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social work degree

social work degree questions and answers

More information about social work degree at Education News.

Q: Using a social work degree to work in Human Resources?
I'm pursuing my MSW degree right now, but am looking to keep my options open to more career ideas, because being an actual "social worker" may not have many opportunities where I live! Does anyone know if having a social work degree would be an appropriate prerequisite to work on human resources? Obviously i may have to take some classes in employment law and compensation/benefits, but I would think a social work background would still be very useful in HR? Do you know any social workers that work in HR, either at a private business or for the gov't?

A: Honestly while the skills you have as a social worker might be beneficial to the employees, the companies themselves are more interested in people with experience and training in business law, compensation issues, liabilities, worker's comp, benefits, insurance claims, etc. To best answer your own question you should start looking at the major job search sites (hotjobs or monster, or your site of choice) and search our and look at the HR jobs currently available, so you can see what the employers are seeking for experience/education.

Q: I want to do a social work degree via open university?
I am already working as a part time Family Link Worker for the Childrens Society, however i really want to be a social worker in the future. My employer has said they cant fund a degree bit are happy for me to do it through my work placement. Any ideas on wether this is possible and who i need to contact next? I already have NVQ 2 and NVQ 3 in early years child development.

A: Hello Social workers are professionally qualified staff who must be registered with the appropriate regulatory body, in order to practice. The current training is an honours degree in social work although as with all professions, this is regularly reviewed and may change over time. For information on a social work career, check out the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) website at http://www.basw.co.uk/. An information or professional officer can provide guidance on entry into the profession. You may have already done this but if not, contact the professional and regulatory body for Social Work in your area for details of entry requirements, funding support and relevant work experience. Check out the availability of training routes that may fit with your circumstances - these may include employment-based routes, trainee social worker schemes or part-time training provision. Options may vary slightly in different areas. As you don’t say where you live or where you wish to study, here are the contact details for all four UK nations (an information or professional officer can provide guidance on entry routes): http://www.ccwales.org.uk/ - Care Council for Wales http://www.niscc.info/ - Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) http://www.iriss.ac.uk/ - Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education http://www.gscc.org.uk/Home/ - General Social Care Council (GSCC) The option of social work training through The Open University is available, if sponsored by an employer; for details see http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/health-and-social-care/social-work/index.htm. For more information, contact a regional faculty representative; see http://www.open.ac.uk/about/organise/p3.shtml for contact details. Again social work training opportunities may vary in each nation - this option is not available in Northern Ireland. Do allow time to research these links. I hope this helps answer your question and wish you well in your plans for a career in social work.

Q: Can I get a social work license without a social work degree?
I have a degree in sociology and criminal justice but I want to get a legit social work license. Do you know of any places I can began the licensing process?

A: yes you can.

Q: voluntary work in the social services area, prior to studying for social work degree?
ok, im currently a childminder but want to go into social work. i have been looking at doing a social work degree but most unis want candidates to have done some volunteer work. i have looked on the web but can only find volunteer work with youth offenders. I was hoping to work with at risk children. is there any kind of volunteer work i can do with them does anyone know. i want to do my research before approaching any bodies, so i know what im letting myself in for!

A: Hello Perhaps you’ve already done so but if not, try contacting the professional and regulatory body for Social Work in your area for information and guidance on current voluntary work experience requirements. You may also wish to check out the availability of training routes that fit best with your circumstances e.g. employment-based routes, trainee social worker schemes or part-time training provision. Opportunities and requirements may vary slightly in different areas so as you don’t say where you live, here are contact details for all four UK nations: http://www.ccwales.org.uk/ - Care Council for Wales http://www.niscc.info/ - Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) http://www.iriss.ac.uk/ - Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work Education http://www.gscc.org.uk/Home/ - General Social Care Council (GSCC) A useful source of information on voluntary work opportunities is http://www.do-it.org.uk/. You just add your post-code; select the people/groups you’d like to work with to get a list of volunteering opportunities in your area, with contact details. Another source may be the Prospects graduate website, at http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/occupations - use the ‘a- z’ section to go to the social worker profile; you’ll find details of various contacts and resources that may be useful for routes into voluntary work. For a list of social work courses, see http://ucas.com/students/coursesearch/ - For more details, including entry requirements, select the name of any university of interest. If you’re a mature student i.e. 21 or above at the start of your course (20 or over in Scotland) or in any doubt about work experience requirements for a specific course, contact the university admissions office for clarification. Another option, if sponsored by an employer, is supported open learning with The Open University; see http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/health-and-social-care/social-work/index.htm. For more information, contact a regional faculty representative; see http://www.open.ac.uk/about/organise/p3.shtml for contact details. Again social work training opportunities may vary in each nation - this option is not available in Northern Ireland. Do take time to research these links. I hope this answers your question and wish you every success in your plans for a career in social work.

Q: Is there any institution or college at Dehradun providing master's degree in social work?
I want to do Master's degree in social work (MSW) from Dehradun. Please indicate name of institution/college/university from where this degree can be done.

A: Himalayan Institute of Technology, Dehradun http://www.hmidoon.com/home.html DA

Q: I want to get a Masters in Social Work. Which Bachelors degree should I seek?
My community college only offers the Bachelors in Human Services and Associates in Human Services. They don't have a social work degree. If I transfer to a university in order to get a BSW, I'll lose a ton of my credits. Is it worth it in the long run to lose the credits and go for the BSW? Or should I save some time and money, go for a Bachelors in Human Services and seek immediate entrance into a MSW program?

A: I would say that it would be best to transfer to a BSW program at a 4 year University. With that being said, you probably will not have gotten all of the courses you need from your Community College to be able to be selected into the BSW program. You will have to take more core courses most likely once you transfer before you can apply to be accepted into the BSW program. I would say however that it would be worth it. I was an advisor at a 4 year university for the BSW program in Alabama, but it could be a little different in your state. Check with the University that you are wanting to transfer to and also the Advisor at your current college. Good luck!!!!

Q: Need work experience to get into social work masters degree programme?
I'm finishing up my degree next week and I'm taking a year out to get experience to do a masters degree in social work. What kind of experience do I need to go for in order to get in and is there anything else anybody would recommend to do to make my application stand out? Any advice helpful thank you!!!

A: Peace Corp will always look good. Americorp will also usually look good. Work in any human service field will always look good. Easiest jobs to get are working with youth and older adults. But any job where you are working with populations at risk or in need (e.g. HIV, Disability, poverty, grief & loss, etc.) Working in a job with the title "social worker" (e.g. for child welfare where they give that title even if you are not really a social worker). Working on a political campaign -even an internship in a congressman's office can be good. Activism and policy work will always look good. Working for any of the PIRGS or ACORN doing community organizing. DA

Q: Do you have to have a degree in social work to be a social worker?
I'll be getting my degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in psychology minor sociology...but lately I've really been feeling pushed towards social work. Can you become a social worker with any bachelors degree?

A: Technically the answer is yes. In order to be a part of the profession you need an education in social work (just like in order to be a medical doctor you need a degree in medicine or to be a psychologist you need a degree in psychology). Now as someone pointed out you may be able to get a job with the title "social worker" however you would not be considered by the profession a "social worker" (you are considered to have a job with the title social worker) these jobs are getting harder and harder to find as human service professionalizes. So you may find a few opportunities in county social service agencies or elder care areas, but you will not have portability to other areas and will not be able to advance (especially with out an MSW). You will not be eligible toward licensure and without an accredited social work degree you won't be able to easily take your experience to other states. DA

Q: degree in social work or behavioural science?
I currently work with disadvantaged youths and want to work for youth justice as a case worker. I am currently doing a degree in social science but wnat to change to either social work or behavoural science. What would be a better degree?IThanks

A: The last poster is mistaken. The BSW would be a far more versatile degree. Also if you plan on going on for an MSW you can apply for advanced standing and do your MSW in one year rather than two. Also if you know you want to do case management with youth then the BSW is really the degree that will open that door. DA

Q: What can I do with an associate degree in social work?
Are there any jobs that might be available as an aide to a social worker either part time or full time? If so how much do they pay? I am 19 years old and I am just about to finish this degree.

A: There are only a few legitimate (most are not regionally accredited online programs) community colleges that offer an associates degrees in social work. Most colleges offer an associate degrees in human service studies. An associate social worker in a few states has a BSW degree (the ASW is a state "certificate/license" An associate degree in human services is primarily designed to make it easy to transfer most if not all of your credits into a BSW program (and ensure you have taken the necessary prerequisists). The reality is that you can do very little professionally with an associate degree in general and one in social work or human service studies specifically. You may be able to get a job at a pre-professional level, such as an eligibility worker, though increasingly those jobs are going to BA level workers. But in the human servcies a BSW is increasingly the minium degree sought and most agencies are looking for MSW or other MA workers. DA

Q: What can you do with an AA Degree in Social Work?
What kind of career can you have and how much money can you earn with an Associate of Arts Degree in Social Work? Ideally I would love to be a Psychologist but I don't have the time to study 8 years to have my own practice. My psychologist told me that doing a 4 year degree in social work I could become a therapist though not a psychologist. But what about the Associate degree in Social Work, what kind of work can I do with it?

A: Even with a bachelor's you won't earn that much either with a sociology degree. Social work doesn't really make you a lot of money. However at least you have a degree of some kind. A lot of companies even public government work require that you at least have a college degree. Many of them will take you even if you have an associate's degree. They just want someone who is somewhat educated. So apply everywhere and go on as many interviews as you can.

Q: what can someone do with a bachelor degree in Social work ?
i am actually doing the AA degree in human services , I was wondering how long does it take to get a bachelor and a master degree in social work ? How much money do they make yearly. How much money does someone with a bachelor degree make a year . Then is it easy to get job in this field because i don't want to finish my bachelor and master degree in this fiels and not able to get a job . A little help please . thank you

A: Depends on what state you are living in. for example I am in NY, a BS in social work will get you a job, however it can be difficult because many require a MSW. With a MSW it will be very easy to get a job but like others say it can be a small paycheck. But don't let people mislead you it is not that small of a paycheck, it depends on what population you choose to work with. It also depends on luck to be honest. Here is an example. I just finished my BSW in 2007. I have a friend who got hired from her internship after we graduated. She is working in a center for the elderly holding group sessions, and I think she does some case management by setting them up with services such as therepy, and other public assistances. In our last conversation she said she was making 28k a year. Now me, I also got hired from my internship straight out of college. I actually was offered my old supervisors position. A position that normally requires a MSW, but like I said it's all luck. I work in a diagnostic group home of teenage boys and I pretty much run most aspects of their lives. I started at 35k and 6 months later I started making 45k. I think thats a pretty respectable paycheck, especially for only having my BS and there is still plenty of room for me to move up in my agency and the pay scale. Truth is, keep looking around and don't settle for a low paycheck! MSW can start at 45k at the right place. Yes nurses make more, but if your heart isn't in it, it won't matter what you are being paid! My roomate is making 60k starting as an accountant, but she is misserable!! Do your research!

Q: What is the difference between having your degree in Social Work vs. Sociology?
If I pursue my master degree in Sociology, can I get a job as a Social Worker or counselor?

A: Social work is the assisting of families, children, and individuals with social, interpersonal, financial, and medical issues. Employees in the field of social work are most commonly social workers or social and human services assistants. They assess clients' needs and determine what programs or counsel will help them live full, happy lives. Sociologists study human behavior as it pertains to human interaction within the guidelines of an organizational structure. The interaction between humans is more complex than the interactions between other animal species. Human behavior is greatly influenced and governed by social, religious, and legal guidelines. A sociologist studies these behaviors and the influences that preserve certain behaviors and change others. An associate's degree in social work is often required for obtaining a position as a social services assistant. Social workers are typically required to have a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) or higher. A Master's degree in social work (MSW) can provide opportunities for advancement into clinical social work or social services management. Good Luck!

Q: Can I study Art History as a graduate student after an undergraduate degree in Social Work?
At my college you there is not a major for Art History, but I would still like to be a social worker. I was wondering if it was possible that when I graduate from my college I would be able to get a masters degree in Art History. Then still be a social worker? Also Where would I get this masters degree? Thank you!

A: You can still get a job with a BSW - however people will wonder about why you got an MA in Art History - an MA is different than an undergrad degree in that you are becoming a "master" of a topic - generally when you become a master you would use it. Now if you got an MA in ART THERAPY - people would better understand this. As for where you could go...I would of course look at the schools around NYC (much more art there) - Columbia is probably your best bet. DA