Social work is a powerful field with endless need and growth. Earning a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) provides many job opportunities for a fulfilling career. But for those who want to take their education a step further, a master’s degree in social work (MSW) builds on the foundation of a BSW and allows for more advanced jobs in the field after graduation.
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Want to know what occupations are available to those with a master’s in social work? Here are some of the most common jobs:
Clinical Social Worker
A clinical social worker provides therapy and counseling, coordinates resources and care, assesses mental health and social needs, and advocates for clients. They can also diagnose and treat mental disorders. They typically work in hospitals, clinics, schools, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Medical Social Worker
Medical social workers help patients and their loved ones cope with the challenges that come with illness and injury. They provide emotional support, counseling, discharge planning, resource connection, care coordination, crisis intervention, and patient advocacy. They typically work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, hospices, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies.
School Social Worker
A school social worker supports students’ needs with counseling, crisis intervention, psychological assessments, developing individualized education programs, connecting them with community resources, and provides training for staff on things such as trauma-informed teaching and student mental health. They typically work in schools, education programs, and district offices.
Gerontological Social Worker
Gerontological social workers support older adults and their families through challenges related to aging. They conduct psychosocial assessments, develop care plans, provide counseling, help clients navigate healthcare systems, advocate for clients’ rights, connect their clients with resources, and intervene in cases of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. They typically work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, hospices, assisted living facilities, community senior centers, government programs, aging agencies, and private practices.
Policy Analyst
A policy analyst helps governments, organizations, and advocacy groups make ethical and informed decisions. They collect data, conduct research, propose policies and programs, facilitate public consultations, and track the implementation of the policies they created. They typically work at government agencies, research institutions, nonprofits, international organizations, advocacy organizations, the private sector, and consulting firms.
Military or Veterans’ Social Worker
Military and veteran social workers support active-duty service members, veterans, and their loved ones. They provide mental health counseling to them and their families, respond to mental health emergencies, run support groups, help veterans find housing, education, and health services, and help with programs to improve veteran care. They typically work for veterans hospitals and clinics, military bases, community veteran programs, nonprofit veteran programs, and private practices.
Forensic Social Worker
A forensic social worker helps clients with legal matters. They provide court reports and testimonies, advocate for rehabilitation and treatment instead of punishment, intervene in cases of abuse and mental health crises, and serve as an expert witness in court. They also work one-on-one with clients by helping them understand their rights, developing and managing reentry or rehabilitation programs, and conduct psychological assessments.
But not too fast. Every road must start somewhere. Before pursuing your MSW and becoming a licensed social worker, you’ll first need to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW).
Southeast Missouri State University offers a bachelor’s degree in social work that prepares students for success with quality education, connections, and real-world experience. Start your path toward a meaningful career in social work and apply today.