Social Work Colleges & Universities

Social Work Degrees: Helping You To Help Others
Many of us are moved by problems in society--homelessness, public health issues, poverty. But only a select few actually do something about them. For those who feel compelled to solve these problems and change people's lives in positive ways, earning a degree in social work may be the best place to start.

A Typical Social Work Program
Social work degrees train you to understand individuals and group dynamics; your program will likely encompass a great deal of observation and scientific research. You may study human behavior, social problems, issues of diversity, psychology, social and economic justice, values and ethics, at-risk populations, and community resources. It's also fairly common for social work students to get hands-on experience through internships or volunteering with community service organizations.

Who Earns Social Work Degrees
Those who earn social work degrees are compassionate, and even selfless in their efforts to assist others by helping them to find resources or agencies that can help them to locate work, financial assistance, shelter, food, legal protection, or medical care. They have good communication skills, nurturing abilities, patience, resourcefulness, and cooperative abilities. And they don't shy away from a challenge.

Degrees in social work can, of course, prepare you for graduate study or licensure to become a clinical social worker; you could work in healthcare or rehabilitation settings, at government aid agencies, or independently as a counselor. But this isn't the only career path for graduates of social work schools or programs. You might also go on to work in public advocacy positions, correctional facilities, courts, schools, hospitals, vocational training centers, or even the Peace Corps--in short, anywhere that you can help to improve people's lives.