Are You a Good Fit for an MSW Degree? Ask Yourself These 5 Questions.

If you’re considering a career in social work, you should also consider earning an MSW degree. Find out about the social work field, what degrees and licenses may be required and potential career opportunities. Delve into five questions that can help you decide if you should pursue a degree in social work.

What is social work?

Social work is known as “the helping profession.” Social workers focus on improving the well-being of individuals, families and communities. In this diverse field, social workers may work in the court system, hospitals, military bases, schools, senior centers, hospitals, prisons, clinics and a variety of other settings.

What is an MSW?

MSW is an acronym for Master of Social Work. It’s a master’s degree, which is a graduate-level degree, in the field of social work.

Should I earn an MSW degree?

Before you enroll in any degree program you should consider factors like cost, the time it will take to complete your degree and whether the college and the program are accredited. To decide whether or not to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree, you should also ask yourself these five questions.

1. Am I passionate about social issues?

Think about topics like poverty, immigration, community development, grief and loss, domestic violence, and homelessness. Many people feel some level of compassion for people facing hardships, but if you feel compelled to help improve the lives of others, then a career in social work may be the right fit for you. Social workers are change makers. If this is your passion, social work can be a fulfilling career. And if you want to do social work, you’ll need to earn a degree. If you’re interested in a role beyond entry-level work, you’ll need a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.

2. What are my future career plans?

Earning a master’s degree in social work can prepare you for a variety of fulfilling careers. Here are just some social work roles:

• Family counselor
• Mental health professional
• Hospital social worker
• Clinical manager
• Social work case manager
• School social worker
• Director of social work
• Substance abuse counselor
• Licensed social worker
• Therapist
• Health manager
• Counselor
• Dialysis social worker
• Clinical social worker
• Psychotherapist

Earning a master’s degree in social work is required or strongly preferred for most professional social work positions other than entry-level positions. Leadership roles and specialized work usually require an MSW degree.

3. Do I want or need to be licensed?

All states require social workers to be licensed to practice, though specific requirements and license types vary.  In many states social work licenses require a master’s in social work. For instance, to become licensed clinical social worker, or LCSW, most states require that you hold an MSW degree. Think about your social work career path and determine in what state you plan to work. Then you can determine what the state licensure requirements are for that position.

4. Do I want to gain real-world experience in social work?

In addition to teaching social work theory, most MSW degree programs provide real-world experiences to prepare students to do social work. A quality Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program will provide immersion experiences to enable students to practice their skills and require fieldwork experiences that offer tangible opportunities to work in the field in a specialized area of social work. That experience will empower you to be a confident practitioner of social work.

5. Do I want to be better at helping others?

Social work is known as the helping profession. Earning a graduate degree in social work is a great way to gain additional skills that can give you more ways to help your clients. With more knowledge and more experience, you’ll be better able to find solutions to problems, creating true change.

Are you a good fit for an MSW degree? Only you can answer that question. If your answer is yes, Chamberlain University offers an online Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program that can be completed in less than two years. Also, Chamberlain’s MSW degree program has earned CSWE accreditation, meaning that it is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Online education enables you to learn from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection, without commuting to campus. You can complete your coursework in the evenings, during breaks from work or on weekends, and still work full time while you earn a degree. Learn more about Chamberlain’s online MSW degree program in this e-book.

Chamberlain University, an HLC-accredited institution, offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and certificate programs in nursing and healthcare professions. With a growing network of campuses and robust online programs, Chamberlain continues to build on more than 135 years of excellence in preparing extraordinary healthcare professionals.

Chamberlain University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Chamberlain University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE).

Chamberlain University’s Master of Social Work degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.

Accreditation of a master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process.  An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Commission on Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. 

Accreditation applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program.  Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. 

For more information about social work accreditation, you may contact Accreditation.