Social Worker: Courses, Universities, Jobs & Salary

Does helping people make you happy? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Then Social Work can be a well fit career option for you! It is a profession which concentrates on the well being of families, societies and communities. The motive of a professional in this field is to relive people from their suffering, fight for justice and ensure the betterment of peoples’ lives. Read this blog to know how to become a social worker!

“The happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley

What is Social Work?

Social work is an experience-focused discipline that encourages systemic change, development, unity and empowerment of people and communities. Awareness of human development, behaviours, physical, economic-cultural systems and interactions are part of the social work. The work of a professional is often considered rewarding as well as emotionally taxing. It helps candidates build effective leadership skills, demonstrate empathy, and be a better communicator, listener, and analytical thinker. 

Who are Social Workers?

Social workers aim to enrich the life of people by helping with psychological and emotional issues, promoting civil rights and well-being. They work in colleges, hospitals, mental health services, senior centres, elected offices, medical practises, jails, military, businesses, and various public and private entities that  are present in every area of urban life. Skills required to become a social worker are as follows: 

• Advocacy 
• Professional Commitment
• Patience
• Empathy
• Self-care
• Creative and Critical Thinking 
• Communication 
• Organization
• Active Listening

Also Read: Development Studies 

How to Become a Social Worker?

If you want to become a social worker then you need to have certain skills as well as adequate education qualifications. Here is a step-wise guide to help you out: 

Step1 – Education Qualification

A bachelor’s degree in Social Work is the most common qualification to become a professional in this field. However, some employers recruit candidates from similar fields like Psychology or Sociology. Many times students take up related courses at Masters level and then move onto making a professional career in the field. Here is a list of some popular courses to start your educational journey as a Social Worker: 

UG Programs	PG Programs
BA Social Policy	MA Social Research
BA Social Wellbeing Studies	MA Social Policy
BA Community And Social Care	MA Working for Children and Young People
BA Children, Schools and Families	MA Community Development and Planning
BA Social Policy and Human Resource Management	MA Critical Diversity Studies
BA Youth Work and Community Development	MA Social Integration

Step 2- Find a Suitable University

Top Universities Abroad

• University of Georgia 
• North Carolina State University 
• University of Wisconsin– Madison
• The University of Texas at Austin 
• University of Washington 
• The Ohio State University
• New York University 
• Appalachian State University 
• Michigan State University
• Rutgers University 
• James Madison University
• Syracuse University 
• Briar Cliff University 

Top Universities in India 

• Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
• Delhi School of Social Work
• College of Social Work
• Xavier Institute of Labour Relations
• Madras School of Social Work 
• Christ College
• Jamia Millia Islamia
• Mumbai University
• Mangalore University

Step 3 – Check Eligibility 

Here is the eligibility criteria to pursue a suitable course in Social Work: 

• For the B.S.W / B.A (SW) : in every discipline from a known board, candidates should have completed their class 12. 
• For the M.S.W/M.A (SW) : Applicants should have completed their graduation from a recognized university/institute in either stream, but more priority is granted to graduates of social sciences or sociology.
• For the M.S.W scheme, applicants who have finished their M.Phil may still apply.
• A PhD/doctorate in social work should be pursued by applicants who hold an M.Phil or M.S.W degree. 
• Applicants are also expected to apply for entrance tests such as TISSNET, AMU Entrance Test, JMI Entrance Test, DUET, etc to be admitted to the Master’s programs in India. 
• Applicants planning to study abroad will be giving exams like IELTS or TOEFL. 

Step 4- License Required

NGOs may have arrangements allowing social workers and other providers of healthcare to operate under a state licence. Most of these positions would also therefore require evidence of independent clinical level certification, although not all NGOs are familiar with social work licencing, so prior to taking the job, it is necessary to inquire about licencing criteria and the provision of social work oversight.

Must Read: How to Become a Medical Social Worker?

Job Description of a Social Worker

1. In order to change the lives of people, social workers are responsible for empowering customers, families and groups of people to cope with problems they face.
2. One part of this is training skills and developing instruments for patients to work on improving their life and experiences.
3. Many social professionals, though, feel that direct counselling for people, families and neighbourhoods is only one part of their larger spectrum of tasks. Social workers may also serve as liaisons with different agencies in order to assist families and collaborate with other service professionals to promote patient welfare.
4. They will become familiar with and lead clients to community facilities. Social workers discuss judicial issues, such as dealing in hearings and providing facts pertaining to patients. They are also active in research, policy creation and advocacy of programmes.
5. And of course, social workers would keep records of the history of events and submit reports. Social work may be the type of task that demands a great deal of overtime, and separating the emotional aspects of the job from the tasks required can be an overwhelming endeavour.

Must Read: How to Make a Career in Gender Studies?

Salary

Here is the average salary estimation of a Social Worker: 

Work Experience	Annual Salary
Less than 1 Year	Upto 3 Lakh
1-2 Years	Upto 4 Lakhs
5-9 Years	Upto 6 Lakhs
10-12 Years	Upto 10 Lakhs

Note- The salaries may vary case to case as per the profile of an individual

Hope you understood how to become a social worker with this blog! The profession is full of determination, empathy and willingness to help the needy. If you need any career related assistance or want to know how to pursue a suitable program to become a social worker, then feel free to contact Leverage Edu experts.