Master of Social Work

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The Master of Social Work (MSW) is a master's degree in the field of social work. It is a professional degree with specializations compared to Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). MSW promotes macro-, meso- and micro-aspects of professional social work practice, whereas the BSW focuses more on direct social work practices in community, hospitals (outpatient and inpatient services) and other fields of social services.

Canada

In Canada, the MSW is considered a professional master's degree and is offered through several universities. Most schools are accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Social Work (C.A.S.W.E).

All students entering an MSW program are required to have a recognized bachelor's degree in a related field. Generally, students with a Bachelor of Social Work would enroll in a 1-year program, whereas those with other undergraduate degrees (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, etc.) would enroll in a 2-year program.

The oldest social work program in Canada is offered at the University of Toronto through the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. Social work students at the UofT choose from a number of specializations (i.e. gerontology, children and their families, mental health, social service administration, social justice and diversity), and have opportunities to pursue their MSW's with a variety of collaborative programs, such as Addiction Studies, Sexual Diversity Studies, and Asia-Pacific Studies, to name a few.[1][2] Students could also pursue their MSW degrees in combination with either a Master of Health Science or a Juris Doctor degree .[3]

Canadian Universities that offer the MSW:

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, clinical social work could first be studied in academia as part of a certificate program beginning in 1908. Later, two and three year programs were introduced. [4]The Tavistock Clinic in London remains the leading centre for the study of clinically oriented social work and offers programmes up to and including Professional Doctorate level. The Journal of Social Work Practice represents the main organ of research and scholarly output in this area in the UK.

United States

In the United States, MSW degrees must be received from a graduate school that has been approved by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) should the graduate seek future licensure. The MSW typically requires two years of full-time graduate study in combination with two years (900–1200 cumulative hours) of internship,[5] also referred to as field practicum, education, or experience. While some students obtain a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) before pursuing a master's, most MSW programs accept applicants with undergraduate degrees in a broad range of liberal arts fields. Some MSW programs provide BSW graduates with an advanced standing option, allowing them to complete an MSW in a shorter period of time (typically 1 year).

Most MSW programs allow students to choose a clinical or direct practice track, which focuses on direct practice with clients, or a macro practice track, with a focus on political advocacy, community organizing, policy analysis and/or human services management. While the clinical track tends to be more popular, there has been a resurgence in community practice concentrations recently. There are also opportunities at many universities to obtain joint degrees, such as an MSW and a Public Administration degree, MSW and Public Health, or MSW and Law. The MSW practice scope has broadened in recent years to include the specialty practice areas of geriatrics and work with veterans. In some schools the curriculum is based on a generalist model which integrates the facets of the various practice areas within social work.

The MSW is considered a terminal practice degree in the field of social work. The DSW (Doctorate of Social Work) and Ph.D in social work are the final degrees offered in the field of social work. There is no inherent difference between the DSW and the PhD; there are few DSW programs available in the United States.

Though Master of Social Work is by far the most common degree title used by graduate social work schools in the United States, it is not universal. For example, Columbia University School of Social Work offers an M.S. degree in social work, the School of Social Service Administration of the University of Chicago confers an M.A. degree, and the University of Texas confers the MSSW (Master of Science in Social Work) degree. The Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University confers the MSSA (Master of Science in Social Administration) degree.

Clark Atlanta University's Whitney M. Young School of Social work is also credited with creating the administration of social work from an Afro-centric perspective. Clark Atlanta's school of social work has also had various stalwarts in the profession affiliated with it such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Dorcas Bowles, Whitney Young, Hattie Mitchell, Naomi Ward and Rufus Lynch.

Salary Information

Although it is possible to be a social worker with a bachelor's degree in the U.S., some fields of practice require a master's degree.[6] According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession is expected to grow by 25% between 2010 and 2020.[7] The growing elderly population is resulting in accelerated job growth among gerontology social workers. Social workers with a focus on mental health and substance abuse are currently in high demand as offenders are directed to treatment versus jail time, a trend that is expected to continue.[8] A master's degree could be seen as a tool which will help to compete with tomorrow's job market. The Employment Projection[9] shows that those with higher levels of education in the field tend to earn more than those with just a bachelor's degree. Social workers' earnings varied according to their area of specialization and work environment:[10]

Specialization Work Environment 2010 Median Salary
Clinical Social Worker Clinics and Hospitals $50,020
Medical/Public Health Social Worker Local Government, Health Care, Schools, Hospital, Retirement Homes, Public Health and Welfare $76,370
Hospital Social Worker Outpatient Services, Hospice and Palliative Care $55,460
Psychiatric Social Worker Schools, Psychiatric Hospitals, Health Care, HR, Outpatient Services and Nursing/Retirement Homes $65,170
Managers and Administrators Health Care, Public Welfare, Probation, CSR, HR, Non-Profit (NPO's), NGO's, Fund Raising $62,460
Public Policy and Politics Policy making and advocacy, Policy Analyst, Lobbyists, Legislative Aide, Field organizer, Public Welfare, Legislator $58,260
Child, Family and School Elementary and Secondary Schools $57,260
Child, Family and School Local Government, Child Welfare $54,130
Child, Family and School State Government $39,750
Child, Family and School Individual, Family and Adoption Services $35,120
Insurance and Risk Management Individual, Hospitals, Emergency, Suicide Prevention and Advocacy and support in violence and assault cases $39,310
Community Development Social Worker Ombudsman, NPO's, NGO's and Local Government $42,810
Healthcare Home Health Care and Nursing Care Facilities $48,530
Healthcare Local Government $45,810
Healthcare Individual and Family Services $53,400
Military Social Worker Base, Hospital, Family Meetings, Assistance and Advocacy, Social Services and Well-being programs $58,500
Rehabilitation Hospital and Nursing Care Facilities $41,860
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Hospital $48,010
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Specialty Hospitals $47,710
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Local Government $45,210
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Outpatient Services $36,780
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Individual and Family Services $36,740
Educators and Researchers Colleges, Government and Private Institutions $50,000

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.socialwork.utoronto.ca/programs/msw/2year/yr2.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.socialwork.utoronto.ca/programs/msw/mswcollab.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.socialwork.utoronto.ca/programs/msw/mswcombined.htm
  4. ↑ 100 Years of Social Work University of Birmingham, 2008
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/choices/
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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