Social Work Major

• What is Social Work?
• What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?
• What Kinds of Students Major in Social Work?
• What Courses Do Social Work Majors Take?
• List of Social Work Jobs
• What is the Median Salary Range for Social Work Careers?
• College and University Departments to Consider

What is Social Work?

Graduates of this major seek to benefit society through service, education and research in socially beneficial programs. Students are prepared for entry level social work positions in organizations such as social welfare, child correction, community health agencies, and in this major, one works with individuals, families, groups and communities and cultural and ethnic minorities. Social work is unified by a common core of social work values, knowledge and methods, all of which stress the need to protect the welfare of individuals, to preserve the family, to respect cultural diversity. This profession educates individuals to be change agents who can bring about positive social change. The profession provides an array of individuals who find themselves or their families to be at risk.

top

What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?

Various specializations related to a major in Social Work may be offered by colleges and universities. These specializations may be of greater or lesser interest to you. A few of these specializations related to this field include, but are not limited to:

Clinical Social Work	Medical Social Work

top

What Kinds of Students Major in Social Work?

Individuals who enjoy helping and empowering people who are dealing with such issues as personal or family dysfunctionality, will enjoy this major. Through positive acts like therapy and positive intervention, these issues can be remedied and even prevented from occurring if they are caught in time. Individuals in this major are usually outgoing, energetic, and very friendly and people oriented.

Is Social Work the right major for you?
Take the MyMajors Quiz and find out if it is one of your top recommended majors!

What Courses Do Social Work Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for Social Work majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.

Alcohol and Drug Addictions	Behavior and the Social Environment
Child Welfare	Contemporary Gender Issues
Development of the Social Welfare System	Human Diversity
Introduction to Helping Professions	Introduction to Non Verbal Therapies
Sexual Issues for the Helping Individual	Social Welfare Policy
Social Work with Families & Groups	Social Work with Individuals
The Field of Social Work

top

List of Potential Jobs in Social Work

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Alcohol and Drug Counselor	Child Welfare Worker
Church Social Worker	Employee Assistance Counseling
Employment and Training Specialist	Family Counselor
Family Therapist	Medical Center Social Worker
Social Worker	Veterans Administration Specialist

top

What is the Median Salary Range for Social Work Careers?

Actual expected salaries will vary depending on your chosen career path, experience, and even your geographic location. Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

top

Colleges and Universities offering majors in Social Work

MyMajors complete list has 789 schools in the USA with a major in Social Work.
-View the national listing!

top

For information on options available to campuses wishing to see their programs listed on MyMajors, contact for details.