Social workers are mental health professionals who assist families and children as they encounter serious difficulties or crises. Social workers help adults and children cope with disabilities, aging, serious social issues like sexual assault, drug abuse, domestic violence, or disease and other aspects of living. Social workers also supervise child protective care cases. Social workers often act as liaisons on behalf of individuals or families, to provide access to governmental programs like food stamps, housing assistance, medical expenses, unemployment, and health insurance.

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Future social workers must possess specific personality characteristics to ensure professional success. Individuals who are non-judgmental, sympathetic, understanding, and insightful often prosper in the field as social workers. An innate resourcefulness paired with strong leadership and communication skills, assure future success as a social worker.

Most social workers are required to possess at least a bachelors degree to be qualified to perform at a professional level. Future social workers may prepare for their career long before any formal studies begin. Future social workers can prepare while in high school by taking courses in: psychology, health, English, business, physical education, and biology. Volunteering to assist a social worker or finding summer employment within a mental health or government agency may bolster a student’s chances of acceptance into a traditional or online college degree program.

A two year associates degree program in pre-social work allows students opportunities for personal, educational, and career advancement. An associates degree program in social work consists of courses like: introduction to psychology, biology, philosophy, English, social issues, social policy, research methods, economics, cultural anthropology, human behavior, human development, and child development. An associates degree provides an individual with the basic skills needed to identify behavioral issues, learn general counseling methods, and advance studies to specialty areas of social work involving children or the elderly. Graduates of a two year degree program in pre-social work generally continue studies to bachelor degree programs or gain entry level employment within various businesses or organizations.

Students who enter a bachelor degree program in social work are trained to effectively study, identify, and attempt to improve living conditions for individuals, families, groups, or organizations. Most bachelor degree programs in social work consist of general courses in English, social sciences, and cultural studies. Students then advance to more specialized courses in counseling, abnormal psychology, gerontology, human growth and development, human services policy, principles of social service, planning and evaluation, ethics, and social services law and administration. A bachelor degree program in social work combined with 400 hours of clinical experience and proper certification or licensing, qualifies an individual to work as entry level social workers, case workers, mental health assistants, group home workers, or residential counselors. Students may also choose to further educational pursuits to higher degrees.

A masters degree in social work opens educational doors and allows individuals future career opportunities. A master degree program in social work combines coursework, a masters thesis, and internship to qualify individuals for future employment or educational pursuits. General courses include participation in clinical sociology, case management, community organization and community development. In addition, specialized courses in public health, mental health and substance abuse, economics, ethics, case studies, counseling, social welfare concepts, social and economic diversity, family and child services, interventions and social treatments, prepare students for clinical experiences or internships. A 1200 hour internship or clinical experience under the supervision of a qualified social worker within a local governmental agency, health organization, or school system is also an educational requirement. Completion of course studies, internship, and a masters thesis allows individuals the opportunity to fulfill licensing and certification requirements as determined by state and facility regulations administered by the National Association of Social Workers. Graduates from masters degree programs may work as social workers, administrators, or managers who perform clinical assessments, oversee large caseloads, supervise other social workers, or advance to doctoral degree programs.

A doctoral degree program allows individuals the opportunity to be experts in the field of social work. A doctoral degree program combines intensive coursework, an extensive clinical experience, completion of a publishable dissertation, and fulfillment of certification and licensing requirements. Participation in courses like: statistics, advanced research methods, social welfare policy, case work planning, social counseling and intervention strategies, administrative procedures and regulations, child welfare and family services, probation, disability counseling, individual therapy, and group therapy, allow individuals to pursue internship or clinical experience. An extensive internship within local governmental agencies, health organizations, or schools grant doctoral candidates clinical experience. Students who complete doctoral degree programs and certification or licensing requirements as determined by state or facility regulations, administered by the National Association of Social Workers, can gain employment as researchers, instructors, or even practice privately, within the field of social work.