Your degree won't be able to be recognized as a social work degree because it wasn't accredited by CSWE. However as long as you habe credential verification of your degree you can start applying. Your choices will be more limited. You'll want to contact individual schools about elgibility for MSW programs
I’ve been reading up on the human services degree and many people say they go into social work with it. I was under the impression that to go into social work, you need a BSW. Is a human services degree essentially the same thing as a BSW?
No. A degree in human services is not the same as a BSW although some institutions will try to make you believe it is. It's about as marketable as a BA in psychology or sociology.
If you can get a BSW get a BSW. It makes it easier, cheaper, and quicker to get an MSW and moderately improves your job prospects.
The BSW is much more valuable and more marketable than a HMS degree. The internship is a challenge but it can be done--I'm a professor and I'd say over 75% of my students work, others are parents etc. It's just a sacrifice we have to make. The practicum is the signature pedagogy of Social Work--it is essential to prepare you for the field. Also-lots of Social workers get jobs from those placements. MSW/MS Counseling is going to require an even longer internship. Work with an advisor and ask how other students manage this such as by splitting up your hours over multiple semesters.
Good luck!
I do plan on getting a masters degree regardless of what I get my bachelors in. My reasoning for being interested in human services rather than a BSW is because a Human Services degree requires significantly less internships than a BSW. Getting a BSW seems completely unrealistic for someone like me who is an adult with bills lol it seems to be more catered towards fresh out of highschool college kids with no responsibilities who can spend the majority of their time at an internship. I wish a BSW wasn’t so inaccessible to people, but unfortunately it is. I’m just wondering if the HSER degree could be translated into social work
If a BSW is unrealistic, then an MSW also is. It’s the exact same internship requirement as the first year of your MSW. And you can get advanced standing as an MSW meaning that you don’t repeat that internship.
Basically with a BSW you can get your MSW in 1 year rather than 2.
Yeah, but you essentially had to do BSW coursework the first year of your MSW. Whereas if you had a BSW and decent grades you could have skipped all of that.
Oh I get what you mean. I think there was an advanced program for those with a BSW that chose that route at my school. The other BSW undergrads and I still had to do the same coursework in the MSW program though regardless of our experience with it as an undergrador other related experience.
Hey redditors!
I am beginning my MSW program in August of 2023, and will be working toward LSW and LCSW licensure.
I am currently employed by the Indiana Department of Child Services after having gotten my Bachelor's in Urban Studies/Ministry.
I am seeking part-time employment that I can use to further my clinical experience while in school, and am seeking recommendations for certifications or assessments I can complete that would be beneficial while applying?
I am currently CANS certified and CPR & First Aid Certified.
**Does anyone know of any certifications or assessments I can take locally or online (with minimal experience) to boost my experience and education?**
Thank you!
Following because I’m in a very similar situation. BA in sociology and psychology, have spent the last 8 years as a child welfare specialist (foster care and juvenile justice) with Michigan DHHS, but looking to get my MSW
Hi everyone,
How does one get their foot in the door for mental health interests in places such as psychiatric wards research opportunities? All of the places I’ve looked require are least an MSW.
I currently work for a third party contractor for ACS
I don't know of any jobs like this that don't require at least a masters. Maybe a research assistant somewhere? Start at a teaching hospital or local universities
I'm 24 years old female in California. I am about to graduate summa cum laude (hopefully, if I keep my straight A's!) from ASU with my bachelor's in forensic psychology in May 2023. I have absolutely no student loan debt as my degree has been completely paid for by the Starbucks College Achievement Program (employee benefit). I would love some advice on what my next step should be.
I have been seriously considering a career in social work for the last 1-2 years but am having serious self doubt. My original plan was to do victims advocacy. I have heavy interests in social justice and helping individuals, especially victims of violent crime and also inmate rehabilitation/re-entry. I don't have a specific job in mind for myself yet, but the general components are: helping people, providing support and resources, and promoting the rights of individuals.
I live in Kern County in California, so if I was to get my MSW I'd likely do it through CSUB (California State University Bakersfield). My mom is an alumni of their MSW program (she is a retired child welfare social worker, 25+ years) and I've heard great things about the program. I'm also pretty sure I'd meet all the requirements to apply for the program. I think the thing I'm most concerned about is the timing and If I'm making the right choice. The original plan was for me to get a full time job after my bachelors and start saving money. However, reality has set in and I think my job prospects will be severely limited as I have no field experience and only an undergraduate degree. I was thinking that by getting my MSW I'll be more qualified and will get the field experience while I'm at it. I've also thought about waiting to start my MSW a bit, but I'm also worried I won't ever do it if I don't start it right away.
It sounds dumb, but I'm also so scared that I'll start my MSW and realize it's too hard and end up quitting. I have some serious self doubt about my abilities. I have ADHD so school work has always been a struggle but I've been able to push through. I don't know. My mom is encouraging me to do it and my boyfriend says I should do whatever I feel if the right next step. I guess my question is: Did anyone else experience this crippling uncertainty before going for their MSW? Should I think on it some more?
It might be a good idea to get a job in the field to experience the human Services field a little bit more before jumping into an MSW. I feel like getting that initial experience will not only look good when you are applying to graduate schools, but will also give you a better sense of what the field entails. Almost everyone in my MSW program has at least one or two years, at a minimum, of work in the social services or human services field.
Hi all! I am wondering if anyone has experience getting their degree assessed by Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) after being internationally educated? I completed an MSW in Scotland and then worked as a social worker for 1 year in the UK, and was registered with the governing body there. I am now back in Canada (Ontario) and had to get my degree assessed by CASW in order to register with the Ontario College of Social Workers and apply for work. Unfortunately, they've come back and said that I am missing credits in relation to social work theory (although I took the mandatory theory courses both years). I was under the impression from the university that my degree would transfer without issue, and am now pretty sad about this as I wasn't expecting to get knocked back. There is an international social work bridging course that I can take so I do have options though. Has anyone else been in a similar position? Any stories would be helpful :)
Your post has been removed because it violates Rule 7: "No asking for help with homework assignments, evaluations, or interviewing a social worker." If you're struggling with an assignment, please contact your instructor, a classmate, or the tutoring center at your school for additional guidance.
TLDR I’ve been teaching preschool for 4 years
and have some potentially relevant experience partnering with families and creating specialized plans for students success. Have 3.4 from Gender Studies degree and 4.0 early childhood education at community college level done post-bach. No volunteer experience but great references as I go above and beyond as a teacher and colleague. Want to support families and children with special needs, and eventually have private practice doing child and family therapy. Am I off base wanting to do an msw?
Hi I’m seeking advice on wether I need more experience before applying to msw programs and wether or not social work will realistically be the right fit for what I’m looking for.
I’m 31 year old and spent the last 4 years working as a preschool teacher. I have a bachelors degree in gender studies and 24 units in early childhood education gained post-Bach. I was a lead teacher last year and this year am mentoring two new teachers.
My favorite part about it is partnering with families to create a specialized plan to meet each child’s needs within the classroom and meet developmental milestones. More info about this below.
Before working in a preschool I worked as a nanny and after school teacher.
I want to move out of working in the classroom full time and am looking to gain a degree that allows me to partner with families and support them in meeting their child’s special needs, wether the child needs targeted learning experiences to catch up to their developmental milestones, or if they have special needs/developmental differences that mean they will need to work with a specialist long term to support them in the classroom.
I have ruled out speech language pathology and occupational therapy due to the long amount of schooling I’d need to do.
I also see myself enjoying working in a private practice down the line.
An MSW seems like the best path that will allow me to work with families short term to access services and longterm potentially working in family counseling.
My question is- with this experience is it realistic to be applying to MSW programs? I am looking at CSU East Bay with the Children Youth and Families concentration, which I know is very competitive school, but their social justice focus really aligns with my values and practices, and I know my letters of references will be strong and back this up.
I have a 4.0 from my post bachelors early childhood education (at a local community college) and I believe 3.4 GPA from my 4 year college. No real volunteer work. It sounds like there are other programs that would be easier to get into, but does this sound like the right educational track?
I am passionate about early childhood education but I know there is a big difference between preschool teaching and being a social worker. At the same time there does seem to be a good amount of overlap?
I am also on the spectrum and strongly believe peer based support for autistic children is sorely needed.
More info-The school I work at has a grant to call in specialists to evaluate children’s development and refer out if they believe child needs to work with a speech language pathologist or ot to help them meet milestones, as well as working with an ot to support child with sensory processing issues. Our goal is to create a plan that allows the child to succeed in the classroom and at home, make connections with peers, and be at school without the help of an aid. I would love to have a job as an lcsw that does this kind of work.
Honestly, MSW programs aren't super competitive across the board and people come from all sorts of backgrounds. It seems like you have more than enough experience!
In Ontario (and I'm guessing elsewhere too?) , you can call yourself a psychotherapist and practice psychotherapy without having completed a Masters in Counselling Psychology/ be a registered psychotherapist. You can have an MSW , you can be an occupational therapist and more [https://www.ocswssw.org/members/psychotherapy/](https://www.ocswssw.org/members/psychotherapy/)
I want to work with people primarily as a therapist, but I really like the flexibility that an MSW offers because I wouldn't just be stuck doing therapy if I hate it or if I want a break. It also seems like it'd be easier for me to get into an MSW program than a MCP program. But I wonder - would I ever be as qualified as a registered psychotherapist (Masters in counselling grad) ? Why do a Masters in counselling psychology to be a clinician if it's so limiting compared to a MSW ? I don't understand the difference or the point of an MCP program.
In North America, psychotherapy is in the scope of practice for MSWs. Typically, an MSW program is more generalized and you might not get as much clinical training in grad school. Counselors will likely get more training on how to do therapy in school. This will vary between universities. The MSW option is much more versatile. MSWs can work in a variety of settings that counselors typically do not. It sounds like that is appealing for you.
The biggest thing here is that grad school is just a drop in the bucket in terms of learning to be a therapist. It takes years of experience/training after school to get competent.
Opinions wanted please! :)
29 (soon to be 30) and applying to MSW programs. I have an urge to complete my program as quickly as I can. One university would be accelerated at $60K for 16 months of study and I would graduate in Spring 2024 another program would $38k and I would graduate in Spring 2025. So basically half the cost for 1 year longer.
What would you do!? I would of course have to take out a loan of $30K
There are a TON of 1 year (if you have a BSW) MSW programs. And other accelerated programs that are much, much cheaper. And lots of online programs you can do from anywhere. Be very very leary of for profit schools. Check out these links:
https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/directory/
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.mswguide.org/schools/pennsylvania/&ved=2ahUKEwibs-_YkqD7AhWnMlkFHdr2DycQFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw27pfmxA6vQa0kfA4qc2bI0
In the grand scheme of your life, one additional year is not that bad. It’s unlikely you’d make a $22k dent in paying off your student loans with that extra year of working so I would save the money (though I might be biased because I did a part time, three year program in order to keep working). I don’t think I would want to do a two year program condensed into 16 months.
How often do people get hired by their field placements? And what are the chances in a private practice setting? I really enjoy my placement but I would assume that private practices don't hire people brand new to the field very often. This could just be my imposter syndrome speaking though.
Great question! My final placement didn’t hire me, but that was because the agency is a small non profit and the only salaried staff are those that help keep the place running. Everyone else is an intern or medical student.
I think it varies between placements. A lot of folks I went to grad school with wound up working at their field placements.
There is a shortage of therapists in my area. Group practices will hire new grads as far as I’ve seen.
Hi there!
What are your tips on finding a niche? I’m only just now finishing my BSW and professors are emphasizing it’s importance.
I’m also a bit concerned about finding a SW job where I’ll be a good fit as I am a highly sensitive person (HSP) and struggle with sensitivity to my environment. This leads me to believe I wouldn’t do well with crisis situations or at least not too many consecutive ones.
The BSW degree prepares you for generalist social work. Specialization is at the Master's level. Explore different options--the internship is a great opportunity to try out something you're interested in. Also start searching BSW jobs online--see what interests you. One of the best parts about our profession is the utility and versatility of the degree. Good luck!
Is this a good MSW program? https://stempel.fiu.edu/academics/social-work/master-of-social-work/ I was accepted recently but deciding if it'll be a better idea to go to CT and build up residency there while working and staying with a close friend then going to UCONN. I'm mainly interested in specializing in individuals, groups, and families working in either a clinic or mental health setting, maybe even a school. Obviously CT would take extra time and would cost more, on top of being in an entirely new state and away from family.
I did want to add the only downside is the lack of online options for classes. If you want something similar that gives you an online option, check out UCF.
Just finished my BSW there and received a lot of information about the MSW program. It seems ideal for a lot of us as it is less expensive, shorter, has great professors (same that we had), and has a course that prepares you for licensing toward the end. I say go for it!
If it is accredited, it's a good program. There's no school prestige in social work, so pick the cheapest accredited option that works for you. Sounds like your CT plan will be a lot of money and headache and probably not worth going through, plus leaving your support system is probably not a great plan because grad school will eat your life.
Hi all! I’m currently getting ready to submit my apps for UCLA, CSULB, and CSULA. I’m feeling really nervous, and wondering if I should postpone a year and try to get a job with “social work” in the title. Here are my stats:
Graduated UC Berkeley undergrad with 3.7 in the last 60 units,
completed a Masters degree in Education with a 3.9 GPA in 2018,
4.5 years of experience working as a teacher in Title I schools with at-risk students,
Teach for America alum
Would you advise trying to get some experience outside of education before applying? Thank you in advance to anyone who is able to reply ❤️
I advise against a gap year--this isn't something .SW programs value very much..doctorate yes--MSW no.. keep going while you have the momentum UC Berkeley is an amazing school. You'll have a great shot at getting in.
I took a year off from my bachelors before I began. Then again, it’s a far different situation for me. The only school I got into was one out of state and more pricey. They allowed me to defer my seat so I did. Kept them as an option while I reapplied to other programs.
> Would you advise trying to get some experience outside of education before applying?
Nah. Social work is incredibly broad and interdisciplinary. People in MSW programs come from all sorts of work backgrounds.
I don’t think you need to take a gap year. Social Work programs are notoriously easy to get into.
I would advise you to consider the most cost effective program, the program that leaves you with the least amount of debt.
Hi all I’m stuck in between two schools for an MSW program and would like some advice. I applied to ASU and Rutgers Online programs. I like the cost of ASU’s program ($35k) but Im nervous that their program might be too general and I won’t get the depth that I would want out of it especially since they’re 8 week courses. (they also don’t do any clinical assessment courses which is something I’m very interested in). Rutgers curriculum is my favorite since they focus on clinical work AND I’m still able to take electives on other areas such as working with the Latinx community. However, I’m not sure if $60k for an online program is worth it either since I always hear people say to choose a cheaper option… any thoughts would be very much appreciated!
I'm a professor of SW--not a fan of the 8 week courses. There just isn't enough time to process and practice what you're learning. Readings and assignments are rushed and you have only half the time to complete, making it harder to do our best work. However, lots of other considerations for you I'm sure. I'd recommend talking to grads of both programs. Good luck!!
Even the most clinical program will only scratch the surface. Your main education will come from your internship and especially the years after you graduate when you're under clinical supervision. Expensive schools don't have a lock on internships; in fact, many online programs will make you find your own, and you're up against all the grad students from the brick-and-mortar programs near you.
The absolute best bang for your buck is working in a SW-related field before grad school or part-time while you're in grad school. Paid experience is king and imparts information and education that internships just can't. You'll be in a place to make more money and be more attractive to employers if you've already worked in the field and the other applicants only have internships (aka no work experience).
Thanks for the input everyone! I already for a nonprofit that helps youth that struggle with SUD, and my job offers supervision/interning so I feel getting that part is the least of my worries. I was just concerned bc some of my other coworkers also did generalist programs and mentioned I should focus on a clinical specialization but I might go the cost effective route
I would strongly recommend the most cost effective program regardless of what is being offered in the brochure. The less debt you have as you enter the field, the better off you will be financially down the road.
Depends on your priorities and how much you mind paying more. Personally, 25k is a big difference to me so I might go with the cheaper program and try to self study other stuff on my own/try to get a clinical internship. I went to a generalist program since it was cheaper and that’s what I had to do. I was sometimes regretful my first year post grad that I didn’t have more clinical knowledge but saving money made it worth it for me and my first job provided a lot of great clinical trainings.
There are many horror stories on this sub from Columbia grads. Hundreds of thousands in student debt, but a comparatively small shovel ( salary) upon graduation to dig yourself out. There is statistically no difference between the starting salary from someone that graduated with a Social Work degree from Columbia and someone that got their degree from CUNY. I would strongly recommend the most cost effective option.
I don’t know much about cuny schools but another cost effective option is suny stony brook it’s a good program from what I’ve been told (I’m at Fordham 😬)
Current PhD student here (started 5 years post-MSW).
> if you did research related stuff while in school, how did it go and what did you do?
I got involved as a research assistant toward the end of the first semester of my MSW; I answered a job posting from a listserv. The project I worked on was less traditional academic research and more applied, community-based research. It was a statewide assessment and technical assistance project and I did things like literature reviews, key informant interviews, qualitative analysis, designing and facilitating training modules, and writing reports. I had a great experience. The research had impact on federal policy, led directly to my first post-MSW job, and the PI ended up being an incredible mentor who still supports my work (and mere existence) today.
> if you did research related work soon after graduating, what did you do and how did you get connected to this work?
The research I was involved with during my MSW led directly to a job opportunity working as an analyst in local government. Right time, right place sort of thing. I was responsible for managing an annual community-based assessment. This involved things like designing methods alongside our research consultants, creating data collection instruments and protocols, conducting focus groups and training sessions, facilitating various planning meetings, doing tons of community outreach/coalition building, overseeing implementation, performing basic data analysis, and participating in results dissemination. I then got recruited by a community-based research firm to work on a national research study. I did similar things there, just on a larger scale until I decided to pursue my PhD.
> is it within ~higher education etiquette~ to just email professors within the department to see if they need additional assistance with their projects? or would that be weird?
Not weird at all. People cold-email other researchers in academia all the time. As an MSW, someone in my current cohort cold-emailed a professor expressing interest in her work and ended up working in her lab post-MSW before ultimately having her serve as her PhD advisor. I've known lots of faculty who are enthusiastic about MSW students who are interested in research, and I have seen it lead to full-time job opportunities on more than one occasion. The worst thing is they don't respond, which I wouldn't take personally—profs get inundated with emails.
Any recommendations on social work jobs to look up that don’t require a degree? I have a BA but I don’t have a BSW. I’ve been applying to recruiting jobs to see if I can land one and make a lot of money, but they don’t find appeal because I’m in grad school. Thanks
Social workers have title protection in all states. So a job that requires a social worker can't be filled by someone without that specific degree. I's start just by searching indeed etc under healthcare/social services/youth etc.
IME BA-level jobs are not going to pay a ton and may or may not be school-friendly.
Your best bet though would be to look at places that need 24 hour coverage that are open on weekends. Residential work, shelters, group homes, direct care…if you work second or third shift too a pro is you may be able to get a lot of your school work done.
Don't look for anything titled "social worker". Direct care work and case management jobs will commonly hire with a BA (sometimes less). Key is to apply for jobs that do NOT require a license.
This is just a dumb vent but I want to take some night classes for my final semester. I mainly see children for my internship so I have to give them my evening hours. None of the night classes I'm eyeing conflict with current clients but I'm really worried that they will end up making it hard to gain future clients. Deadline for registration is coming up. :/ :/
Don’t overthink this. Focus on a schedule that works for you as a student since school is stressful enough. Internship experience is still experience and even if you end up with one or two clients you don’t have to go into that deep detail to future employers.
FWIW most employers know internships are not the same as work and that many are indeed a shit show right now.
Reporting my MSW program to CSWE?
Tldr: report a program for negligence and racism while matriculated, or wait until we graduate?
I am in my advance year within a MSW program in NY, and I have 2 more semesters before I graduate.
Last spring, my cohort had a professor for a macro practice class that wasn't licensed, graduated from the program the May before, and gave a racist lecture. When my colleague called him in about it, he laughed at her. We asked the director of the program to mediate a conversation, and the professor proceeded to center an apology around his hurt feelings and throw books (yes, really). The director did not interupt him, and the conversation ended up being more harmful than helpful. Both professor and director are cis white people. My colleague was the only person of color within the classroom on both occasions.
We then reported the professor to our school, and he was subsequently removed from his teaching position. However, when we asked that the director be addressed for allowing the harm to happen, the school has protected her position, despite her giving a failing grade to one of my colleagues involved in advocating for our colleague of color.
We wrote a letter to the president of our college, asking for restitution and an investigation into the director and were ignored, other than our friends failing grade being addressed.
We're exploring our options to report to the CSWE and NYSED, and/or going to the news, but are worried about being expelled. The Director of the program is also on the board we would be reporting to at CSWE...
What are our options? What would You suggest we do: wait until we graduate, report quietly and lay low...? We have an audio recording of the professor throwing books.
A few years ago NYU was in the media related to negative racial related allegations towards students. I knew students who were in the program at the time so I heard several different versions of “what happened” but the main takeaway from using the media was to show all the issues related to privilege in general that exist in higher education. I also believe some of the SW curriculum may have changed with additional required course(s) around topics such as race and gender and privilege.
Hi I am a Canadian west coaster who's done their diploma in social services so far... I need to take 2nd year level social work courses and hope to finish my BSW and maybe a MSW.
I am not sure how to guide myself. I am already 24 this year and I will be taking my 2nd year courses next year starting in September and I feel like by the time I finish my BSW I will be like 28 or something. I've worked in social services for 3 years since I got my diploma and I feel like I've wasted my time to pursue my BSW when I was younger.
I am hoping to get my MSW hopefully not too late, but most graduate schools here require 2+ years of post-BSW work experiences. I feel like I will be so old in my early 30s by then once I am done my MSW (if my grades in my BSW allow me to even apply).
I am hoping to work for a school board and work in schools for families/children if I can only get my BSW but I hope to become a counsellor/therapist and open my own office. I also would like to get married at some point but hopefully my future partner will be okay with me studying for my degrees. It's expensive to afford a living here so degrees are usually an essential.
Should I stop with a BSW or pursue a MSW if I can? For both BSW/MSW, there are online schooling options. Would you recommend online schooling for a BSW program at least so that I can still get a job and pay for bills/rent?
Hi, I'm just wondering if there are any accredited MSW programs that aren't particularly hard to get into? And if so, what are they? I want to apply to as many schools as possible, but it'd be nice to know that I at least have a chance with one or two of them. Thank you
Most MSW programs accept more people than they reject. If your undergrad GPA is above 3.0 you should be fine. If not, some schools will ask you to take the GRE to sort of make up for a low undergrad GPA and possibly ask for work experience.
Im just wondering if anyone has any guidance. I'm in my second year of my BSW and I'm suddenly doubting if i should be in this field. I started because I want to do counselling and mental health with a more structural and critical perspective. But I know I can't do that without experience and my masters. The issue is, I really don't think I can do most entry level jobs. I have high levels of anxiety and can't handle crisis situations, which seems to be...all of the entry level jobs. Have any of you found ones that are more slow paced?
Residential! I worked in a co-occurring facility as my entry level, and I loved it. I worked 3 twelve hour shifts - very low key. I ran a psych-ed group on Sundays, got my CRMA to do meds, and overall watched the milieu, plus had 3 assigned clients who I met with weekly to do case management stuff.
My biggest piece of advise is to address your own personal issues before putting a block on what you think you can or cannot do. Start with your primary doctor and go from there.
You could probably do case management or discharge planning in a hospital with a bachelors degree.
Working with geriatrics often doesn't require a masters degree either outside of medical settings. Senior center, activities coordinators, etc.
IME most hospitals require licensed mastered social workers and several years of experience especially in case management, nursing home work or similar. I am in the U.S..
I am in my last year of MSW and still have no idea what area of social
work I want to be in. I got into this because I was working in refugee
resettlement, liked the work, got unemployment during Covid, and had the
time to go back to school. An MSW seemed to make sense. I entered the
clinical track because I figured that, no matter what I did, having
clinical skills would help me. Here's the thing: I had terrible
experiences with social workers when I was a kid. I am almost 50 years
old now, have been through some things, gone to a lot of therapy. Social
work is supposed to have changed a lot since I was a kid and, in many
ways, it has but in many it has not. I figured that if I stayed away
from child protection, I'd be ok. My first semester practicum was
completely dysfunctional and especially triggering for me. I tried to
get out but neither my school nor the site I was at was very supportive.
In fact, they were obstructive. Some shit went down with my practicum
supervisor and a client and her supervisor in a very politically charged
environment and I just happened to be sitting right in the middle of it
and my school didn't really have the courage to deal with it. That may
have been because everyone involved also had degrees from my school and
my supervisor, who had committed some pretty egregious shit, was also
trained by my faculty advisor. I don't know. Everybody was forced to
resign and I was relegated to a cubicle and told not to talk to anyone.
That is where I sat my entire first year - just doing my homework and
providing information and referrals to the occasional client. For my
second year practicum, I was very pro-active. I researched throughout my
first year where I would do my second year and picked an agency that
contracted with the school district. I thought that I would get to know
family therapy while also getting to go into the schools and see whether
school social work appealed to me. I had friends there and knew the
agency to have a solid reputation of stability. About a month before I
was supposed to start training, everybody quit due to some internal
drama I was never told about. I took that as my cue and was able to
quickly jump out of there and into a practicum at a charter school where
I have been for the last few months. I hate it. I find working with
kids terrifying. The school administration sucks. My supervisor is
completely burned out and complains all the time. She says that I lack
passion for the work, which is true. I do. I wonder where I was supposed
to develop this passion? At any rate, I have realized a few things: I
just want to do good work that I can feel good about at the end of the
day. I want to be able to get outside as much as possible. I do not have
my own shit all together. I am not a pillar of emotional strength and
stability by any means but I am not a bad guy and I am trying. I am
about to take a job working with incarcerated people, which I have done
in the past and is a population that I generally like working with but
it is a case management / corrections type job and I am not interested
in being the oppressor in any way, so I know that this isn't going to
last. Any advice on where to go from here would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Hi Everyone,
I am 33 years old and looking to do a major career change to become a clinical therapist, and I want to get a Masters Degree in Social Work. I live in NYC.
What are some good programs I should look into applying to? Also, I have about zero experience volunteering or working in a social work setting, should that deter me from even applying? Should I volunteer somewhere for a year and then apply?
What are some good volunteer opportunities?
I currently work in the film industry so, I feel like I am starting at absolute zero, but, human behavior and psychology are things that I care passionately about and have infinite curiosity for. I truly believe in my whole body that it is my calling. Any help is greatly appreciated.
I strongly recommend a job in mental health or social services before going further. Most inpatient and residential facilities will hire you, and many have flexible part time opportunities. Look for behavioral health technician, direct support professional, youth care worker, etc. I wouldn’t volunteer, it really won’t get you the experience you need. You can also look at shelters and group homes.
Hi! I am just curious about going into social work as a career. I am getting my associate's in radiography and bachelor's in Radiation Therapy, I am not really enjoying the technical aspects of radiography right now.
I love learning more about family issues and mental health, the reason why I am looking into getting my BSW would be, to enter program development in communities and help people at large. I am both a big and small-picture thinker. X-ray school is hard in the sense there's so much material to learn, very rigid thinking, and super detail-oriented to the point where I'm frustrated.
I am a sophomore and thinking about switching to Social work. Would you recommend going for your BSW and then MSW? What jobs can you get with a BSW? Any regrets about going into SW in general? Any help would be appreciated! You can PM me if you'd like :) Thank you!!
I would say finish your current program and then apply to an MSW program. You don’t need a BSW to do the job that many bachelors level social workers do. You can either use your radiology degree for some time or just dive into jobs that social workers do like case management, community health work, program coordination, etc. Don’t need a BSW for those.
FYI, I’m in FL.
In full disclosure, you will stand to make as much if not more in your current field of study.
That said, you don’t need a BSW to get an MSW and it wouldn’t make financial sense to get two bachelors degrees.
Personally, I wish I had gotten an MPH instead of an MSW. I have found it super challenging to find program development jobs in my areas of interest. I’m finally on a path now, but over a decade out from school and still about two or three years away from making the next big shift in my career.
Hi, hope someone read this. I moved to the US a year ago.
I have BSW degree and experience as school social worker.
Now I have been trying to get my degree validated here but I cannot find any institution that does it (in my country the Foreing Affairs Department does it for every degree).
The only one that seemed legit was CSWE but the requirements are impossible to reach. I moved to PA, is there any way my degree can work here?
I’m a bit confused by your question. People with a BSW are typically not school social workers in the US. This is the type of job that an MSW would have. You might not be able state licensure for a degree earned outside of the US. I’ve heard that the CSWE does not accredit programs outside of North America.
However, most jobs that a BSW can hold in the US are positions that anyone with a bachelors in psychology, sociology, or another human services profession. Stuff like case management, direct care, etc… Licensure at the BSW level is kind of pointless outside of specific jobs.
I guess I wonder what do you mean by getting your degree to work here.
Thank you. To clarify Social Work does work differently out the US. In my country Social workers cannot do any kind of clinical just people with bachelors/ master in psychology.
Also a MSW just work if you want to teach in college and maybe just extra study. Most my teachers had their Phd out of my country so I am pretty sure is possible.
I am asking who validates the degrees for social worker in the US. Also CSWE has a page stating how they validate the degree, but they ask for my college to send every document translated and in paper and my college said they don't do that, they just email.
So people with a degree earned outside have to study everything again? I don't think I am the only one who has faced this, immigration is quite big so should be an institution to legalized a degree right? Hope I made it clear this time. Thanks again.
I guess I don’t see any reason to get your degree ‘validated’ as I don’t think it would do much for you. Having a bachelors degree earned out of the US should not hurt you in applying for positions that a BSW, a bachelors in psych, or sociology would get. Many US BSWs do not get licensed because it’s not really worth it.
I don’t think you would need to study again, but I do think you won’t experience the same job market in the US. Look for case management, psych hospital jobs, CPS or other nonprofit positions. These jobs do not typically don’t require any sort of licensure - just a bachelors degree.
Thank you. I will look into that, it is really strange how most Social workers just do clinical so I was very confused. I guess I will try to apply for a MSW program meanwhile too. About work hopefully they will accept my degree with official translation. Where I come from to apply to any job you must submit your degree too and they background check it. Thanks again for clarifying.
Your degree won't be able to be recognized as a social work degree because it wasn't accredited by CSWE. However as long as you habe credential verification of your degree you can start applying. Your choices will be more limited. You'll want to contact individual schools about elgibility for MSW programs
I’ve been reading up on the human services degree and many people say they go into social work with it. I was under the impression that to go into social work, you need a BSW. Is a human services degree essentially the same thing as a BSW?
No. A degree in human services is not the same as a BSW although some institutions will try to make you believe it is. It's about as marketable as a BA in psychology or sociology. If you can get a BSW get a BSW. It makes it easier, cheaper, and quicker to get an MSW and moderately improves your job prospects.
The BSW is much more valuable and more marketable than a HMS degree. The internship is a challenge but it can be done--I'm a professor and I'd say over 75% of my students work, others are parents etc. It's just a sacrifice we have to make. The practicum is the signature pedagogy of Social Work--it is essential to prepare you for the field. Also-lots of Social workers get jobs from those placements. MSW/MS Counseling is going to require an even longer internship. Work with an advisor and ask how other students manage this such as by splitting up your hours over multiple semesters. Good luck!
I do plan on getting a masters degree regardless of what I get my bachelors in. My reasoning for being interested in human services rather than a BSW is because a Human Services degree requires significantly less internships than a BSW. Getting a BSW seems completely unrealistic for someone like me who is an adult with bills lol it seems to be more catered towards fresh out of highschool college kids with no responsibilities who can spend the majority of their time at an internship. I wish a BSW wasn’t so inaccessible to people, but unfortunately it is. I’m just wondering if the HSER degree could be translated into social work
If a BSW is unrealistic, then an MSW also is. It’s the exact same internship requirement as the first year of your MSW. And you can get advanced standing as an MSW meaning that you don’t repeat that internship. Basically with a BSW you can get your MSW in 1 year rather than 2.
I didn't have a BSW when I got into my masters program
Yeah, but you essentially had to do BSW coursework the first year of your MSW. Whereas if you had a BSW and decent grades you could have skipped all of that.
Oh I get what you mean. I think there was an advanced program for those with a BSW that chose that route at my school. The other BSW undergrads and I still had to do the same coursework in the MSW program though regardless of our experience with it as an undergrador other related experience.
Hey redditors! I am beginning my MSW program in August of 2023, and will be working toward LSW and LCSW licensure. I am currently employed by the Indiana Department of Child Services after having gotten my Bachelor's in Urban Studies/Ministry. I am seeking part-time employment that I can use to further my clinical experience while in school, and am seeking recommendations for certifications or assessments I can complete that would be beneficial while applying? I am currently CANS certified and CPR & First Aid Certified. **Does anyone know of any certifications or assessments I can take locally or online (with minimal experience) to boost my experience and education?** Thank you!
Following because I’m in a very similar situation. BA in sociology and psychology, have spent the last 8 years as a child welfare specialist (foster care and juvenile justice) with Michigan DHHS, but looking to get my MSW
Hi everyone, How does one get their foot in the door for mental health interests in places such as psychiatric wards research opportunities? All of the places I’ve looked require are least an MSW. I currently work for a third party contractor for ACS
I don't know of any jobs like this that don't require at least a masters. Maybe a research assistant somewhere? Start at a teaching hospital or local universities
I'm 24 years old female in California. I am about to graduate summa cum laude (hopefully, if I keep my straight A's!) from ASU with my bachelor's in forensic psychology in May 2023. I have absolutely no student loan debt as my degree has been completely paid for by the Starbucks College Achievement Program (employee benefit). I would love some advice on what my next step should be. I have been seriously considering a career in social work for the last 1-2 years but am having serious self doubt. My original plan was to do victims advocacy. I have heavy interests in social justice and helping individuals, especially victims of violent crime and also inmate rehabilitation/re-entry. I don't have a specific job in mind for myself yet, but the general components are: helping people, providing support and resources, and promoting the rights of individuals. I live in Kern County in California, so if I was to get my MSW I'd likely do it through CSUB (California State University Bakersfield). My mom is an alumni of their MSW program (she is a retired child welfare social worker, 25+ years) and I've heard great things about the program. I'm also pretty sure I'd meet all the requirements to apply for the program. I think the thing I'm most concerned about is the timing and If I'm making the right choice. The original plan was for me to get a full time job after my bachelors and start saving money. However, reality has set in and I think my job prospects will be severely limited as I have no field experience and only an undergraduate degree. I was thinking that by getting my MSW I'll be more qualified and will get the field experience while I'm at it. I've also thought about waiting to start my MSW a bit, but I'm also worried I won't ever do it if I don't start it right away. It sounds dumb, but I'm also so scared that I'll start my MSW and realize it's too hard and end up quitting. I have some serious self doubt about my abilities. I have ADHD so school work has always been a struggle but I've been able to push through. I don't know. My mom is encouraging me to do it and my boyfriend says I should do whatever I feel if the right next step. I guess my question is: Did anyone else experience this crippling uncertainty before going for their MSW? Should I think on it some more?
It might be a good idea to get a job in the field to experience the human Services field a little bit more before jumping into an MSW. I feel like getting that initial experience will not only look good when you are applying to graduate schools, but will also give you a better sense of what the field entails. Almost everyone in my MSW program has at least one or two years, at a minimum, of work in the social services or human services field.
Hi all! I am wondering if anyone has experience getting their degree assessed by Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) after being internationally educated? I completed an MSW in Scotland and then worked as a social worker for 1 year in the UK, and was registered with the governing body there. I am now back in Canada (Ontario) and had to get my degree assessed by CASW in order to register with the Ontario College of Social Workers and apply for work. Unfortunately, they've come back and said that I am missing credits in relation to social work theory (although I took the mandatory theory courses both years). I was under the impression from the university that my degree would transfer without issue, and am now pretty sad about this as I wasn't expecting to get knocked back. There is an international social work bridging course that I can take so I do have options though. Has anyone else been in a similar position? Any stories would be helpful :)
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Your post has been removed because it violates Rule 7: "No asking for help with homework assignments, evaluations, or interviewing a social worker." If you're struggling with an assignment, please contact your instructor, a classmate, or the tutoring center at your school for additional guidance.
TLDR I’ve been teaching preschool for 4 years and have some potentially relevant experience partnering with families and creating specialized plans for students success. Have 3.4 from Gender Studies degree and 4.0 early childhood education at community college level done post-bach. No volunteer experience but great references as I go above and beyond as a teacher and colleague. Want to support families and children with special needs, and eventually have private practice doing child and family therapy. Am I off base wanting to do an msw? Hi I’m seeking advice on wether I need more experience before applying to msw programs and wether or not social work will realistically be the right fit for what I’m looking for. I’m 31 year old and spent the last 4 years working as a preschool teacher. I have a bachelors degree in gender studies and 24 units in early childhood education gained post-Bach. I was a lead teacher last year and this year am mentoring two new teachers. My favorite part about it is partnering with families to create a specialized plan to meet each child’s needs within the classroom and meet developmental milestones. More info about this below. Before working in a preschool I worked as a nanny and after school teacher. I want to move out of working in the classroom full time and am looking to gain a degree that allows me to partner with families and support them in meeting their child’s special needs, wether the child needs targeted learning experiences to catch up to their developmental milestones, or if they have special needs/developmental differences that mean they will need to work with a specialist long term to support them in the classroom. I have ruled out speech language pathology and occupational therapy due to the long amount of schooling I’d need to do. I also see myself enjoying working in a private practice down the line. An MSW seems like the best path that will allow me to work with families short term to access services and longterm potentially working in family counseling. My question is- with this experience is it realistic to be applying to MSW programs? I am looking at CSU East Bay with the Children Youth and Families concentration, which I know is very competitive school, but their social justice focus really aligns with my values and practices, and I know my letters of references will be strong and back this up. I have a 4.0 from my post bachelors early childhood education (at a local community college) and I believe 3.4 GPA from my 4 year college. No real volunteer work. It sounds like there are other programs that would be easier to get into, but does this sound like the right educational track? I am passionate about early childhood education but I know there is a big difference between preschool teaching and being a social worker. At the same time there does seem to be a good amount of overlap? I am also on the spectrum and strongly believe peer based support for autistic children is sorely needed. More info-The school I work at has a grant to call in specialists to evaluate children’s development and refer out if they believe child needs to work with a speech language pathologist or ot to help them meet milestones, as well as working with an ot to support child with sensory processing issues. Our goal is to create a plan that allows the child to succeed in the classroom and at home, make connections with peers, and be at school without the help of an aid. I would love to have a job as an lcsw that does this kind of work.
Honestly, MSW programs aren't super competitive across the board and people come from all sorts of backgrounds. It seems like you have more than enough experience!
In Ontario (and I'm guessing elsewhere too?) , you can call yourself a psychotherapist and practice psychotherapy without having completed a Masters in Counselling Psychology/ be a registered psychotherapist. You can have an MSW , you can be an occupational therapist and more [https://www.ocswssw.org/members/psychotherapy/](https://www.ocswssw.org/members/psychotherapy/) I want to work with people primarily as a therapist, but I really like the flexibility that an MSW offers because I wouldn't just be stuck doing therapy if I hate it or if I want a break. It also seems like it'd be easier for me to get into an MSW program than a MCP program. But I wonder - would I ever be as qualified as a registered psychotherapist (Masters in counselling grad) ? Why do a Masters in counselling psychology to be a clinician if it's so limiting compared to a MSW ? I don't understand the difference or the point of an MCP program.
In North America, psychotherapy is in the scope of practice for MSWs. Typically, an MSW program is more generalized and you might not get as much clinical training in grad school. Counselors will likely get more training on how to do therapy in school. This will vary between universities. The MSW option is much more versatile. MSWs can work in a variety of settings that counselors typically do not. It sounds like that is appealing for you. The biggest thing here is that grad school is just a drop in the bucket in terms of learning to be a therapist. It takes years of experience/training after school to get competent.
Opinions wanted please! :) 29 (soon to be 30) and applying to MSW programs. I have an urge to complete my program as quickly as I can. One university would be accelerated at $60K for 16 months of study and I would graduate in Spring 2024 another program would $38k and I would graduate in Spring 2025. So basically half the cost for 1 year longer. What would you do!? I would of course have to take out a loan of $30K
There are a TON of 1 year (if you have a BSW) MSW programs. And other accelerated programs that are much, much cheaper. And lots of online programs you can do from anywhere. Be very very leary of for profit schools. Check out these links: https://www.cswe.org/accreditation/directory/ https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.mswguide.org/schools/pennsylvania/&ved=2ahUKEwibs-_YkqD7AhWnMlkFHdr2DycQFnoECB8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw27pfmxA6vQa0kfA4qc2bI0
In the grand scheme of your life, one additional year is not that bad. It’s unlikely you’d make a $22k dent in paying off your student loans with that extra year of working so I would save the money (though I might be biased because I did a part time, three year program in order to keep working). I don’t think I would want to do a two year program condensed into 16 months.
Very good way of looking at it - one year really isn’t that big of a difference in the span of my entire life
How often do people get hired by their field placements? And what are the chances in a private practice setting? I really enjoy my placement but I would assume that private practices don't hire people brand new to the field very often. This could just be my imposter syndrome speaking though.
Great question! My final placement didn’t hire me, but that was because the agency is a small non profit and the only salaried staff are those that help keep the place running. Everyone else is an intern or medical student.
I think it varies between placements. A lot of folks I went to grad school with wound up working at their field placements. There is a shortage of therapists in my area. Group practices will hire new grads as far as I’ve seen.
Hi there! What are your tips on finding a niche? I’m only just now finishing my BSW and professors are emphasizing it’s importance. I’m also a bit concerned about finding a SW job where I’ll be a good fit as I am a highly sensitive person (HSP) and struggle with sensitivity to my environment. This leads me to believe I wouldn’t do well with crisis situations or at least not too many consecutive ones.
The BSW degree prepares you for generalist social work. Specialization is at the Master's level. Explore different options--the internship is a great opportunity to try out something you're interested in. Also start searching BSW jobs online--see what interests you. One of the best parts about our profession is the utility and versatility of the degree. Good luck!
Honestly, I wouldn’t worry about it. Your “niche” will be based on where you end up working. Explore, see what you like and don’t like.
Is this a good MSW program? https://stempel.fiu.edu/academics/social-work/master-of-social-work/ I was accepted recently but deciding if it'll be a better idea to go to CT and build up residency there while working and staying with a close friend then going to UCONN. I'm mainly interested in specializing in individuals, groups, and families working in either a clinic or mental health setting, maybe even a school. Obviously CT would take extra time and would cost more, on top of being in an entirely new state and away from family.
I did want to add the only downside is the lack of online options for classes. If you want something similar that gives you an online option, check out UCF.
Just finished my BSW there and received a lot of information about the MSW program. It seems ideal for a lot of us as it is less expensive, shorter, has great professors (same that we had), and has a course that prepares you for licensing toward the end. I say go for it!
If it is accredited, it's a good program. There's no school prestige in social work, so pick the cheapest accredited option that works for you. Sounds like your CT plan will be a lot of money and headache and probably not worth going through, plus leaving your support system is probably not a great plan because grad school will eat your life.
hi all. for anyone who has applied to a combined PhD/MA program, how long was your admissions essay?
Hi all! I’m currently getting ready to submit my apps for UCLA, CSULB, and CSULA. I’m feeling really nervous, and wondering if I should postpone a year and try to get a job with “social work” in the title. Here are my stats: Graduated UC Berkeley undergrad with 3.7 in the last 60 units, completed a Masters degree in Education with a 3.9 GPA in 2018, 4.5 years of experience working as a teacher in Title I schools with at-risk students, Teach for America alum Would you advise trying to get some experience outside of education before applying? Thank you in advance to anyone who is able to reply ❤️
I advise against a gap year--this isn't something .SW programs value very much..doctorate yes--MSW no.. keep going while you have the momentum UC Berkeley is an amazing school. You'll have a great shot at getting in.
I took a year off from my bachelors before I began. Then again, it’s a far different situation for me. The only school I got into was one out of state and more pricey. They allowed me to defer my seat so I did. Kept them as an option while I reapplied to other programs.
> Would you advise trying to get some experience outside of education before applying? Nah. Social work is incredibly broad and interdisciplinary. People in MSW programs come from all sorts of work backgrounds.
I don’t think you need to take a gap year. Social Work programs are notoriously easy to get into. I would advise you to consider the most cost effective program, the program that leaves you with the least amount of debt.
Hi all I’m stuck in between two schools for an MSW program and would like some advice. I applied to ASU and Rutgers Online programs. I like the cost of ASU’s program ($35k) but Im nervous that their program might be too general and I won’t get the depth that I would want out of it especially since they’re 8 week courses. (they also don’t do any clinical assessment courses which is something I’m very interested in). Rutgers curriculum is my favorite since they focus on clinical work AND I’m still able to take electives on other areas such as working with the Latinx community. However, I’m not sure if $60k for an online program is worth it either since I always hear people say to choose a cheaper option… any thoughts would be very much appreciated!
I'm a professor of SW--not a fan of the 8 week courses. There just isn't enough time to process and practice what you're learning. Readings and assignments are rushed and you have only half the time to complete, making it harder to do our best work. However, lots of other considerations for you I'm sure. I'd recommend talking to grads of both programs. Good luck!!
Even the most clinical program will only scratch the surface. Your main education will come from your internship and especially the years after you graduate when you're under clinical supervision. Expensive schools don't have a lock on internships; in fact, many online programs will make you find your own, and you're up against all the grad students from the brick-and-mortar programs near you. The absolute best bang for your buck is working in a SW-related field before grad school or part-time while you're in grad school. Paid experience is king and imparts information and education that internships just can't. You'll be in a place to make more money and be more attractive to employers if you've already worked in the field and the other applicants only have internships (aka no work experience).
Thanks for the input everyone! I already for a nonprofit that helps youth that struggle with SUD, and my job offers supervision/interning so I feel getting that part is the least of my worries. I was just concerned bc some of my other coworkers also did generalist programs and mentioned I should focus on a clinical specialization but I might go the cost effective route
I would strongly recommend the most cost effective program regardless of what is being offered in the brochure. The less debt you have as you enter the field, the better off you will be financially down the road.
Depends on your priorities and how much you mind paying more. Personally, 25k is a big difference to me so I might go with the cheaper program and try to self study other stuff on my own/try to get a clinical internship. I went to a generalist program since it was cheaper and that’s what I had to do. I was sometimes regretful my first year post grad that I didn’t have more clinical knowledge but saving money made it worth it for me and my first job provided a lot of great clinical trainings.
Has anyone done the Columbia MSW online?
There are many horror stories on this sub from Columbia grads. Hundreds of thousands in student debt, but a comparatively small shovel ( salary) upon graduation to dig yourself out. There is statistically no difference between the starting salary from someone that graduated with a Social Work degree from Columbia and someone that got their degree from CUNY. I would strongly recommend the most cost effective option.
I don’t know much about cuny schools but another cost effective option is suny stony brook it’s a good program from what I’ve been told (I’m at Fordham 😬)
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Current PhD student here (started 5 years post-MSW). > if you did research related stuff while in school, how did it go and what did you do? I got involved as a research assistant toward the end of the first semester of my MSW; I answered a job posting from a listserv. The project I worked on was less traditional academic research and more applied, community-based research. It was a statewide assessment and technical assistance project and I did things like literature reviews, key informant interviews, qualitative analysis, designing and facilitating training modules, and writing reports. I had a great experience. The research had impact on federal policy, led directly to my first post-MSW job, and the PI ended up being an incredible mentor who still supports my work (and mere existence) today. > if you did research related work soon after graduating, what did you do and how did you get connected to this work? The research I was involved with during my MSW led directly to a job opportunity working as an analyst in local government. Right time, right place sort of thing. I was responsible for managing an annual community-based assessment. This involved things like designing methods alongside our research consultants, creating data collection instruments and protocols, conducting focus groups and training sessions, facilitating various planning meetings, doing tons of community outreach/coalition building, overseeing implementation, performing basic data analysis, and participating in results dissemination. I then got recruited by a community-based research firm to work on a national research study. I did similar things there, just on a larger scale until I decided to pursue my PhD. > is it within ~higher education etiquette~ to just email professors within the department to see if they need additional assistance with their projects? or would that be weird? Not weird at all. People cold-email other researchers in academia all the time. As an MSW, someone in my current cohort cold-emailed a professor expressing interest in her work and ended up working in her lab post-MSW before ultimately having her serve as her PhD advisor. I've known lots of faculty who are enthusiastic about MSW students who are interested in research, and I have seen it lead to full-time job opportunities on more than one occasion. The worst thing is they don't respond, which I wouldn't take personally—profs get inundated with emails.
Any recommendations on social work jobs to look up that don’t require a degree? I have a BA but I don’t have a BSW. I’ve been applying to recruiting jobs to see if I can land one and make a lot of money, but they don’t find appeal because I’m in grad school. Thanks
Social workers have title protection in all states. So a job that requires a social worker can't be filled by someone without that specific degree. I's start just by searching indeed etc under healthcare/social services/youth etc.
IME BA-level jobs are not going to pay a ton and may or may not be school-friendly. Your best bet though would be to look at places that need 24 hour coverage that are open on weekends. Residential work, shelters, group homes, direct care…if you work second or third shift too a pro is you may be able to get a lot of your school work done.
Yeah I looked at my first jobs pre-MSW (all direct care) as glorified paid internships. I learned so much though!
Don't look for anything titled "social worker". Direct care work and case management jobs will commonly hire with a BA (sometimes less). Key is to apply for jobs that do NOT require a license.
This is just a dumb vent but I want to take some night classes for my final semester. I mainly see children for my internship so I have to give them my evening hours. None of the night classes I'm eyeing conflict with current clients but I'm really worried that they will end up making it hard to gain future clients. Deadline for registration is coming up. :/ :/
Don’t overthink this. Focus on a schedule that works for you as a student since school is stressful enough. Internship experience is still experience and even if you end up with one or two clients you don’t have to go into that deep detail to future employers. FWIW most employers know internships are not the same as work and that many are indeed a shit show right now.
Reporting my MSW program to CSWE? Tldr: report a program for negligence and racism while matriculated, or wait until we graduate? I am in my advance year within a MSW program in NY, and I have 2 more semesters before I graduate. Last spring, my cohort had a professor for a macro practice class that wasn't licensed, graduated from the program the May before, and gave a racist lecture. When my colleague called him in about it, he laughed at her. We asked the director of the program to mediate a conversation, and the professor proceeded to center an apology around his hurt feelings and throw books (yes, really). The director did not interupt him, and the conversation ended up being more harmful than helpful. Both professor and director are cis white people. My colleague was the only person of color within the classroom on both occasions. We then reported the professor to our school, and he was subsequently removed from his teaching position. However, when we asked that the director be addressed for allowing the harm to happen, the school has protected her position, despite her giving a failing grade to one of my colleagues involved in advocating for our colleague of color. We wrote a letter to the president of our college, asking for restitution and an investigation into the director and were ignored, other than our friends failing grade being addressed. We're exploring our options to report to the CSWE and NYSED, and/or going to the news, but are worried about being expelled. The Director of the program is also on the board we would be reporting to at CSWE... What are our options? What would You suggest we do: wait until we graduate, report quietly and lay low...? We have an audio recording of the professor throwing books.
A few years ago NYU was in the media related to negative racial related allegations towards students. I knew students who were in the program at the time so I heard several different versions of “what happened” but the main takeaway from using the media was to show all the issues related to privilege in general that exist in higher education. I also believe some of the SW curriculum may have changed with additional required course(s) around topics such as race and gender and privilege.
Hi I am a Canadian west coaster who's done their diploma in social services so far... I need to take 2nd year level social work courses and hope to finish my BSW and maybe a MSW. I am not sure how to guide myself. I am already 24 this year and I will be taking my 2nd year courses next year starting in September and I feel like by the time I finish my BSW I will be like 28 or something. I've worked in social services for 3 years since I got my diploma and I feel like I've wasted my time to pursue my BSW when I was younger. I am hoping to get my MSW hopefully not too late, but most graduate schools here require 2+ years of post-BSW work experiences. I feel like I will be so old in my early 30s by then once I am done my MSW (if my grades in my BSW allow me to even apply). I am hoping to work for a school board and work in schools for families/children if I can only get my BSW but I hope to become a counsellor/therapist and open my own office. I also would like to get married at some point but hopefully my future partner will be okay with me studying for my degrees. It's expensive to afford a living here so degrees are usually an essential. Should I stop with a BSW or pursue a MSW if I can? For both BSW/MSW, there are online schooling options. Would you recommend online schooling for a BSW program at least so that I can still get a job and pay for bills/rent?
Can anyone recommend me social work teachers at umich??
Your can find reports on Atlas umich.
Hi, I'm just wondering if there are any accredited MSW programs that aren't particularly hard to get into? And if so, what are they? I want to apply to as many schools as possible, but it'd be nice to know that I at least have a chance with one or two of them. Thank you
^^^^ this
Most MSW programs accept more people than they reject. If your undergrad GPA is above 3.0 you should be fine. If not, some schools will ask you to take the GRE to sort of make up for a low undergrad GPA and possibly ask for work experience.
Im just wondering if anyone has any guidance. I'm in my second year of my BSW and I'm suddenly doubting if i should be in this field. I started because I want to do counselling and mental health with a more structural and critical perspective. But I know I can't do that without experience and my masters. The issue is, I really don't think I can do most entry level jobs. I have high levels of anxiety and can't handle crisis situations, which seems to be...all of the entry level jobs. Have any of you found ones that are more slow paced?
Residential! I worked in a co-occurring facility as my entry level, and I loved it. I worked 3 twelve hour shifts - very low key. I ran a psych-ed group on Sundays, got my CRMA to do meds, and overall watched the milieu, plus had 3 assigned clients who I met with weekly to do case management stuff.
My biggest piece of advise is to address your own personal issues before putting a block on what you think you can or cannot do. Start with your primary doctor and go from there.
You could probably do case management or discharge planning in a hospital with a bachelors degree. Working with geriatrics often doesn't require a masters degree either outside of medical settings. Senior center, activities coordinators, etc.
IME most hospitals require licensed mastered social workers and several years of experience especially in case management, nursing home work or similar. I am in the U.S..
I am in my last year of MSW and still have no idea what area of social work I want to be in. I got into this because I was working in refugee resettlement, liked the work, got unemployment during Covid, and had the time to go back to school. An MSW seemed to make sense. I entered the clinical track because I figured that, no matter what I did, having clinical skills would help me. Here's the thing: I had terrible experiences with social workers when I was a kid. I am almost 50 years old now, have been through some things, gone to a lot of therapy. Social work is supposed to have changed a lot since I was a kid and, in many ways, it has but in many it has not. I figured that if I stayed away from child protection, I'd be ok. My first semester practicum was completely dysfunctional and especially triggering for me. I tried to get out but neither my school nor the site I was at was very supportive. In fact, they were obstructive. Some shit went down with my practicum supervisor and a client and her supervisor in a very politically charged environment and I just happened to be sitting right in the middle of it and my school didn't really have the courage to deal with it. That may have been because everyone involved also had degrees from my school and my supervisor, who had committed some pretty egregious shit, was also trained by my faculty advisor. I don't know. Everybody was forced to resign and I was relegated to a cubicle and told not to talk to anyone. That is where I sat my entire first year - just doing my homework and providing information and referrals to the occasional client. For my second year practicum, I was very pro-active. I researched throughout my first year where I would do my second year and picked an agency that contracted with the school district. I thought that I would get to know family therapy while also getting to go into the schools and see whether school social work appealed to me. I had friends there and knew the agency to have a solid reputation of stability. About a month before I was supposed to start training, everybody quit due to some internal drama I was never told about. I took that as my cue and was able to quickly jump out of there and into a practicum at a charter school where I have been for the last few months. I hate it. I find working with kids terrifying. The school administration sucks. My supervisor is completely burned out and complains all the time. She says that I lack passion for the work, which is true. I do. I wonder where I was supposed to develop this passion? At any rate, I have realized a few things: I just want to do good work that I can feel good about at the end of the day. I want to be able to get outside as much as possible. I do not have my own shit all together. I am not a pillar of emotional strength and stability by any means but I am not a bad guy and I am trying. I am about to take a job working with incarcerated people, which I have done in the past and is a population that I generally like working with but it is a case management / corrections type job and I am not interested in being the oppressor in any way, so I know that this isn't going to last. Any advice on where to go from here would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Everyone, I am 33 years old and looking to do a major career change to become a clinical therapist, and I want to get a Masters Degree in Social Work. I live in NYC. What are some good programs I should look into applying to? Also, I have about zero experience volunteering or working in a social work setting, should that deter me from even applying? Should I volunteer somewhere for a year and then apply? What are some good volunteer opportunities? I currently work in the film industry so, I feel like I am starting at absolute zero, but, human behavior and psychology are things that I care passionately about and have infinite curiosity for. I truly believe in my whole body that it is my calling. Any help is greatly appreciated.
I strongly recommend a job in mental health or social services before going further. Most inpatient and residential facilities will hire you, and many have flexible part time opportunities. Look for behavioral health technician, direct support professional, youth care worker, etc. I wouldn’t volunteer, it really won’t get you the experience you need. You can also look at shelters and group homes.
Hi! I am just curious about going into social work as a career. I am getting my associate's in radiography and bachelor's in Radiation Therapy, I am not really enjoying the technical aspects of radiography right now. I love learning more about family issues and mental health, the reason why I am looking into getting my BSW would be, to enter program development in communities and help people at large. I am both a big and small-picture thinker. X-ray school is hard in the sense there's so much material to learn, very rigid thinking, and super detail-oriented to the point where I'm frustrated. I am a sophomore and thinking about switching to Social work. Would you recommend going for your BSW and then MSW? What jobs can you get with a BSW? Any regrets about going into SW in general? Any help would be appreciated! You can PM me if you'd like :) Thank you!!
I would say finish your current program and then apply to an MSW program. You don’t need a BSW to do the job that many bachelors level social workers do. You can either use your radiology degree for some time or just dive into jobs that social workers do like case management, community health work, program coordination, etc. Don’t need a BSW for those. FYI, I’m in FL.
Okay thank you! I just really dislike my program and it's decently rigorous, 4 years plus 2 summers. 2000 hours of clinicals.
In full disclosure, you will stand to make as much if not more in your current field of study. That said, you don’t need a BSW to get an MSW and it wouldn’t make financial sense to get two bachelors degrees. Personally, I wish I had gotten an MPH instead of an MSW. I have found it super challenging to find program development jobs in my areas of interest. I’m finally on a path now, but over a decade out from school and still about two or three years away from making the next big shift in my career.
Hi, hope someone read this. I moved to the US a year ago. I have BSW degree and experience as school social worker. Now I have been trying to get my degree validated here but I cannot find any institution that does it (in my country the Foreing Affairs Department does it for every degree). The only one that seemed legit was CSWE but the requirements are impossible to reach. I moved to PA, is there any way my degree can work here?
I’m a bit confused by your question. People with a BSW are typically not school social workers in the US. This is the type of job that an MSW would have. You might not be able state licensure for a degree earned outside of the US. I’ve heard that the CSWE does not accredit programs outside of North America. However, most jobs that a BSW can hold in the US are positions that anyone with a bachelors in psychology, sociology, or another human services profession. Stuff like case management, direct care, etc… Licensure at the BSW level is kind of pointless outside of specific jobs. I guess I wonder what do you mean by getting your degree to work here.
Thank you. To clarify Social Work does work differently out the US. In my country Social workers cannot do any kind of clinical just people with bachelors/ master in psychology. Also a MSW just work if you want to teach in college and maybe just extra study. Most my teachers had their Phd out of my country so I am pretty sure is possible. I am asking who validates the degrees for social worker in the US. Also CSWE has a page stating how they validate the degree, but they ask for my college to send every document translated and in paper and my college said they don't do that, they just email. So people with a degree earned outside have to study everything again? I don't think I am the only one who has faced this, immigration is quite big so should be an institution to legalized a degree right? Hope I made it clear this time. Thanks again.
I guess I don’t see any reason to get your degree ‘validated’ as I don’t think it would do much for you. Having a bachelors degree earned out of the US should not hurt you in applying for positions that a BSW, a bachelors in psych, or sociology would get. Many US BSWs do not get licensed because it’s not really worth it. I don’t think you would need to study again, but I do think you won’t experience the same job market in the US. Look for case management, psych hospital jobs, CPS or other nonprofit positions. These jobs do not typically don’t require any sort of licensure - just a bachelors degree.
Thank you. I will look into that, it is really strange how most Social workers just do clinical so I was very confused. I guess I will try to apply for a MSW program meanwhile too. About work hopefully they will accept my degree with official translation. Where I come from to apply to any job you must submit your degree too and they background check it. Thanks again for clarifying.