With the Bachelor of Social Work bachelor’s degree, you will be able to pursue careers that are directly related to human services. A Bachelor of Social Work online degree will allow you to pursue a career in business, design, advocacy and families, health and rehabilitation, and many other areas of human services.
Social work students who pursue a bachelor’s degree can expect to graduate with an understanding of social work principles, as well as the skills needed to apply those principles in a variety of settings.
By completing a bachelor’s program, social workers will be prepared to pursue careers in fields such as:
- Child welfare
- Health care
- Mental health
- Municipal services (e.g., corrections)
- Nonprofit organizations
What jobs can you get with a bachelor’s degree in social work
Introduction
When you think of social workers, you might think of child protection or helping the poor. And while these are very real (and important) roles that people with a bachelor’s in social work can pursue, they represent only a small part of the spectrum. If you’re thinking about studying social work in college, know that a career in this field is wide open to you.
School social worker
- You can work with students. As a school social worker, you will be responsible for providing support and guidance to a student’s family, teachers and other school staff. This may include offering counseling services or mental health services if necessary. You may also provide crisis intervention when needed, as well as social services such as advocacy or home visits.
- Your job is case management: School social workers are often responsible for overseeing all aspects of the care and treatment of students in need at the school level. They must have excellent communication skills to ensure that they are able to communicate effectively with both parents and other stakeholders involved in their clients’ treatment plans (teachers, coaches).
Social services assistant
- Job description: You’ll be helping the public by providing information, counseling, and other assistance on health-related issues.
- Skills needed: You need to have good people skills and be able to communicate well.
- Pay: The median annual wage for a social services assistant was $36,720 in May 2017.
- Work environment: Your work will likely involve working indoors in an office setting or similar area. You may also spend some time working outdoors as you provide services to clients at their homes or other locations.
- Benefits: Social workers are typically required to have a bachelor’s degree from a university accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). If you decide to start your career as a case manager and get your master’s degree later on, some employers might offer incentives such as higher salary or extra vacation time if you continue working for them during graduate school.* What do I need? A bachelor’s degree in social work is required for entry-level positions; however, many employers prefer candidates who also have experience working with individuals who have special needs.* How much? The median annual salary for social workers was $48,350 in 2016; however pay varies widely depending on location and type of job duties performed by each worker
Mental health assistant
As a mental health assistant, you’ll work with individuals and groups to provide support for people who have mental health issues. You might assist in their treatment or prevention, educate them about mental health issues, or help promote awareness and understanding of mental illnesses.
The specific tasks you’ll perform will vary depending on where you work. You could be working in hospitals, counseling centers or community outreach programs. When working in hospitals, for example, your responsibilities may include helping patients adjust to medications and monitoring their progress after discharge from the hospital.
You can also specialize by becoming a psychiatric/mental health nurse assistant (PMHNA). This job focuses more on direct care rather than administrative duties—you might work as part of a team providing services like medication administration or group therapy sessions for patients suffering from severe depression or schizophrenia.. For example: Jon is a PMHNA who works at the local veteran’s hospital; he helps veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cope with anxiety by providing one-on-one support during group therapy sessions..
Crisis intervention hotline worker
- What is a crisis hotline?
A crisis hotline is a phone number that people can call to get help in the event of an emergency. These hotlines have operators who are trained to respond to people who are experiencing any kind of mental health issue, including suicidal thoughts or self-harm.
- What does a crisis hotline worker do?
Crisis hotline workers answer calls from people who need help and give them information on what resources they have available in their area. Some crisis call centers also offer online chat services, where you can communicate with someone via text message instead of talking on the phone. If you work at a call center that offers both options, it’s important for you to remember which one each caller prefers so that they aren’t left feeling confused or frustrated by the interaction process itself!
- What are the requirements for becoming a crisis interventionist?
As long as you have at least five years’ experience working for another organization (such as college counseling), then all it takes is some quick training on how best practices differ from those used by hospitals or police departments when dealing with similar situations during an emergency situation before being able to start making money right away!
- How much does this job pay?
Correctional counselor
Correctional counselor:
You might be surprised to learn that a social worker can help people in prison. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, correctional counselors work with inmates and help them adjust to life behind bars. This involves helping them with any issues related to their health or mental state. You’ll also work with other staff members in the prison system to ensure that each inmate is receiving proper care and treatment for their specific needs. The job outlook for these professionals looks good–the BLS predicts employment will grow by 10% between 2016 and 2026.*
- Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Child support investigator
If you want to pursue a career as a child support investigator, there are several different types of jobs you can get with your bachelor’s degree in social work. For example, you could work for the state or federal government and investigate cases where children need financial assistance from absent parents. Or, if you’re interested in helping parents who are currently receiving child support payments, then check out positions at collection agencies—or even working with employers directly to collect payments from employees who owe money.
Child welfare case manager
A child welfare case manager is an individual who works with children who are in the foster care system. The case manager’s job is to ensure that the child is placed in a home where they will be safe, happy and well-cared for.
In addition to helping children find good homes, many case managers also help place them with relatives or family friends. If you want to become a social work case manager, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in social work or another field of study related to helping people. A master’s degree can also help increase your chances of getting hired by an agency that provides services to children who have been abused or neglected by their parents or guardians.
The average salary for people working full time as social service caseworkers was $41,000 per year as of May 2018 according to PayScale; however income varies widely depending on where you live and how long you’ve worked at your job.[1]
Veterinary social work
Veterinary social workers are the people you see in your vet’s office when you take your cat in for her annual checkup. They’re the ones who talk to clients about how to handle their pet’s behavioral issues, and they often work with local rescue organizations to help find homes for animals that need a second chance.
What skills do veterinary social workers need? You’ll need to be able to deal with lots of different personalities: some owners might be very emotional and distraught over their pets’ problems, while others could have financial concerns that make it difficult for them to afford treatment. You’ll also have to handle stress well yourself—it can be hard seeing so many sick animals!
To become a veterinary social worker, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in social work or another related field (such as psychology). You may also want some experience working with animals before applying for this job; if not, volunteer or intern opportunities are probably available through your school’s animal science department or local animal shelters/rescues.
Medical and Public Health Social Work
You can work with people who have substance abuse issues, health issues or financial problems. You can help people who are dealing with emotional issues, especially those related to the loss of someone loved or the trauma of war.
Social workers also provide support for families and children who have been abused in any way. Social workers help these individuals get back on their feet so they can move forward with their lives instead of being stuck in a state of depression and hopelessness.
You can go in a lot of directions with this degree.
But before you decide where to start, it’s important to first understand that there are different types of social work degrees.
There are two main types:
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
Conclusion
A bachelor’s degree in social work opens many doors, but it’s important to keep your career goals in mind when choosing where to focus your studies. If you would like to work with children as a pediatrician or counselor, earning an additional certification might be beneficial. If working with adults is more appealing, then earning an MSW could help advance your job prospects even further! The possibilities are endless!