What Can You Do with a Social Work Degree?

Social workers help communities prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives. From child welfare to research to mental health and substance abuse to community outreach and beyond — these professionals are understanding and empathetic while being determined changemakers.?

By Helen Harris

Social workers: They’re the glue that holds our society together.?

While you may be familiar with some of the more well-known careers in social work as portrayed on TV, such as child welfare, forensic and school social workers, these professions permeate several facets of our society.?

For example, social workers help people cope with challenges in their lives, such as adopting a child, being diagnosed with a terminal illness or preventing and treating substance abuse.?

What Is Social Work??

As defined by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people.?

The source points to the four principles as core to social work:?

1. Social justice
2. Human rights
3. Collective responsibility?
4. Respect for diversities?

“Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledges, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing,” reported IFSW.?

Besides understanding the basic definition of social work, it’s also important to understand that economic health cannot be attained without social health.?

ISFW cites that for every dollar spent on social work, there is a $3 return on investment to the national economy.?

“Social work is the largest non-political movement globally for peace and social justice,” reported ISFW. “Social work is a game changer. … [Social workers] help people build the kind of environments in which they want to live, through co-determination, co-production and social responsibility.”?

So who are these social workers, and what qualities do they have??

What Makes a Good Social Worker??

“You have to have a great deal of patience, and empathy and a lot of time to practice self-reflection,” said Carmen Merrill, licensed master social worker and recruiter. “This can be really obviously challenging work, and you aren’t in a position where you can react emotionally when other people are emotional.”??

Another skill and trait Merrill suggests that makes a successful and happy social worker is being open to feedback.?

Ask yourself how you take constructive criticism. Do you get defensive easily or do you use that feedback to better yourself?????

She stresses that it’s critical to be able to collaborate without getting defensive , as this can lead?to burnout.?

“In fact, most social workers will say the burnout is not from the clients; it's from dealing with administration,” said Merrill.??

Other aspects to think about are what you want from your college years and your career.

While social work is an undergraduate program, Merrill states that it can be quite different from other degree programs. For instance, she mentions that her personal undergraduate class consisted of people mostly in their thirties. And these individuals were focused on figuring out what area of social work they wanted to pursue and truly committed to the program.?

Most importantly, if you’re someone who likes to compartmentalize your personal life from your professional life, this might not be the career path for you. Because with social work, bringing your personal experience, background, knowledge and passion for the career is what will make you the best social worker you can be.?

Adding to the traits that make a successful social worker, Harleny Vasquez, licensed social worker turned career coach mentions the following traits:???

• Great listening skills
• The ability to build relationships and be an advocate for those in your community???
• The ability to be empathetic and genuinely care — and show that to the people you’re working with
• The desire to want to make a difference?

The University of Buffalo School of Social works identifies a few more essential skills and traits for those interested in social work, such as organization, professional commitment, communication, critical thinking , patience and cultural competence.?

All of these traits and skills are extremely valuable and are bound to make an impact on countless lives. But what exactly is that impact, and why does it matter??

The Impact You Can Make as a Social Worker?

“On a daily basis, you might be the only support system a person has,” said Merrill. “You might be the first person to ask them, ‘What do you want to do with your life?’ or to say something complimentary to them.”

More specifically, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that social workers generally have some or all of the following responsibilities:?

• Identifying people/communities in need?
• Assessing clients’ needs, situations, strengths and support networks to best arrive at goals
• Helping clients adjust to changes and challenges in their lives (illness, divorce, unemployment, etc.)
• Researching, referring and advocating for community resources to improve well-being (food stamps, childcare, healthcare)
• Responding to crisis?
• Monitoring clients' situations — and following up to ensure improvement?
• Maintaining files and records
• Providing psychotherapy services

“With a social work degree you can make any impact that you desire,” said Vasquez. “[While social work school may not] teach you how to market yourself or build your personal brand, what you will learn is the foundations needed to be able to build key relationships and rapport with members inside community or outside the community.”?

And one of the best things about a career in social work is that while you are making an impact on so many peoples’ lives — so are all the other social workers, in their vast array of respective fields.?

Jobs You Can Get with a Social Work Degree?

There are many versatile undergraduate degrees , ranging from business to English to political science and beyond.?

But if you are truly looking for a versatile degree, know you want to make a difference, and are still wavering on exactly what you want to do — the social work program could be a great option.??

As mentioned by the U.S. Bureau of Labor of Statistics (BLS), depending on how far you go in your social work program, you could even get involved at a broad level to help community organizations and policymakers develop or improve social programs, services, and conditions — also known as macro social work.

To break into the area of macro social work, Vasquez explains that you first need to complete a bachelor's degree in social work or a related field and then complete your master's degree in social work (MSW).?

“From there, you can go toward the more macro and policy sector,” said Vasquez. “You can work with the government doing program management, administration, community organizing, policy advocacy, grant writing, and facilitation of projects.”

In addition to macro social work options, Vasquez says social work is also one of the most versatile career paths.?

Consider some of the top career paths by social workers, as reported by the Social Work Degree Center:?

• Behavioral management
• Probation officer?
• Juvenile court liaison
• Child welfare worker?
• Mental health and substance abuse?
• Community outreach??
• Case management?
• Professor?
• Researcher?
• Behavior supervisor?

“Whether you have a bachelor's degree in social work or a master's degree in social work (credentials vary from state to state), you can get a role as a therapist, work in a hospital, in the school setting, at a nonprofit, at a VA office or any clinical route.”?

Merrill adds to this point, that you can decide whether you want to be doing policy work and more administrative “behind-the-desk” work or be someone who is more “boots on the ground” and client-facing every day.?

Either way, you are a part of the changes taking place and have the traits to make a difference in your community — and in turn, the world.?

Regardless of the exact direction you take with a degree as versatile as social work, as long as you have the desire to make an impact in your community, strong empathy for others and a steadfast commitment to the ethics and values of the field, you can take your career to whatever level you want.

“A social work degree gives you the foundation and the tools needed to be able to excel in any profession that you desire,” said Vasquez.?

Top Takeaways?

What Can You Do with a Social Work Degree?

• Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people.?
• “Social work is the largest non-political movement globally for peace and social justice.”?
• A career in social work requires the key traits and skills of empathy, great communication and a commitment to the ethics and values of the profession.??
• The social work program is incredibly versatile and can lead to careers ranging from working in government to working in clinical settings.
• ?“A social work degree gives you the foundation and the tools needed to be able to excel in any profession that you desire.”?