rural areas.
Salary
Starting with a Bachelor's Degree $21,000-27,000
Master's Degree $25,000-32,000
Some experience $35,000
Possible Career Paths
(Please note that list includes careers requiring different degrees of education and training.)
- Group Worker
- Community Social Worker
- Clinical Social Worker
- Family Service Worker
- Social Work Educator
- Hospital Social Worker
- Child Welfare Worker
- Public Health Social Worker
- Medical Social Worker
- Case Manager
- Geriatric Social Worker
- Counselor