Why Should You Choose a Career in Social Work?
A licensed clinical social worker weighs in on what a career in social work entails.
March is Social Work Month and a time to celebrate the profession and the individuals in the field. Social work is a broad field with opportunities in nearly every area of interest. If you are looking for a career in promoting social welfare or helping people overcome their individual challenges, social work may be the career for you.
What is a social worker? What do they do?
A common misconception about social workers is that they can only work in public or child welfare. Although this is a sector of their work, they do much more than this: they help to relieve people’s suffering, fight for social justice and improve lives and communities. Social workers can be found in hospitals caring for those with chronic illness, providing therapy for students in schools, helping prisoners reenter the community and providing mental health care in homeless shelters, just to name a few.
Their primary goal is to help people in need and to address social problems. They challenge social injustice for oppressed individuals and understand the importance of individuals’ relationships when it comes to fostering change.
What are the different types of social work?
The social work profession has many paths for individuals with varied areas of interest. According to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), these are some of the types of social work that individuals can go into:
- Advocacy and community organizing
- Aging
- Child welfare
- Developmental disabilities
- Justice and corrections
- Clinical social work—including mental health and substance use care
- Politics
- Public welfare
- School social work
“There are so many jobs that you can do with a degree in social work, specifically a master’s,” said Duy Nguyen, licensed clinical social worker and associate professor in the School of Social Work (SSW) at Sacred Heart University.
Where can the various degrees in social work get me?
Earning any degree in social work is a gateway to a fulfilling career in improving the lives of others. When thinking about where you would like to take your social work career, it is important to understand where each degree could potentially get you.
A bachelor’s in social work (BSW) is an entry into the field. An individual with this degree can fill an entry level position for a community-based organization, for example. Earning a BSW also makes individuals eligible to earn a master’s in social work. At Sacred Heart, incoming freshmen can apply to a bachelor’s-master of social work dual degree program to earn a bachelor’s of arts in social work and MSW degree in five years.
Sacred Heart also offers an in-person and online MSW program for those not enrolled in the dual degree program. Individuals who want to become a licensed social worker must earn their MSW first. Becoming a licensed social worker can provide you with many opportunities, including the ability to practice independently in the state of Connecticut.
Social work Ph.D. programs are research-based and work towards advancing knowledge in the field. Sacred Heart’s Ph.D. program focuses on inclusivity. “We attract students who are committed to addressing the societal problems that face a host of populations, domestically and globally, through an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens,” said Nguyen.
Are social workers in demand?
There has been continuous growth in the social work field since 2016. The NASW reports that between 2016 and 2026, there is a 16% projected growth in overall social work employment, with 14% growth in child, family and school social work; 20% growth in health care and medical social work; and 19% growth in mental health and substance abuse social work. According to Nguyen, social workers are especially needed in Connecticut, as there are diverse populations throughout the entire state who need support.
“We’re not just focused on urban areas where we might think there are more societal problems. There are important children and family services that are needed throughout the entire state,” said Nguyen.
Sacred Heart’s SSW has received grants from the Health Resources and Services Administration and CT Health Horizons to support the growing social work force. With these grants, qualified MSW students are offered up to $10,000 in tuition assistance and participate in individualized professional development, licensure preparedness and evidence-based practice training, as well as having access to a community collective of recruiting employers.
What sets Sacred Heart University’s social work programs apart?
Sacred Heart’s social work programs consist of individualized learning, close faculty contact and advisement and a highly personal focus. Each of the programs prepare social workers to integrate micro, mezzo and macro practice to best serve client systems in an ever-changing world within a social justice framework based in the Catholic intellectual tradition. The programs are also committed to social justice and strive to continuously create opportunities for dialogue and learning with the community.
Are you interested in Sacred Heart University’s School of Social Work?
Explore the options in the SSW to jumpstart or advance your career in this growing field. For more information, reach out to Cristen Meehl at meehlc@sacredheart.edu or 203-416-3031.
Want to hear more from SHU? Subscribe to our newsletters to get the latest updates delivered right to your inbox.