Do you enjoy working with and helping other people? Are you interested in a job that tries to make the world a better place? Do you like learning about societal problems and institutions? If you answered yes to these questions, you might want to consider social work as a possible major! Social work students learn to practice their skills in many settings including hospitals, the criminal justice system and child welfare agencies.
Education
According to the College Board, studying social work often leads to a Bachelor’s Degree. In order to prepare for social work at the college level, consider taking classes like sociology, AP Psychology, English and Spanish during high school. Some typical college classes for social work majors are human behavior in the social environment, social work research, values and ethics and social and economic justice.
What to know before you apply
Before you choose a particular school, you should know whether the social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Also, you should be aware of the types of agencies you will choose from when you need to complete practicums. This might help you decide what you want to do after you graduate. Finally, you should find out whether your college will help you find work after you complete your degree.
Salary
While social work will most likely lead you to a career as a social worker, there are differences in specialties and salaries. Medical health social workers earned an average yearly salary of $50,500 in 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Mental health and substance abuse social workers earned $42,650 per year in 2011. Finally, child, family and school social workers earned an average yearly income of $44,410, but those who worked in elementary or secondary schools earned an average of $58,010.
For more information about choosing a career, visit NextStepU.com/Careers.
