Social Work Degree Online

Social Work Degree prepares students for beginning and advanced practice in clinical social work and organization and community practice. According to Occupational Outlook Handbook of the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Social Workers is expected to increase faster than the average for all professions through 2010 due to rapid increase in elderly population & baby boomer generation.

• From child services, to nursing home support, social work encompasses the support services given to many different populations of people.
• A social worker can either work with people directly, as a clinical counselor, or indirectly, as a managerial human services worker.
• Social workers are greatly needed by the populations they serve and by the society in general.

What do social work professionals do?

Social workers are a specific type of human service professional, trained to specifically work with certain populations in order to help people find an improved lifestyle for themselves. Social workers sometimes only intervene in private lives when they are asked, but sometimes they intervene when the law says it is necessary. Social workers can be employed in schools, hospitals, non-profit agencies, and government human services offices. Some counsel people who are mentally ill, while others advise people how to spend their money or parent their kids. Social workers, in a sense, are the caretakers and advisers who dedicate their careers toward providing support and upholding social justice.

What are the career opportunities in the field of social work?

Foster care case workers, rape crisis center employees, probation officers, suicide hot-line counselors, and substance abuse counselors are just a few of the many different hats worn by social workers. If it sounds like there is no difference between counselors and social workers, you�re not far off track. While these two professions are not the same, they do overlap quite a bit and they are both in high demand. Many social workers are certified to do counseling, while many counselors are licensed to do social work. The major difference between these two professions is that counselors are usually more specialized in talking and working through tough issues with individual patients, while social workers often work with populations, in more community-based situations.

Some of the major categories of social work include human service, health care, education, and social program planning. Professionals who have a big heart and are interested in making a difference by helping people climb out of sometimes desolate situations are usually a good match for this field.

What are the qualifications needed to work in the field of social work?

Social workers are usually highly educated. While there are a very few number of jobs out there that are filled by high school graduates, most jobs in this field require a bachelor�s degree or, more commonly, a master�s degree. Those with a degree in social work, counseling, or psychology usually qualify for positions in social work as long as their degree is earned through a college deemed acceptable by the Council on Social Work Education. Most states also require social workers to be certified by specific state standards. It may sound strange to have such high credentials to gain professional status in the field of helping people, but social work is a field that can easily burn out even the strongest passion. Social work programs aim to give students the training needed to cope and deal with the populations they�ll serve.

How much money do professionals in social work make?

Social workers give their professional lives to help lift up other people, but the numbers on their paychecks would never show it. Most social workers make somewhere between $25,000 and $42,500 a year, with some sub-specialties, such as health or substance abuse social workers, making up to $52,000 a year. Professionals in management can also have a higher earning potential.

What are the leading schools offering programs in Social Work?

• University of Phoenix - Human Services : Founded in 1976, University of Phoenix is the largest accredited private University in the U.S. Students who earn a Bachelor of Science in Human Services get a solid grounding in both the practical and theoretical aspects of working in the fields of counseling, social work, and psychology. Students in this line of study take 60 credits in courses ranging from human behavior, to managing and financing human services program. Most students can complete their degree within two to three years.
• Walden University : Walden University, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, offers Ph.D., master's and bachelor's degrees in management and doctoral and master's degrees in psychology, education and health and human services to meet the specific needs of adult learners. Walden University has over 30 years of experience delivering programs from a distance while maintaining its student-centered focus on quality and integrity.
• Capella University : Capella University is an accredited online university designed to provide a quality education that fits the life of busy professionals like you. With a strong learner community built around motivated adult learners, real world faculty and a staff dedicated to your success, Capella helps you make an immediate impact on your life and career.
  
• University of Denver University College : University of Denver University College was established in 1864 and is ranked as one of the top 100 universities in the United States. Programs offered include bachelor degree completion, as well as Bachelors and Masters Programs in fields ranging from Business to Environmental Studies.