A Social Work degree gives you both the opportunity to help others in the community and a great deal of versatility – whether you want to work in health and aging-related services, with children and families, or as part of a school support system.
The need for social workers continues to increase with 16% job growth expected between 2016 and 2026 according to the Bureau for Labor Statistics.
As a social worker, you will join the nation’s largest group of mental health service providers and have a wide array of opportunities for serving others, including those in economically and socially disadvantaged communities.
Your coursework will teach you about diversity, ethics, human behavior, and social and economic justice. You’ll also learn about social welfare policy and services, and social work research and practice. An important component of your education should be practical experience. Make sure to ask admissions counselors about field placement options and experiential learning such as service projects.
At Daemen, you would complete a two semester long internship, which would provide you with significant direct client and community experience under professional supervision. As well, service learning projects would give you the opportunity to help refugees and their families, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and children living in poverty. The Social Work Alliance club would help you connect with classmates with similar interests through awareness building, volunteerism and leadership development.
Many people decide to complete their MSW immediately after their undergrad and some return to school after a few years on the job. This is a personal choice related to your career goals and interests. A lot of social work jobs only require a bachelor degree, but an MSW can be a bridge to next level jobs, including clinical and private practice as well as work in hospitals, correctional facilities, nursing homes and schools.
Daemen offers an MSW in only one year to those who qualify for advanced standing. Additionally, full-time graduate students working toward an MSW are eligible for a 30% tuition-only scholarship applied to the full tuition rate.
Look at awards and data as you’re determining what program is right for you. What success measures do they have? Are students satisfied? Has the college received any prestigious awards or honors?
Daemen earned the national College of Distinction award for the 11th consecutive year in 2018. Most importantly, students and alumni are happy and successful. A full 100% of recent BASW graduates felt prepared to work with diverse populations and solve complex problems. Plus, 100% of recent BASW graduates would choose Daemen if they had to start over again.
