Hi Andrea Hernandez, RUclips doesn't let me reply to your question, so I thought to answer in a new comment. If you see this, I hope you don't mind that I'm about a month late in answering your question. So you asked: "i was wondering if a bachelors degree in sufficient for the jobs you mentioned such as the hospital social worker. Do you need a masters for most social work jobs? Or like every other degree is it just more beneficial?" My answer is that it kind of depends in which U.S. state you want to work in. In rural states like Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kansas, etc, a BSW is sufficient. For many other states, MSW is required. Some states like CA and NY go further and require at least an LMSW. Especially in hospitals where the hiring is very competitive, even just an LMSW might not be enough and you might need relevant work experience to go along with that. For most states in the country, a BSW doesn't really mean much if you want to be a professional social worker; you need a MSW.
Plenty of social workers would consider themselves introverted. Listening well to people and having empathy with their situations are extremely important skills in this field after all. I suppose one doesn't necessarily have to be a "people person" either but that depends on the severity of not wanting to interact with people. There are a lot of different areas of work for social workers, but pretty much all of them do involve interacting with people on at least a one-on-one, face-to-face basis.
I'm hesitant to give you any suggestions because I don't know your situation well enough to make that kind of suggestion. I really recommend that you meet with your school's advisor and also ask advisors in your school's social work and psychology departments. I'll tell you though that you need a master's level degree for social work, and for psychology, in many cases you need to get to a doctorate level degree. Social work is a hands-on field; psychology tends to be more research-focused.
+R Mathis I have my BSW and I am working on my MSW and my goal is to go into hospital social work. The one thing you can guarantee with social work no matter what, is that there will never be a dull moment.
+R Mathis I can see that. With psychology, you really have to go higher in order to use the degree, but it also depends where you work/live. I have a few friends who have PHDs in psychology, they kept going back to school because they couldn't find work. One was the school psychologist, his dad was the school district superintendent (Also a psychologist) and his sister got her PHD, but then they found they were too qualified to work at most places in town because we live in a rural area and no one wanted to pay them what they were worth. There is so much that's goes into selecting a career that a lot of people don't consider
2. The MSW should only be considered if there is a desire to move into more specialized areas or dealing with certain specific problems like educational settings, hospitals, mental health, homelessness, domestic violence, legal problems, high level administrative management jobs and so forth. Those are where the real paying jobs are of social work services. Often, there are situations where people go into MSW programs thinking to make more money working in social services, but have no clue where they want to specialize in and then once they have their MSW, they take on pretty much similar Case Worker roles like the Bachelor's Degree person, however they are often then named Social Workers because of their MSW background and only make a little bit more than the Bachelor's Degree people because being a Case Worker is really not an area where specialized training is necessary and a bachelor's degree person can easily learn the roles on the job with supervision and experience. Usually and ideally speaking, the master's degree level person doing Case Worker roles are only in the position for a few years just for experience and then will move into more specialized areas where the real money is.
Having said what I just said, some US states and Canadian provinces allow social workers with a clinical license to use the DSM for diagnostic/assessment purposes. Thanks for your video :) so few people know what we do!
Hi David! Thank you so much for posting this video! I live in Australia and recently I've applied to begin my university journey, I applied for a Bachelors of Social work. It has been an incredibly daunting process trying to find exactly what I like, tossing up between so many interests, scared about what's to come, thinking about the future and the right direction. This video as well as your others, has 100 percent solidified my decision to keep my first choice as Social Work. Everything you have mentioned thats involved strikes where I want to be in life so well, and I know the university websites mention what you do in their own way, but to hear it coming from you and to see how passionate you are has really given me some extra drive and eased my anxiety. Thank you so much you beautiful human ❤
Thanks for the comment. It's always exciting to me to talk with social work majors. I do think it's quite an incredible field. And certainly, it's important we should try our best to help those who are often the most marginalized in society. It's important to keep in mind though, that that's just one aspect of social work. As I said in the video, it's a huge field and there are many, many, many branching paths to a social work career.
I re-watched this old vlog of mine and I realized how many incorrect statements I made here! It's now annotated with corrections. I apologize to all viewers for recognizing my mistakes so late.
Sure, I could understand that sentiment. Think of it this way though: a student debt from a private bank - no matter the amount - is something you have to pay back w/a 10-year repayment plan. So at minimum, you're going to be in debt for 10 years. So whether I'm in a high-paying field or a field like social work, if I'm steadily employed and able to make the monthly payments, the debt can be paid off in 10 years. Even for a low-paying job, it's certainly possible, and has been manageable for me
Nice video! Just a quick comment from a clinical social worker: you cannot typically get a doctorate in psychology after obtaining an MSW. This is because social work and psychology are completely different disciplines, and you therefore need a BA/MA in psych before getting a doctorate in this field. Also, psychologists do not prescribe meds; psychiatrists do. To be a psychiatrist, you need to go through med school and specialize in psychiatry (totally separate route from the MSW, again).
I study Social Work and I find it overwhelming. So many problems, do many suffering, so many loss. You see it has also impact on you. It drains you mentally, emotionally and physically. We are told that being professional is to be detached and emotionally-distant but you have to got some sort of empathy and heart to understand and help different groups of people.
Thank you David! Finishing up my BS in Psych in few weeks... your video is very helpful and clear. It's the advocacy aspect that helped me make decide to go for it.
3. Not everyone can handle specializing in more specific areas, therefore if the person is happy with just doing general Case Management, but not interested or unsure about specializing in certain areas, it is best not to do an MSW and better off staying at the Bachelor's Level, because it is going to be a lot of pressure with taking classes, internship and having a job all together and tuition payments are involved and the salary would only go up just a little bit more with an MSW if you stay in general Case Management. Meanwhile, there are Bachelor's Degree only people working in social services that have managed to move from Case Manager positions into certain higher level roles with bigger salaries.
Hi David, I watched your video around three years ago when I was starting to do my training as a social worker. Thank you for your advice and videos as they have been really informative and helpful. Haven't seen your recent stuff but as a newly qualified working social worker, that's for the inspiration.
I'm glad my vid was helpful. :) As for your question, one important thing you should note is that MSW programs require 21 hours/week of internship. Internship (we also refer to it as "field placement") is mandatory in this field. So even if you "dive" into the field, you'll get lots of training and experience by the time you graduate. Still, if you can get a social service job, that's great. If you could make that job count as your field placement, even better, tho that can b a complicated step
1. You can still get a Case Worker or Case Manager position if you only have a Bachelor's Degree. Often is generic because it is mainly a lot of service/educational information referrals for clients that express troubles they are dealing with and sometimes following up to see if the referrals are helping them. Other duties involve are supportive listening, assisting clients with phone calls, assisting them with filling out/understanding documents. The pay is definitely lower, but can still get by with a living. You just will not be able to provide more in depth services than the generic aspect of it. However, Bachelor's Degree level persons can still move into certain higher level positions and make more money without the need of a Master's Degree once they have more experience, which there have been cases of that. However, the most they can move into is low level management positions.
After the death of my young son and founding an on-line grief community for parents, I found a real joy and passion for service. Helping others helped me to advance in my own grief journey. I have worked in the manufacturing world for 20 years and I am now considering a career change in social work. The only option that I have to pursue an MSW is through on-line education. I will have to continue to work. I know that only a limited number of on-line programs are accredited. The program I am considering only offers the advanced generalist degree option. Will this limit my work options post graduation?Is it better to specialize? I just want some input to help evaluate this choice. I will be submitting my application soon. Any input would be greatly appreciated. I have a business undergraduate degree, but the IU program is open to all undergraduate majors. Thanks for the video.
ANTHONY MOORE: MR. MOORE THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE....IS TO HANDLE THE SITUATION ONE DAY AT A TIME.... TILL YOU GAIN MOMENTUM.....I WISH YOU PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN THIS NEW YEAR 2016.😊
+Anthony Moore Hi Anthony. I am a master's level social work study. Maybe I can help you with your question. A generalist social work degree is a great option for many because it exposes you to both the direct clinical practice with individuals, and families but it can also prepare you to do more mezzo and mirco level things like running a non-profit agency, community advocacy, and even politics. Not saying that you can't do this a clinical specialization. I do not see the need at this time for you to specialize beyond a generalist or clinical track. When you enter into the social work professor you sort of pledge to be this life long learner (especially if you get licensed as either and LMSW or LCSW). So you going to have plenty of opportunites to specialize in any particular area you are passionate about. I hope this response helps. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
What makes it complicated is that your field placement supervisor MUST be a SIFI-certified and accredited LMSW/LCSW. Just because your job is a social service job doesn't mean it can count as a field placement without these specific requirements.
grad school for a social work degree is actually much cheaper. it's a 2yr program (would have been 1yr if I qualified). so I wouldn't be doubling my debt. But yea, it wld make my debt be bigger by the end of it, after having gotten it down to $67k by this point lol. for the social work field tho, a Master's Degree means a lot. And with accreditation and licensure, I become more of an expert and opportunities open up for me. Paying back the debt will be hard, but it's doable.
Thx for the comments. Social work indeed is a field where people going into it usually understand they won't become rich doing it, and they most likely will be under-appreciated, but with passion and effort, it certainly is an extremely rewarding field, one that gets to help the most margianalized groups by directly engaging with and advocating for them. I wldnt diss Psychology tho. 1 of my closest friend's a Psych major. It's a valuable field, and arguably more established than social work
Yes you can do it social work even if you have social anxiety. Dont let social anxiety ruin in your life, keep moving never give up. I have social anxiety but I love this major and this is what I want to do.
I think you can but when you practice you have to make sure your anxiety does not affect your client's treatment or your client's outcome. Feliciano, BSW
I love your question, June, because I am in kind of in the same boat. I'm not a social worker, but am interested in Social Services. I am a CNA, who works with the elderly in assisted living. I am looking for ways to UPGRADE. I'm not really an extrovert; but more introverted, and DO have some social anxiety. It really depends on how well I know people. I find that if I have work to do, such as assignments, I am capable of helping others and will go the extra mile to do so. It makes me feel great to be able to solve a problem for someone or help someone when they can't do something. I prefer to help others who can't help themselves for one reason or another, instead of just DO for others who CAN. It just makes it more worthwhile. I'll be reading for answers from others!
It's a good point that a BSW doesn't mean much. To clarify though, it actually can amount to something. For example, before I got into graduate school, I actually was offered a job as a care manager at a non-profit that serves homeless people living with HIV/AIDS. Granted, the job doesn't pay that much (it was like a 38k salary job I think) but it does demonstrate even a BSW can lead to somewhere.
I'm certainly nowhere near being like an expert, and I actually hate applying that term to anything I do in my life, but I will say as a BSW and a graduate student majoring in social work, this topic is something I feel I'm pretty familiar with. But yea, thanks for the comments, and thanks for pointing out that psychiatry is totally different from psychology and social work.
ah, right. I actually was not aware that the 3 years supervision was only required for LCSWs. I suppose it's true what they say about NYU having a more clinical focus lol.
Thanks for this great videoooo!!! Omg I was sooo confused about soo many things about social work but you explained it soo well! Im graduating this year from my bachelor in psychology and hopefully I will be starting my master in social work pretty soon :) your awesome!
I live in a rural part of Iowa and I'm considering a career in social work. I have my eye on the University of Iowa. I'm 3 credits away from an AA in Liberal Arts due to poor grades and poorer job prospects from graduating high school right before the housing bust. At present I'm a fabricator for a refrigeration plant making about 40g's a year. Given a year or two I think I can save enough to pay for two years at Iowa in cash or with a minimal amount of debt. However, data that I've gathered indicates that even MSW holders are fortunate to make what I do even with only a high school diploma. At this point I'm trying to saw my way out of the golden handcuffs. I'm tethered to a job that NAFTA could easily send to Mexico within my lifetime. I've recently been diagnosed with epilepsy which has severely limited my career prospects in manufacturing. My parents got me the job when I left high school and I've never been able to hold a job outside the plant. EVER. The cost of living in Iowa is a fraction of that of NYC and I can transfer my AA degree to Iowa without many problems. I have a 2.631 GPA owing to going into college out of desperation in my early 20's and really having no direction. I feel I can relate to people who struggle with chronic unemployment and other social woes. I'm even minoring in Spanish at the U. Aprendé como hablar un poquito español trabajando con hispano hablantes en la fábrica y compré una programa de Rosetta Stone practicar hablando la idioma. I'm set to graduate this fall but owing to my epilepsy, the company might be skittish about paying for me to study the Tool and Die trade. I could pay for the latter for as little as 10 g's and take a fraction of the time but I'd be condemning myself to something I dislike. My company doesn't allow epileptics to drive forktrucks even if they're declared controlled by a neurologist and the tool and die trade requires one to be able to drive those. I'm not so much concerned about borrowing for school but paying my bills when I'm in school. Part time jobs in the field of social work even with roomies will prove difficult to pay the bills and my parents are aging and unable to provide much for financial assistance. I'd like your advice on how to proceed from this level. Thanks.
I chose to do social work instead of psychology, because like you said in a previous comment, psychology is more research-based. you're paying them to tell you where you went wrong. they seem almost distant. social workers are applying a lot of therapist and theories from psychology, but rather they're closer and more intimate with the client, and not abiding by 2 million law and ethics that usually turn psychologists into literal robots.
Ture , but the reason people are critical of what can be done with a social work degree is you need a REALLY high return on investment to justify being 100k in debt . If you got a masters in Engineering , and a BS in Comp Sci for 100k then people( at least myself ) would think the cost were a bit for justified .
Well, private banks don't even give you a year to mess up; they give you 4 months. If I don't make any of the payments in 120 days, I default. In which case, my credit gets fucked for years, but I still owe them the debt and the interest spikes up. It's really ridiculous how it is, but that's really cause my loans are private loans, not govt loans. I didn't say it's not challenging, only that through it all, it's not an impossible thing to manage.
haha, thanks for the concern. To clarify, nope, I never defaulted on any of my loans. I did have a job and was able to live on my own with that source of income and make my monthly loan payments. I'm not employed right now but I will be starting grad school in a couple of months so I'll be able to defer my loan payments until I graduate grad school. A significant amount of my debt has been paid back so far though in the past three years though of course I still have sooo much to pay back.
seriously, who cares about student loans and who cares about not starting with 80k a year. social work is one of those professions where people KNOW they're not entering a field that will pay a shit load. you won't be rich. but you'll be comfortable at least. it's a field that requires a lot of passion and effort. now, i'm not sure how much the monthly payments of a 103k private loan will be, but seriously fuck it, you're doing what you want.
Wow, thanks for the comment. I don't think I get such heartfelt comments often. ;) To clarify tho, I'm not yet a social worker. I just started grad school so I won't actually be a social worker until like two years from now.
def one of my flaws (tho sometimes it's a strength of mine) is that I'm so wordy lol. I wouldn't say though that it's me "exaggerat[ing] the importance of [me] addressing a topic" but that it's me not really having planned out or organized what exactly I was going to say. It's just me being conversational lol.
It varies depending on how intensive you want the courses to be. Because it's such a hands-on field (21 hours/week of internship is mandatory), many people choose to take the less intensive route. But let's say if you take the most intensive route, that would mean, you take four years to get your BSW, which would qualify you for Advanced Standing, in which you could get MSW in 1 year. So fastest track wld b 5 yrs of total school. If you have a Bachelor's in something else MSW cld b had in 2yrs
No, not really. Human Development is a liberal arts degree whereas social work is helping profession degree (more akin to nursing degree for example). You can end up having a social work-esque job with a Master's in Human Development such as therapist, or substance abuse counselor but generally, it leads to more management positions such as adoption agency official, research assistant, human resources manager, etc
Idk about about that , for me my monthly student loan payment is 83$ , thats going to be manageable no matter what( it'll go up a bit since it's graduated( wrong word whatever) ) . In your case if you have ONE bad year and can't make payments you'll be hit with so many fees and penalties it might wipe out all the progress you've made thus far in paying your loans .
I really loved your video. . i am a social worker here in the philippines. . currently working for haiyan survivors. . can you share something about social worker working with communities =)
First, thx for commenting, and I'm glad you enjoy my vids. Tho, I feel ur commenting on the wrong vid. You probably should be saying this in my vid about my student debt, not here. I also did make a vlog about why I ended up choosing NYU. The vlog is titled "Why NYU? Why Social Work?" Anywho, that's a good point, that no degree is worth 100k+ in debt. Obviously I didn't believe that when I was in high school but it is an excellent mindset to have.
Can i apply to social work position with a BA in psychology?, I want to be a therapist, but cannot fully practice until I receive my PH.D. I think working in social work fields would be a good stepping stone since its all closely related
Most states you can't really work as a social worker unless you have an MSW. and in NY state now it's going to be hard to be a social worker unless you have an LMSW. There are now good many Masters' level career tracks to be a therapist, LCSW being the strongest and most flexible of the master's level tracks (others being LMHC and LMFT), but then to get to a PhD in psychology it'd probably be best to go for MA in Psychology route.
Actually, you know what? I may have to retract a bit here. Human Development is similar to Social Work in the sense that Human Development is in many ways the theoretical basis to Social Work being practiced. Both fields share a lot of the same theories, but I suppose the key difference is that Social Work uses the theory to alleviate suffering and to promote social justice.
In my case, it's 6 years of college. I got my BSW in 4 years but because me withdrawing from a class disqualified me for the Advanced Standing program, it'd take me 2 years to get my MSW. I also plan to be licensed so after my MSW, I'd have to work under supervision for about 3 years, after which my MSW could become either LMSW or LCSW.
I don't remember what exactly I said in this vid, but yes, if I said a social worker can easily become a psychiatrist then that would def b wrong. I may have got psychologist and psychiatrist mixed up if that was the case. I do think tho that if I was talking about a MSW getting a doctorate, I was talking about a person getting a DSW, not a PhD in Psych. And it's only your perception that you see me "broadcasting as an expert in this subject." Ha, that's funny. no, this is just me vloggin
How is graduate school going? When do you expect to graduate. I was also wondering if you work full time and go to school and how you manage balancing both. Great video and very helpful. Thank you.
Hi there, Thanks for asking. You know, I'm pretty spoiled and didn't have to work full time while doing school, except way back when I was a sophomore in college years ago. I had some part-time jobs here and there, but with social work major requiring internship, I mostly just focused on school. I realize a lot of people don't have this luxury, including many of my colleagues, some of whom have to take care of not only themselves but their children and other family members. I have a pretty fortunate family background and the privileges that come with it. Anyway, it's going to be my second and final year of graduate school. I'm still on summer break so I haven't returned to school yet, but as long as I don't slack off, I think it'll work out pretty well. :p
David Kwon, I've heard of many things you can do in social work. Is there a list of specific fields withing social work? For example in anthro you have archeology, biology, linguistic, and cultural.
right now I'm taking general liberal arts, but lately Ive been doing many research and a foster care social work interest me. I'm also interested of it because of past experiences. I'm not too sure what route is better for me though.... Should I change my major to psychology or pre social work?
Great video! Although I want to become a psychologist I am a working student. Could I use a combined bachelor's/master in psychology to work as a social worker? Could I simply use a bachelor's instead or I need a master's? Also, how long will the the internship be before I can start working?
So the answer is no, the title of social worker is only for people with a degree in social work in United States. For many states in the country, it has to be a Master's Degree in Social Work, e.g. NJ, NY, MA, CA, IL. Moreover, in some states like CA and NY, you have to be licensed to work as a "social worker." If you have a degree in psychology or counseling or anything else that is not social work, you can't be hired with a title as a social worker. However, of course keep in mind that you can still be hired for positions that engage in things that social workers are similarly engaged in without a social work degree, i.e. case manager, client advocate, care coordinator, therapist, director of non-profit, counselor, etc. There are many positions available in social services agencies and organizations that don't require a social work degree. On your question about internship, an MSW requires 1200 hours of internship (600/year). Some BSW programs also require internship hours. To get my BSW I had to intern a total of 900 hours (300 hours for my junior year, 600 hours for my senior year).
america has a big SW system but thats based off the power of the country itself. The uk and canada pay much higher salaries. SO if you dont mind travelling and working abroad then by all means. My mother is a social worker here in toronto ontario canada and she makes just under 90k to my knowledge, government job too. Only a BSW holder
Yea, I often get to feeling like I'll just move off to Canada or one of those European countries (I really like Sweden and Netherlands) later in life cause at least the mainstream culture seems to support many of the ideals of social work. It's a big challenge in America, especially the funding aspect because of the cultural stigma attached to much of the work that we do here. But for now, I still feel that America is the place I want to be at to be a social worker.
Great video! I was searching for more info on social work and stumbled upon this video. Thanks for the great insight. Is a BA in social work better then a BA in sociology? What is the difference? Thanks for your help!
Both are quite simillar, However those with a sociology degree tend to shoot for higher education or teaching positions. I say that because the degree is based around 3 things:science,history of the term, and application to everyday life. Social work has many courses rooted in sociology but theres more of a focus on administration. Also, most people find work with just that degree whereas with sociology its very tough because theres no one job geared towards it.
There's a pretty big difference actually. For one, to graduate with a social work degree, you have to do certain hours of field work (usually about 600 hours or so per year, varies depending on which university you go to). Sociology has a research focus, and a primary goal for sociology education is coming to learn and assess why societies function the way they do, and what impact that has on the people living in said societies. Social work has a more practical focus, and a primary goal of the field is striving for social justice, helping people who are the most vulnerable and the most oppressed people in society. In both fields, a Bachelor's degree doesn't amount to much, and to really get into the career of sociology or social work, you should be at a graduate level.
Sociology is not Social Work. Sociology is like Biology in order to become a Sociology you need a PHd and an extensive back ground in RESEARCH TECHNIQUES.
Thank you so much! Your video was super helpful. I wasn't sure whether socialwork is the field for me but after hearing you explain what they do, I'm confident that I would really enjoy the field. One question; I have a BA in phil and also live in nyc. Would it be better to get a ton of social service work experience before entering into a MSW program (outreach worker, case worker etc.) or should I just dive into the MSW application process now? Would the experience matter to job after grad?
Well, I'm assuming for a few months you can ask parents or what not to help you make your payments , but after a while , say 6 months you'd stop making em . Good luck , the worlds almost against you at this point though !
Great video I was thinking about majoring in social work but now I really want to. Can I do international humantarian work with non profits with my social work degree? Of course I am going to get my msw. How do you get that internship does the school help you find one?
The point is you took out a massive amount of debt for a low paying field . If you wanted to study social work you could of went to a state school in your home state and would of paid a fraction of the price. It relates to the greater issue of student loan debt . Is any degree really worth graduating 100k + in debt . I say no .I enjoy your videos though .
David- thank you for sharing this video. I am obtaining my B.A in Counseling Psychology and numerous psychology professionals tell me to go for the MSW instead of pursuing an LPC track. Have you discussed this same topic with other professionals and what have they shared with you?
First, thanks for the comment. I'm glad you liked this video. :) Now, it's hard for me to answer this question without knowing what you ultimately want your career to be. And it also depends on where you want to practice. For example, in NYC, generally speaking an MSW has more flexibility and prestige in the job search than a Master's in Psych or counseling. However, for those wanting a pure focus on psychology and counseling and willing to go to the doctorate level, then a path to PhD in psychology/counseling will be of more value. One of my closest friends has a Master's in Psychology. She says she kinda wishes she went for the MSW instead because with an LMSW she could practice as a therapist and also have a broader perspective about the impact of the environment on a person. Right now, she has a job in human services that doesn't really fit in with what she wanted to do with her psychology education. Keep in mind though that the social work track is a very hands-on field. Field work is mandatory, and in states like NY and CA, at least 21 hours/week of internship is required. For the first year, you may be placed in a setting that does not interest you at all, if all you want is to be trained as a counselor/therapist. Social work goes much bigger and deeper than mental health, and that may be something that turns you off about the profession. For instance, I'm currently a social work intern in a high school, and I provide counseling and case management services to adolescents. Next year, I'm most likely going to be doing policy/research work to advocate for the formerly homeless and the formerly incarcerated population. So yea, like I said, whether you should go for MSW or not really depends on what you ultimately want out of your career and what you don't want.
Well hands on is what I want. I currently got a job in a college and even though I support the school and the mission statement, I am behind a desk most of the time. I really want to be involved in someones life in a way where interaction is mandatory as you said. I love to sit down and counsel and if I cannot do that then help them anyway I can. I would love to teach one day and go for my Masters and Doctorate as well. I just hear form professionals that the LPC is a harder track that might not be more rewarding. Having my own practice one day is a goal as well.
In that case, yeah, I think social work could be a good path for you. You might wanna call up/email some social work programs and learn more to see if that's the path you want to take.
Hey David Kwon, I want to become a lisenced Social worker but the question that bothers me Is income an issue when it comes to social work? Because I notice while researching that the profession does not get paid as much. Hope you respond thanks again and your videos are very helpful.
You owe... CITIBANK...$105,000?? You owe six figures on a private student loan? WTF? You do know that social work is an extremely low-paying field in the US? You do know you'll start making $30-40,000 a year and reach a cap mid-career of $50-60,000 as a SUPERVISOR with an LCSW? You do know most social workers don't make enough to buy a house in a decent neighborhood unless they marry? Monthly payments on a government loan of $60k are above $500, it's crippling given other expenses, bills, emergency costs... At $100k with the interest levels of some private banks you may be paying $900 a month or more. Did anyone teach you the financial side of things? Why don't you parlay your MSW into something more lucrative like Human Resources? I'm shocked at how some people just willy-nilly throw their money away in pursuit of a "dream" despite the economic times we live in... don't count on IBR saving you, it only covers federal loans and whatever amount is forgiven is taxed as income... Here's the thing. The average student who gets a 4-year degree (let's say BSW) comes out owing about 50-70k if they go to a state school. A master;s in social work can cost 30-60k, depending on whether you are going for 1 year as a BSW student or 2 years as a traditional student. So far, that's six years of your life. At that level you get a job as an LSW/LMSW making a whopping $40,000 a year, liberal estimate. Debt= $80-130,000; Income=$40,000. Let that sink in. That's a mortgage in some areas. Then, to get your LCSW clinical license, you have to PAY for supervision, often the same fee as a clinician charges a client (let's say $100) so that's ANOTHER $20,000 for this "investment". Total cost of this choice is $100,000-150,000. It is true that an MSW offers $10,000 more starting salary than a BSW, but those loans will haunt you and you will live in relative poverty- in addition to living expenses, there is rent, money saved for down payment, retirement savings, health and car insurance bills, cell phone and internet, medical expenses, gas and car maintenance expenses, you get the drift. You'll live check to check for decades and won't be buying a house or even a condo any time soon. Meanwhile all your friends will be marrying, decking out their retirement accounts, having children- all stuff you can't afford to do because you have too much debt. And women want men making decent salaries. A secretary makes more than a social worker. You have just narrowed your dating pool threefold. I hope you have rich relatives that are feeling generous. I'm worried sick for my brother who studied engineering and owes a combined- federal and private- $120,000 for a bachelors... he picked a better paying field but these universities are robbing financially illiterate and foolhardily risk-taking students who don't know the reality of fiscal burden... And meanwhile people like you take out six figure private loans to study freaking social work... no offense man, but now you have to deal with your consequences.
hello, I live in the Caribbean and will soon migrate to the US (legally). I would like to do social work when I get to N.Y, but if I leave here with my MSW, will I still have to do other exams when I get there?
Hi Samboca1970, for jobs that require/prefer an MSW, your international accreditation and experience should be fine. There's a trend happening now that some places are wanting social workers to be LMSW, and that does require you to take a licensure exam. But it's still a very early trend I think and so I think in most cases you don't have to take an exam. I'm still just a student though and not yet practicing social work so I might be wrong. I recommend you continue to ask people more who are more knowledgeable and considered as experts in the field.
I have a question, I'm a 26 year old black male veteran and I'm getting ready to pursue a career in social work. I'm by no means a conservative but I'm damn sure not a liberal either. I've been exposed to libertarianism, I get it ,I really do but I think it's a utopian fantasy. I see the word social justice a lot and it kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I think of other words like feminism, patriarchy, privilege and so on and on. My question is will my political views being something other liberal harm my ability to get a fair education?
Yea, this profession has recently has come to have a tendency of throwing the phrase "social justice" around a lot, often without actually saying what that would mean. Anywho, you ask a really thought-provoking question. I think there are a good amount of social workers with a more politically conservative mindset, but I have to admit, this profession definitely has an extremely liberal bent. The field is all about reaching out to the most vulnerable and the most oppressed population of a society. That idea itself goes against many tenets of libertarianism and social/economic conservatism. If you believe that poor people are poor mostly because they make bad lifestyle choices, then social justice will have a very different meaning for you compared to a social worker who believes that it's the society's fault and responsibility that people are poor. There's a lot of political controversy even within this field and social workers continue to have debates about what social work should mean at a policy level. I found that people who tend to have a more conservative black-and-white mindset have the highest chance of dropping out of social work education but I think it really depends on what you want to achieve as a social worker. It's also difficult for more conservative minded folks I think because social work places such high emphasis on empathy and being as non-judgmental to our clients as possible, and clients in the social work profession can often include drug addicts, people convicted of rape and murder and other crimes, and the homeless. I mean, some social workers will never have those populations as their clients, but in the social work profession, much of our training and focus is on working with these kinds of populations. It seems to me that people who are politically conservative have a harder time not being judgmental towards these clients and hence why there's a higher chance that social work is not for them. But I think it really varies from person to person. Social work may be great career path for you regardless of what political ideology you adhere to. But yes, I can't deny that the profession itself has a very liberal bent, and depending on which school you go to, some schools can tend to have a very socialist bent as well.
I'm in the same boat. I just make sure I know my shit before I get in a verbal battle over a subject. Oh I rule Veteran issues and also since I'm retired. I also have no need for money.They drive a POS I drive a 50.000 suv....Go for it, VA will hire you in a minute.
SkyRaker77 Well, it depends what the person wants to do with an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Work). LCSW means that a person has a Master's Degree in Social Work, has passed the social work licensing exam, received three years of clinical supervision, and passed the clinical social work oral exam. This person could work in private non-profit organizations or in public government agencies if the person wants to. The qualification also allows to person to start a private practice of his/her own and become a psychotherapist. I know some LCSW social work professors who do both, having a private practice and being a director of a community-based non-profit. It really depends on what you want to do with your social work qualifications. It's a very flexible degree.
How many years of college does it take to get a social work license? Do you recommend studying to get a MSW, or is a BSW enough to get hired? would a BSW be enough to get hired as a school counsellor?....Thanks for the help!!!=)
The quickest most intensive path takes 5 years - that is 4 years for a BSW and then a year of Advanced Standing. most MSW social workers (which would include me) get their social work accreditation in 6 years because they tend to take the 2-year MSW course. The length it takes depends on how intensive you want the education and training to be. The more intensive, the quicker, the less intensive the longer it takes. In most states it'd be very hard to be a school social worker with a BSW. The only states where that's actually feasible would be southern states like Alabama and Louisiana and such I think, but those states also tend to have a very negative public policy and funding towards most social work fields so your income as a BSW social worker may feel unfairly low, though granted, that also depends with where you work, what position you have, and how much experience and skills you have. For the social work profession, esp. In America, the most flexibility one would have is with an MSW, and preferably an LMSW (take an exam after your MSW to get it licensed). Unless you already have years of experience in the human services/non-profit realm, I personally wouldn't recommend just getting a BSW but would recommend to continue to pursue for MSW. That is, if social work is something you're interested in doing as a career.
***** I have been researching about social work to better understand it since I have decided to peruse a career in it. Your Reply and video are really helpful!! Thank you =)
Social work is very dangerous, because the laws that govern social workers, such as mandated reporting, are not in accord with international law, or even the Constitution, and as such, you may be hung in the future for "just doing your job" and reporting people to the legalized human trafficking organizations.
Hello David, I've been thinking about going into social work but I have a question, can I be a social worker while having time for your own children? I plan on adopting once I get financially stable but I don't know if I'd be able to balance work and my own children.
This is a great question. I personally would say yes. All of the social workers I know have their own kids or have adopted kids. I think it gives you a better understanding. You just have to know how to balance things out.
Lacy Willson Yeah, I understand that, whenever I have kids ill be sure to put aside plenty of time for them :). I start my first yyear in college to study human services/social work this June and im very excited.
Hi David.I really want to help peoples and i see that i can be that with social work.I am in the first year of Social work but i have a question.If I am very soft you know I am a person that affects fast in emotions,for ex i cant see even an animal dying.and i know that Social work its not an easy work,My question is:Can this weakness can impact to enforce the proffesion?
I'm not sure I understand your question correctly. Are you saying you're worried how your emotional sensitivity can impact the work you'll do as a social worker? If that's the question that you're asking, then yea, that I would say is probably like the biggest challenging in being a social worker. The clinical term that gets thrown around a lot is "vicarious trauma." It's when the suffering and the trauma that's experienced by the clients we help ultimately gets transferred to us as well in the process of helping others. It's a biggie in our field, and it explains why social work has such a high burnout rate, when compared with other professions. The thing is to take good care of yourself while you're doing this work, and make sure to be connected to people that care about you and people who can comfort you and counsel you. Hey, social workers need therapists and other social workers themselves too. It's tough work, this profession of reaching out to the most vulnerable populations, trying to understand their plights through empathy, advocating for them, and coming up with ways to empower them. It's tough work and it can get to us. I know someone who was a social worker in end-of-life care. He did it for over a decade and then the job wore him out. He quit being a social worker and ended up being a taxi cab driver. It was tough because every time he became real attached to a client, the client would die eventually, and that took a big toll on him. Social work jobs are full of toughies like that. We have to take really good care of ourselves to get through it, and even then, I recognize that this profession just isn't for everyone. I'm not sure myself if I can make it through it okay, but it's my passion now, and hopefully, I don't end up with vicarious trauma for myself. But the short answer is that, yes, it can have a huge impact. It's important to be mindful of it, and find ways to be joyful and relaxed and enjoy yourself. Different people have different ways of coping with vicarious trauma issues. Some people like to cook with their friends and families. Some people write things down in their journals. Some people cope using art and music. For some people, they have to make sure they keep work totally separate from their private home life. For some people they have to find ways to keep thinking about it and talking about it but you know, without going against confidentiality rules and such. Me, for example, I like to escape with video games, and I have a friend who's a Master's Degree in psychology and we discuss client cases from time to time. I also write fiction, where many of the characters I write vaguely remind me of the clients I've come to interact with. I also constantly seek counsel from my supervisor and my practice professor. It can get hard for me too, all these emotions I get from all the cases I've come to encounter, but I think I've found my ways of coping. I hope you can find your own way as well. :)
***** hey man thanks for expounding on the oblique repercussions of the career. i'm currently contemplating getting a BSW and i've heard all manner of horror stories about poor salaries, lack of job opportunities and high burnout.
Hi! I'm considering majoring in social work and i was wondering if a bachelors degree in sufficient for the jobs you mentioned such as the hospital social worker. Do you need a masters for most social work jobs? Or like every other degree is it just more beneficial? Thank you for the video!
You should only get an MSW if you want to deal with more specific problems clients have. Hospital is one of them as you desire. High level administrative positions, domestic violence, homelessness, legal programs, school environments, children services, mental health, etc are those areas where an MSW is needed and it is where the high paying jobs are. But is a lot more work to handle because it is extremely specialized. Having only a bachelor's degree can only get you Case Manager positions or something similar. Often, Case Managers positions are generic because often it is a lot of service/information referrals for clients to assist with their problems instead and following up to make sure the referrals are helping them. Other duties involve are assisting with phone calls, assist with filling out/understanding documents and supportive listening. Depending on the position, it may require some home visits or taking them to appointments.
Bachelors' Case Managers make less salary than the MSW person, although they can still get by. Case Management usually is not an area that requires specific educational training as any bachelor's degree level person can easily learn on the job with supervision and experience. Although there are MSW people doing Case Management positions, and often the title is named Social Worker because of their MSW background, however it is not ideal for them to stay in it long term because they only make a little bit more than the Bachelor's Degree person in this job and usually only stay in it for a few years for experience and then move onto something more specific. What I can say is for anyone else who is reading this, the MSW is only beneficial if you want to specialize in something more specific and usually that is where the money is, but it is a lot more work. However, for those who are not sure or uninterested on if they want to specialize in a particular area and are just happy with doing general Case Management, it is better to not go for it, because your salary will only go up slightly a bit more if you continue to stay in Case Management and doing an MSW program is a lot of commitment and time and energy needed to be spent. Also, a bachelor's degree only person can have other options to move into other high level positions and make more money without the need of a Master's degree and there have been cases of that.
I still dont see how your living on your own in NY without a job you could only have saved so much. Also arent your loans at default now? I think your a very charismatic guy I think it sucks to see you in this position. I know students who live of mommy and daddy credit card with no ambition unlike you.
I am currently pursuing a Bachelors in Early Education, but I want to continue my education in Psychology. I would like to be a counselor or a therapist for young children. Do you think I should get into the Psychology field or should I pursue a degree in Social work? What do you think the difference is between the social work and the psychology fields?
Hi April, thx for the comment. So first off, my knowledge of the psychology field is pretty limited. One of my closest friend has a Master's in Psychology and a number of my social work colleagues have BA in Psychology so that's kind of how I know what's different/similar between the two fields (social work and psychology), but since that's pretty much my source of reference, be mindful that my comment here is as a social work student and thus, with bias towards that field. From what I know, you can be a counselor or therapist in either field. If therapy is really all you're interested in, psychology might be the better path for you, but the catch might be that you'll probably have to get a doctorate/PhD degree in psychology. Psychology as a profession has more prestige and respect, especially at the doctoral level. On the other hand, it's a more competitive field. I hear that for some even getting admitted into the doctorate program is very challenging. If you don't plan on getting a post-graduate level degree and would like to be done with school with a Master's Degree, the options in the psychology field are more limited. Thanks to recent developments, now you can get licensed with a Master's in psychology, those licenses being LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor), LCAT (Licensed Creative Arts Therapist). You can get these accreditations with Master's in Psychology, though with LMHC and LCAT, you also need some years of supervised experience to obtain that license. To be a licensed psychologist, you need a Doctorate in Psychology. This is why a lot of the students in my social work school have a psychology background, because they want to be therapists but don't plan to get a doctorate degree. An LMSW (Licensed Master's in Social Work) is the most flexible of the master's level licenses, particularly in the east coast states like New York and New Jersey, but I believe this is also the case in big urban states like California and Illinois. For example it's much easier to open a private practice (and bill insurance) with an LMSW than with a LMHC. The catch is that social work is not psychology on a lot of levels. If you just want to focus on therapy and not really bother with the social justice or the sociological or the administrative aspects of social work, I recommend you not get into the social work profession and pursue psychology (or counseling) degree instead. If you're more interested in social science research, psychology is the more appropriate field because social work research is still in its infancy and is tends to be focused more on policy and sociology than on mental/biological psychology and social psychology. I hope my comment here helps somewhat. I recommend you keep asking around from people more knowledgeable than I. Cheers! :)
I can't fight this anymore. This is what I'm supposed to be doing
mlmr11 I feel the same way. Good luck.
I must confess you are really wonderful, a proffessional social worker with numerous experience I really appreciate your response you are great.
I live in Texas and Social Work is looked down among my peers but I want to make to a difference by understanding society. Good video ! (:
Hi Andrea Hernandez,
RUclips doesn't let me reply to your question, so I thought to answer in a new comment. If you see this, I hope you don't mind that I'm about a month late in answering your question.
So you asked: "i was wondering if a bachelors degree in sufficient for the jobs you mentioned such as the hospital social worker. Do you need a masters for most social work jobs? Or like every other degree is it just more beneficial?"
My answer is that it kind of depends in which U.S. state you want to work in. In rural states like Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kansas, etc, a BSW is sufficient. For many other states, MSW is required. Some states like CA and NY go further and require at least an LMSW. Especially in hospitals where the hiring is very competitive, even just an LMSW might not be enough and you might need relevant work experience to go along with that. For most states in the country, a BSW doesn't really mean much if you want to be a professional social worker; you need a MSW.
Plenty of social workers would consider themselves introverted. Listening well to people and having empathy with their situations are extremely important skills in this field after all. I suppose one doesn't necessarily have to be a "people person" either but that depends on the severity of not wanting to interact with people. There are a lot of different areas of work for social workers, but pretty much all of them do involve interacting with people on at least a one-on-one, face-to-face basis.
I'm hesitant to give you any suggestions because I don't know your situation well enough to make that kind of suggestion. I really recommend that you meet with your school's advisor and also ask advisors in your school's social work and psychology departments.
I'll tell you though that you need a master's level degree for social work, and for psychology, in many cases you need to get to a doctorate level degree. Social work is a hands-on field; psychology tends to be more research-focused.
sry for the late reply, but yay, I'm glad you found the vid helpful. and my best wishes to entering the world of social work! :)
*I have a Bachelors in Psychology, and I want to get my Masters in Social Work to work as a Social Worker at a hospital.*
+R Mathis I have my BSW and I am working on my MSW and my goal is to go into hospital social work. The one thing you can guarantee with social work no matter what, is that there will never be a dull moment.
+lacy willson I wish I got my Bsw instead of psychology. it's hard to find a degree in psychology.
+R Mathis I can see that. With psychology, you really have to go higher in order to use the degree, but it also depends where you work/live. I have a few friends who have PHDs in psychology, they kept going back to school because they couldn't find work. One was the school psychologist, his dad was the school district superintendent (Also a psychologist) and his sister got her PHD, but then they found they were too qualified to work at most places in town because we live in a rural area and no one wanted to pay them what they were worth. There is so much that's goes into selecting a career that a lot of people don't consider
That sucks when jobs say that a person is too/over qualified. I'm changing my Masters to Social Work or something else
best of luck, explore all of your options and do your research !.
This video was very helpful! I'll be majoring in social work soon.
2. The MSW should only be considered if there is a desire to move into more specialized areas or dealing with certain specific problems like educational settings, hospitals, mental health, homelessness, domestic violence, legal problems, high level administrative management jobs and so forth. Those are where the real paying jobs are of social work services.
Often, there are situations where people go into MSW programs thinking to make more money working in social services, but have no clue where they want to specialize in and then once they have their MSW, they take on pretty much similar Case Worker roles like the Bachelor's Degree person, however they are often then named Social Workers because of their MSW background and only make a little bit more than the Bachelor's Degree people because being a Case Worker is really not an area where specialized training is necessary and a bachelor's degree person can easily learn the roles on the job with supervision and experience. Usually and ideally speaking, the master's degree level person doing Case Worker roles are only in the position for a few years just for experience and then will move into more specialized areas where the real money is.
Having said what I just said, some US states and Canadian provinces allow social workers with a clinical license to use the DSM for diagnostic/assessment purposes. Thanks for your video :) so few people know what we do!
Hi David!
Thank you so much for posting this video! I live in Australia and recently I've applied to begin my university journey, I applied for a Bachelors of Social work. It has been an incredibly daunting process trying to find exactly what I like, tossing up between so many interests, scared about what's to come, thinking about the future and the right direction. This video as well as your others, has 100 percent solidified my decision to keep my first choice as Social Work. Everything you have mentioned thats involved strikes where I want to be in life so well, and I know the university websites mention what you do in their own way, but to hear it coming from you and to see how passionate you are has really given me some extra drive and eased my anxiety.
Thank you so much you beautiful human ❤
Thanks for the comment. It's always exciting to me to talk with social work majors. I do think it's quite an incredible field. And certainly, it's important we should try our best to help those who are often the most marginalized in society. It's important to keep in mind though, that that's just one aspect of social work. As I said in the video, it's a huge field and there are many, many, many branching paths to a social work career.
I think we as people should care about the society and defend many people with the issues that categorize race,class,and gender
I re-watched this old vlog of mine and I realized how many incorrect statements I made here! It's now annotated with corrections. I apologize to all viewers for recognizing my mistakes so late.
Sure, I could understand that sentiment.
Think of it this way though: a student debt from a private bank - no matter the amount - is something you have to pay back w/a 10-year repayment plan. So at minimum, you're going to be in debt for 10 years. So whether I'm in a high-paying field or a field like social work, if I'm steadily employed and able to make the monthly payments, the debt can be paid off in 10 years. Even for a low-paying job, it's certainly possible, and has been manageable for me
thx for the comments and yea, indeed, this profession so misunderstood and unknown by the general public. It's a bit maddening at times.
Nice video! Just a quick comment from a clinical social worker: you cannot typically get a doctorate in psychology after obtaining an MSW. This is because social work and psychology are completely different disciplines, and you therefore need a BA/MA in psych before getting a doctorate in this field. Also, psychologists do not prescribe meds; psychiatrists do. To be a psychiatrist, you need to go through med school and specialize in psychiatry (totally separate route from the MSW, again).
I study Social Work and I find it overwhelming. So many problems, do many suffering, so many loss. You see it has also impact on you. It drains you mentally, emotionally and physically. We are told that being professional is to be detached and emotionally-distant but you have to got some sort of empathy and heart to understand and help different groups of people.
Thank you David! Finishing up my BS in Psych in few weeks... your video is very helpful and clear. It's the advocacy aspect that helped me make decide to go for it.
3. Not everyone can handle specializing in more specific areas, therefore if the person is happy with just doing general Case Management, but not interested or unsure about specializing in certain areas, it is best not to do an MSW and better off staying at the Bachelor's Level, because it is going to be a lot of pressure with taking classes, internship and having a job all together and tuition payments are involved and the salary would only go up just a little bit more with an MSW if you stay in general Case Management. Meanwhile, there are Bachelor's Degree only people working in social services that have managed to move from Case Manager positions into certain higher level roles with bigger salaries.
Hi David, I watched your video around three years ago when I was starting to do my training as a social worker. Thank you for your advice and videos as they have been really informative and helpful.
Haven't seen your recent stuff but as a newly qualified working social worker, that's for the inspiration.
I'm glad my vid was helpful. :)
As for your question, one important thing you should note is that MSW programs require 21 hours/week of internship. Internship (we also refer to it as "field placement") is mandatory in this field. So even if you "dive" into the field, you'll get lots of training and experience by the time you graduate.
Still, if you can get a social service job, that's great. If you could make that job count as your field placement, even better, tho that can b a complicated step
Thank you very much for this video ,I am a social worker ,i have a degree in social work
but i don't have a job
1. You can still get a Case Worker or Case Manager position if you only have a Bachelor's Degree. Often is generic because it is mainly a lot of service/educational information referrals for clients that express troubles they are dealing with and sometimes following up to see if the referrals are helping them. Other duties involve are supportive listening, assisting clients with phone calls, assisting them with filling out/understanding documents. The pay is definitely lower, but can still get by with a living. You just will not be able to provide more in depth services than the generic aspect of it. However, Bachelor's Degree level persons can still move into certain higher level positions and make more money without the need of a Master's Degree once they have more experience, which there have been cases of that. However, the most they can move into is low level management positions.
After the death of my young son and founding an on-line grief community for parents, I found a real joy and passion for service. Helping others helped me to advance in my own grief journey. I have worked in the manufacturing world for 20 years and I am now considering a career change in social work. The only option that I have to pursue an MSW is through on-line education. I will have to continue to work. I know that only a limited number of on-line programs are accredited. The program I am considering only offers the advanced generalist degree option. Will this limit my work options post graduation?Is it better to specialize? I just want some input to help evaluate this choice. I will be submitting my application soon. Any input would be greatly appreciated. I have a business undergraduate degree, but the IU program is open to all undergraduate majors. Thanks for the video.
ANTHONY MOORE: MR. MOORE THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE....IS TO HANDLE THE SITUATION ONE DAY AT A TIME.... TILL YOU GAIN MOMENTUM.....I WISH YOU PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN THIS NEW YEAR 2016.😊
Good advice and I certainly do. Thank you.
+Anthony Moore Hi Anthony. I am a master's level social work study. Maybe I can help you with your question. A generalist social work degree is a great option for many because it exposes you to both the direct clinical practice with individuals, and families but it can also prepare you to do more mezzo and mirco level things like running a non-profit agency, community advocacy, and even politics. Not saying that you can't do this a clinical specialization. I do not see the need at this time for you to specialize beyond a generalist or clinical track. When you enter into the social work professor you sort of pledge to be this life long learner (especially if you get licensed as either and LMSW or LCSW). So you going to have plenty of opportunites to specialize in any particular area you are passionate about.
I hope this response helps. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Do they recommend doing a lot of service hours/internship hours in order to get accepted into a graduate program?
Thanks for the feedback.
What makes it complicated is that your field placement supervisor MUST be a SIFI-certified and accredited LMSW/LCSW. Just because your job is a social service job doesn't mean it can count as a field placement without these specific requirements.
Yeah, it sure can feel that way, like the whole world is against me lol.
But yeah, thx for the concern and the comments.
grad school for a social work degree is actually much cheaper. it's a 2yr program (would have been 1yr if I qualified). so I wouldn't be doubling my debt. But yea, it wld make my debt be bigger by the end of it, after having gotten it down to $67k by this point lol.
for the social work field tho, a Master's Degree means a lot. And with accreditation and licensure, I become more of an expert and opportunities open up for me.
Paying back the debt will be hard, but it's doable.
Thx for the comments. Social work indeed is a field where people going into it usually understand they won't become rich doing it, and they most likely will be under-appreciated, but with passion and effort, it certainly is an extremely rewarding field, one that gets to help the most margianalized groups by directly engaging with and advocating for them.
I wldnt diss Psychology tho. 1 of my closest friend's a Psych major. It's a valuable field, and arguably more established than social work
can you be a social worker if you have social anxiety?
Yes you can do it social work even if you have social anxiety. Dont let social anxiety ruin in your life, keep moving never give up. I have social anxiety but I love this major and this is what I want to do.
I think you can but when you practice you have to make sure your anxiety does not affect your client's treatment or your client's outcome. Feliciano, BSW
I love your question, June, because I am in kind of in the same boat. I'm not a social worker, but am interested in Social Services. I am a CNA, who works with the elderly in assisted living. I am looking for ways to UPGRADE. I'm not really an extrovert; but more introverted, and DO have some social anxiety. It really depends on how well I know people. I find that if I have work to do, such as assignments, I am capable of helping others and will go the extra mile to do so. It makes me feel great to be able to solve a problem for someone or help someone when they can't do something. I prefer to help others who can't help themselves for one reason or another, instead of just DO for others who CAN. It just makes it more worthwhile. I'll be reading for answers from others!
It's a good point that a BSW doesn't mean much. To clarify though, it actually can amount to something. For example, before I got into graduate school, I actually was offered a job as a care manager at a non-profit that serves homeless people living with HIV/AIDS. Granted, the job doesn't pay that much (it was like a 38k salary job I think) but it does demonstrate even a BSW can lead to somewhere.
I'm certainly nowhere near being like an expert, and I actually hate applying that term to anything I do in my life, but I will say as a BSW and a graduate student majoring in social work, this topic is something I feel I'm pretty familiar with.
But yea, thanks for the comments, and thanks for pointing out that psychiatry is totally different from psychology and social work.
If I major in social work and minor in psychology, could I work at a school ??
ah, right. I actually was not aware that the 3 years supervision was only required for LCSWs. I suppose it's true what they say about NYU having a more clinical focus lol.
The problem is really only when you're unemployed and have no source of income to make the monthly payments.
I heard a great way to understand social work is like oil in a car. You need oil for all of the parts to move.
Thanks for this great videoooo!!! Omg I was sooo confused about soo many things about social work but you explained it soo well! Im graduating this year from my bachelor in psychology and hopefully I will be starting my master in social work pretty soon :) your awesome!
I live in a rural part of Iowa and I'm considering a career in social work. I have my eye on the University of Iowa. I'm 3 credits away from an AA in Liberal Arts due to poor grades and poorer job prospects from graduating high school right before the housing bust.
At present I'm a fabricator for a refrigeration plant making about 40g's a year. Given a year or two I think I can save enough to pay for two years at Iowa in cash or with a minimal amount of debt. However, data that I've
gathered indicates that even MSW holders are fortunate to make what I do even with only a high school diploma.
At this point I'm trying to saw my way out of the golden handcuffs. I'm tethered to a job that NAFTA could easily send to Mexico within my lifetime. I've recently been diagnosed with epilepsy which has severely limited my career prospects in manufacturing. My parents got me the job when I left high school and I've never been able to hold a job outside the plant. EVER.
The cost of living in Iowa is a fraction of that of NYC and I can transfer my AA degree to Iowa without many problems. I have a 2.631 GPA owing to going into college out of desperation in my early 20's and really having no direction. I feel I can relate to people who struggle with chronic unemployment and other social woes. I'm even minoring in Spanish at the U. Aprendé como hablar un poquito español trabajando con hispano hablantes en la fábrica y compré una programa de Rosetta Stone practicar hablando la idioma.
I'm set to graduate this fall but owing to my epilepsy, the company might be skittish about paying for me to study the Tool and Die trade. I could pay for the latter for as little as 10 g's and take a fraction of the time but I'd be condemning myself to something I dislike. My company doesn't allow epileptics to drive forktrucks even if they're declared controlled by a neurologist and the tool and die trade requires one to be able to drive those.
I'm not so much concerned about borrowing for school but paying my bills when I'm in school. Part time jobs in the field of social work even with roomies will prove difficult to pay the bills and my parents are aging and unable to provide much for financial assistance.
I'd like your advice on how to proceed from this level. Thanks.
I chose to do social work instead of psychology, because like you said in a previous comment, psychology is more research-based. you're paying them to tell you where you went wrong. they seem almost distant. social workers are applying a lot of therapist and theories from psychology, but rather they're closer and more intimate with the client, and not abiding by 2 million law and ethics that usually turn psychologists into literal robots.
Ture , but the reason people are critical of what can be done with a social work degree is you need a REALLY high return on investment to justify being 100k in debt . If you got a masters in Engineering , and a BS in Comp Sci for 100k then people( at least myself ) would think the cost were a bit for justified .
Well, private banks don't even give you a year to mess up; they give you 4 months. If I don't make any of the payments in 120 days, I default. In which case, my credit gets fucked for years, but I still owe them the debt and the interest spikes up. It's really ridiculous how it is, but that's really cause my loans are private loans, not govt loans.
I didn't say it's not challenging, only that through it all, it's not an impossible thing to manage.
haha, thanks for the concern.
To clarify, nope, I never defaulted on any of my loans. I did have a job and was able to live on my own with that source of income and make my monthly loan payments. I'm not employed right now but I will be starting grad school in a couple of months so I'll be able to defer my loan payments until I graduate grad school. A significant amount of my debt has been paid back so far though in the past three years though of course I still have sooo much to pay back.
seriously, who cares about student loans and who cares about not starting with 80k a year. social work is one of those professions where people KNOW they're not entering a field that will pay a shit load. you won't be rich. but you'll be comfortable at least. it's a field that requires a lot of passion and effort. now, i'm not sure how much the monthly payments of a 103k private loan will be, but seriously fuck it, you're doing what you want.
very good video. well structured.
Wow, thanks for the comment. I don't think I get such heartfelt comments often. ;)
To clarify tho, I'm not yet a social worker. I just started grad school so I won't actually be a social worker until like two years from now.
def one of my flaws (tho sometimes it's a strength of mine) is that I'm so wordy lol.
I wouldn't say though that it's me "exaggerat[ing] the importance of [me] addressing a topic" but that it's me not really having planned out or organized what exactly I was going to say. It's just me being conversational lol.
It varies depending on how intensive you want the courses to be. Because it's such a hands-on field (21 hours/week of internship is mandatory), many people choose to take the less intensive route.
But let's say if you take the most intensive route, that would mean, you take four years to get your BSW, which would qualify you for Advanced Standing, in which you could get MSW in 1 year. So fastest track wld b 5 yrs of total school.
If you have a Bachelor's in something else MSW cld b had in 2yrs
No, not really. Human Development is a liberal arts degree whereas social work is helping profession degree (more akin to nursing degree for example). You can end up having a social work-esque job with a Master's in Human Development such as therapist, or substance abuse counselor but generally, it leads to more management positions such as adoption agency official, research assistant, human resources manager, etc
I want to say huge thank you David this was verrrry helpful.
This video was extremely insightful!
Idk about about that , for me my monthly student loan payment is 83$ , thats going to be manageable no matter what( it'll go up a bit since it's graduated( wrong word whatever) ) . In your case if you have ONE bad year and can't make payments you'll be hit with so many fees and penalties it might wipe out all the progress you've made thus far in paying your loans .
I really loved your video. . i am a social worker here in the philippines. . currently working for haiyan survivors. . can you share something about social worker working with communities =)
First, thx for commenting, and I'm glad you enjoy my vids.
Tho, I feel ur commenting on the wrong vid. You probably should be saying this in my vid about my student debt, not here. I also did make a vlog about why I ended up choosing NYU. The vlog is titled "Why NYU? Why Social Work?"
Anywho, that's a good point, that no degree is worth 100k+ in debt. Obviously I didn't believe that when I was in high school but it is an excellent mindset to have.
this infomation was very useful and helpful you can learn new things beening a worker.
Can i apply to social work position with a BA in psychology?, I want to be a therapist, but cannot fully practice until I receive my PH.D. I think working in social work fields would be a good stepping stone since its all closely related
Most states you can't really work as a social worker unless you have an MSW. and in NY state now it's going to be hard to be a social worker unless you have an LMSW. There are now good many Masters' level career tracks to be a therapist, LCSW being the strongest and most flexible of the master's level tracks (others being LMHC and LMFT), but then to get to a PhD in psychology it'd probably be best to go for MA in Psychology route.
Actually, you know what? I may have to retract a bit here. Human Development is similar to Social Work in the sense that Human Development is in many ways the theoretical basis to Social Work being practiced. Both fields share a lot of the same theories, but I suppose the key difference is that Social Work uses the theory to alleviate suffering and to promote social justice.
not technically, no. But I do plan on getting U.S. citizenship, hopefully asap.
In my case, it's 6 years of college. I got my BSW in 4 years but because me withdrawing from a class disqualified me for the Advanced Standing program, it'd take me 2 years to get my MSW. I also plan to be licensed so after my MSW, I'd have to work under supervision for about 3 years, after which my MSW could become either LMSW or LCSW.
its very important to know the importance of social worker,,,,,, so all we have to socail workers in our country
Thank you for this video it definitely gives me a better insight of the Social Work field and what all is required of it. =)
I don't remember what exactly I said in this vid, but yes, if I said a social worker can easily become a psychiatrist then that would def b wrong. I may have got psychologist and psychiatrist mixed up if that was the case. I do think tho that if I was talking about a MSW getting a doctorate, I was talking about a person getting a DSW, not a PhD in Psych.
And it's only your perception that you see me "broadcasting as an expert in this subject." Ha, that's funny. no, this is just me vloggin
How is graduate school going? When do you expect to graduate. I was also wondering if you work full time and go to school and how you manage balancing both. Great video and very helpful. Thank you.
Hi there,
Thanks for asking.
You know, I'm pretty spoiled and didn't have to work full time while doing school, except way back when I was a sophomore in college years ago. I had some part-time jobs here and there, but with social work major requiring internship, I mostly just focused on school. I realize a lot of people don't have this luxury, including many of my colleagues, some of whom have to take care of not only themselves but their children and other family members. I have a pretty fortunate family background and the privileges that come with it.
Anyway, it's going to be my second and final year of graduate school. I'm still on summer break so I haven't returned to school yet, but as long as I don't slack off, I think it'll work out pretty well. :p
David Kwon, I've heard of many things you can do in social work. Is there a list of specific fields withing social work? For example in anthro you have archeology, biology, linguistic, and cultural.
right now I'm taking general liberal arts, but lately Ive been doing many research and a foster care social work interest me. I'm also interested of it because of past experiences. I'm not too sure what route is better for me though.... Should I change my major to psychology or pre social work?
Great video! Although I want to become a psychologist I am a working student. Could I use a combined bachelor's/master in psychology to work as a social worker? Could I simply use a bachelor's instead or I need a master's?
Also, how long will the the internship be before I can start working?
So the answer is no, the title of social worker is only for people with a degree in social work in United States. For many states in the country, it has to be a Master's Degree in Social Work, e.g. NJ, NY, MA, CA, IL. Moreover, in some states like CA and NY, you have to be licensed to work as a "social worker." If you have a degree in psychology or counseling or anything else that is not social work, you can't be hired with a title as a social worker.
However, of course keep in mind that you can still be hired for positions that engage in things that social workers are similarly engaged in without a social work degree, i.e. case manager, client advocate, care coordinator, therapist, director of non-profit, counselor, etc. There are many positions available in social services agencies and organizations that don't require a social work degree.
On your question about internship, an MSW requires 1200 hours of internship (600/year). Some BSW programs also require internship hours. To get my BSW I had to intern a total of 900 hours (300 hours for my junior year, 600 hours for my senior year).
america has a big SW system but thats based off the power of the country itself. The uk and canada pay much higher salaries. SO if you dont mind travelling and working abroad then by all means. My mother is a social worker here in toronto ontario canada and she makes just under 90k to my knowledge, government job too. Only a BSW holder
Yea, I often get to feeling like I'll just move off to Canada or one of those European countries (I really like Sweden and Netherlands) later in life cause at least the mainstream culture seems to support many of the ideals of social work. It's a big challenge in America, especially the funding aspect because of the cultural stigma attached to much of the work that we do here. But for now, I still feel that America is the place I want to be at to be a social worker.
great effort bro bro. I have a AS & BS in Human Services (social work focus)
Great video! I was searching for more info on social work and stumbled upon this video. Thanks for the great insight. Is a BA in social work better then a BA in sociology? What is the difference? Thanks for your help!
Both are quite simillar, However those with a sociology degree tend to shoot for higher education or teaching positions. I say that because the degree is based around 3 things:science,history of the term, and application to everyday life. Social work has many courses rooted in sociology but theres more of a focus on administration. Also, most people find work with just that degree whereas with sociology its very tough because theres no one job geared towards it.
There's a pretty big difference actually. For one, to graduate with a social work degree, you have to do certain hours of field work (usually about 600 hours or so per year, varies depending on which university you go to). Sociology has a research focus, and a primary goal for sociology education is coming to learn and assess why societies function the way they do, and what impact that has on the people living in said societies. Social work has a more practical focus, and a primary goal of the field is striving for social justice, helping people who are the most vulnerable and the most oppressed people in society. In both fields, a Bachelor's degree doesn't amount to much, and to really get into the career of sociology or social work, you should be at a graduate level.
Sociology is not Social Work. Sociology is like Biology in order to become a Sociology you need a PHd and an extensive back ground in RESEARCH TECHNIQUES.
Thank you so much! Your video was super helpful. I wasn't sure whether socialwork is the field for me but after hearing you explain what they do, I'm confident that I would really enjoy the field. One question; I have a BA in phil and also live in nyc. Would it be better to get a ton of social service work experience before entering into a MSW program (outreach worker, case worker etc.) or should I just dive into the MSW application process now? Would the experience matter to job after grad?
Well, I'm assuming for a few months you can ask parents or what not to help you make your payments , but after a while , say 6 months you'd stop making em .
Good luck , the worlds almost against you at this point though !
Great video I was thinking about majoring in social work but now I really want to. Can I do international humantarian work with non profits with my social work degree? Of course I am going to get my msw. How do you get that internship does the school help you find one?
The point is you took out a massive amount of debt for a low paying field .
If you wanted to study social work you could of went to a state school in your home state and would of paid a fraction of the price. It relates to the greater issue of student loan debt . Is any degree really worth graduating 100k + in debt . I say no .I enjoy your videos though .
What can you do with a BSW in Social Work? Get a job at Lowes making $10.29 an hour until you can get a job making more than that in social work.
David, very informative video thank you
What can you do with a Ph.D. of social work... where can one obtain schooling at this level.. preferably in Canada
Great video I'm currently a BSW student in Chicago il. I think w
David- thank you for sharing this video. I am obtaining my B.A in Counseling Psychology and numerous psychology professionals tell me to go for the MSW instead of pursuing an LPC track. Have you discussed this same topic with other professionals and what have they shared with you?
First, thanks for the comment. I'm glad you liked this video. :)
Now, it's hard for me to answer this question without knowing what you ultimately want your career to be. And it also depends on where you want to practice. For example, in NYC, generally speaking an MSW has more flexibility and prestige in the job search than a Master's in Psych or counseling. However, for those wanting a pure focus on psychology and counseling and willing to go to the doctorate level, then a path to PhD in psychology/counseling will be of more value.
One of my closest friends has a Master's in Psychology. She says she kinda wishes she went for the MSW instead because with an LMSW she could practice as a therapist and also have a broader perspective about the impact of the environment on a person. Right now, she has a job in human services that doesn't really fit in with what she wanted to do with her psychology education.
Keep in mind though that the social work track is a very hands-on field. Field work is mandatory, and in states like NY and CA, at least 21 hours/week of internship is required. For the first year, you may be placed in a setting that does not interest you at all, if all you want is to be trained as a counselor/therapist. Social work goes much bigger and deeper than mental health, and that may be something that turns you off about the profession. For instance, I'm currently a social work intern in a high school, and I provide counseling and case management services to adolescents. Next year, I'm most likely going to be doing policy/research work to advocate for the formerly homeless and the formerly incarcerated population.
So yea, like I said, whether you should go for MSW or not really depends on what you ultimately want out of your career and what you don't want.
Well hands on is what I want. I currently got a job in a college and even though I support the school and the mission statement, I am behind a desk most of the time. I really want to be involved in someones life in a way where interaction is mandatory as you said. I love to sit down and counsel and if I cannot do that then help them anyway I can. I would love to teach one day and go for my Masters and Doctorate as well. I just hear form professionals that the LPC is a harder track that might not be more rewarding. Having my own practice one day is a goal as well.
In that case, yeah, I think social work could be a good path for you. You might wanna call up/email some social work programs and learn more to see if that's the path you want to take.
Thank you David I appreciate it.
do you need to study childcare or public services to become a social worker??
Great video man!
Hey David Kwon,
I want to become a lisenced Social worker but the question that bothers me Is income an issue when it comes to social work? Because I notice while researching that the profession does not get paid as much. Hope you respond thanks again and your videos are very helpful.
It's not a wealthy field. If you're in it for money.... Look elsewhere. If you can work your way up then there is money, as well as in research
You owe... CITIBANK...$105,000?? You owe six figures on a private student loan? WTF?
You do know that social work is an extremely low-paying field in the US? You do know you'll start making $30-40,000 a year and reach a cap mid-career of $50-60,000 as a SUPERVISOR with an LCSW? You do know most social workers don't make enough to buy a house in a decent neighborhood unless they marry? Monthly payments on a government loan of $60k are above $500, it's crippling given other expenses, bills, emergency costs... At $100k with the interest levels of some private banks you may be paying $900 a month or more. Did anyone teach you the financial side of things? Why don't you parlay your MSW into something more lucrative like Human Resources? I'm shocked at how some people just willy-nilly throw their money away in pursuit of a "dream" despite the economic times we live in... don't count on IBR saving you, it only covers federal loans and whatever amount is forgiven is taxed as income...
Here's the thing. The average student who gets a 4-year degree (let's say BSW) comes out owing about 50-70k if they go to a state school. A master;s in social work can cost 30-60k, depending on whether you are going for 1 year as a BSW student or 2 years as a traditional student. So far, that's six years of your life. At that level you get a job as an LSW/LMSW making a whopping $40,000 a year, liberal estimate. Debt= $80-130,000; Income=$40,000. Let that sink in. That's a mortgage in some areas. Then, to get your LCSW clinical license, you have to PAY for supervision, often the same fee as a clinician charges a client (let's say $100) so that's ANOTHER $20,000 for this "investment". Total cost of this choice is $100,000-150,000. It is true that an MSW offers $10,000 more starting salary than a BSW, but those loans will haunt you and you will live in relative poverty- in addition to living expenses, there is rent, money saved for down payment, retirement savings, health and car insurance bills, cell phone and internet, medical expenses, gas and car maintenance expenses, you get the drift. You'll live check to check for decades and won't be buying a house or even a condo any time soon. Meanwhile all your friends will be marrying, decking out their retirement accounts, having children- all stuff you can't afford to do because you have too much debt. And women want men making decent salaries. A secretary makes more than a social worker. You have just narrowed your dating pool threefold. I hope you have rich relatives that are feeling generous.
I'm worried sick for my brother who studied engineering and owes a combined- federal and private- $120,000 for a bachelors... he picked a better paying field but these universities are robbing financially illiterate and foolhardily risk-taking students who don't know the reality of fiscal burden... And meanwhile people like you take out six figure private loans to study freaking social work... no offense man, but now you have to deal with your consequences.
Thanks
Well said bro
hello, I live in the Caribbean and will soon migrate to the US (legally). I would like to do social work when I get to N.Y, but if I leave here with my MSW, will I still have to do other exams when I get there?
Hi Samboca1970,
for jobs that require/prefer an MSW, your international accreditation and experience should be fine. There's a trend happening now that some places are wanting social workers to be LMSW, and that does require you to take a licensure exam. But it's still a very early trend I think and so I think in most cases you don't have to take an exam. I'm still just a student though and not yet practicing social work so I might be wrong. I recommend you continue to ask people more who are more knowledgeable and considered as experts in the field.
I have a question, I'm a 26 year old black male veteran and I'm getting ready to pursue a career in social work. I'm by no means a conservative but I'm damn sure not a liberal either. I've been exposed to libertarianism, I get it ,I really do but I think it's a utopian fantasy.
I see the word social justice a lot and it kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I think of other words like feminism, patriarchy, privilege and so on and on. My question is will my political views being something other liberal harm my ability to get a fair education?
Yea, this profession has recently has come to have a tendency of throwing the phrase "social justice" around a lot, often without actually saying what that would mean.
Anywho, you ask a really thought-provoking question. I think there are a good amount of social workers with a more politically conservative mindset, but I have to admit, this profession definitely has an extremely liberal bent. The field is all about reaching out to the most vulnerable and the most oppressed population of a society. That idea itself goes against many tenets of libertarianism and social/economic conservatism. If you believe that poor people are poor mostly because they make bad lifestyle choices, then social justice will have a very different meaning for you compared to a social worker who believes that it's the society's fault and responsibility that people are poor. There's a lot of political controversy even within this field and social workers continue to have debates about what social work should mean at a policy level. I found that people who tend to have a more conservative black-and-white mindset have the highest chance of dropping out of social work education but I think it really depends on what you want to achieve as a social worker. It's also difficult for more conservative minded folks I think because social work places such high emphasis on empathy and being as non-judgmental to our clients as possible, and clients in the social work profession can often include drug addicts, people convicted of rape and murder and other crimes, and the homeless. I mean, some social workers will never have those populations as their clients, but in the social work profession, much of our training and focus is on working with these kinds of populations. It seems to me that people who are politically conservative have a harder time not being judgmental towards these clients and hence why there's a higher chance that social work is not for them. But I think it really varies from person to person. Social work may be great career path for you regardless of what political ideology you adhere to. But yes, I can't deny that the profession itself has a very liberal bent, and depending on which school you go to, some schools can tend to have a very socialist bent as well.
I'm in the same boat. I just make sure I know my shit before I get in a verbal battle over a subject. Oh I rule Veteran issues and also since I'm retired. I also have no need for money.They drive a POS I drive a 50.000 suv....Go for it, VA will hire you in a minute.
I love this major
so once you have a LCSW do you automatically go into private practice or continue to work with various organizations?
SkyRaker77 Well, it depends what the person wants to do with an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Work). LCSW means that a person has a Master's Degree in Social Work, has passed the social work licensing exam, received three years of clinical supervision, and passed the clinical social work oral exam. This person could work in private non-profit organizations or in public government agencies if the person wants to. The qualification also allows to person to start a private practice of his/her own and become a psychotherapist. I know some LCSW social work professors who do both, having a private practice and being a director of a community-based non-profit. It really depends on what you want to do with your social work qualifications. It's a very flexible degree.
How many years of college does it take to get a social work license? Do you recommend studying to get a MSW, or is a BSW enough to get hired? would a BSW be enough to get hired as a school counsellor?....Thanks for the help!!!=)
The quickest most intensive path takes 5 years - that is 4 years for a BSW and then a year of Advanced Standing. most MSW social workers (which would include me) get their social work accreditation in 6 years because they tend to take the 2-year MSW course. The length it takes depends on how intensive you want the education and training to be. The more intensive, the quicker, the less intensive the longer it takes.
In most states it'd be very hard to be a school social worker with a BSW. The only states where that's actually feasible would be southern states like Alabama and Louisiana and such I think, but those states also tend to have a very negative public policy and funding towards most social work fields so your income as a BSW social worker may feel unfairly low, though granted, that also depends with where you work, what position you have, and how much experience and skills you have.
For the social work profession, esp. In America, the most flexibility one would have is with an MSW, and preferably an LMSW (take an exam after your MSW to get it licensed). Unless you already have years of experience in the human services/non-profit realm, I personally wouldn't recommend just getting a BSW but would recommend to continue to pursue for MSW. That is, if social work is something you're interested in doing as a career.
***** I have been researching about social work to better understand it since I have decided to peruse a career in it. Your Reply and video are really helpful!! Thank you =)
Social work is very dangerous, because the laws that govern social workers, such as mandated reporting, are not in accord with international law, or even the Constitution, and as such, you may be hung in the future for "just doing your job" and reporting people to the legalized human trafficking organizations.
Well then what is sociology?
Hi i am planning on getting a social work degree but only psychology is available near me... Can i get a social work job with a psychology degree
Hello David, I've been thinking about going into social work but I have a question, can I be a social worker while having time for your own children? I plan on adopting once I get financially stable but I don't know if I'd be able to balance work and my own children.
This is a great question. I personally would say yes. All of the social workers I know have their own kids or have adopted kids. I think it gives you a better understanding. You just have to know how to balance things out.
Oh okay, thanks, I have been worried that social work would take all of my time and I wouldn't get to have a family. :3
+MrDeweydog123 realistically, any job can take all of your time. Again, it's how you balance it
Lacy Willson Yeah, I understand that, whenever I have kids ill be sure to put aside plenty of time for them :). I start my first yyear in college to study human services/social work this June and im very excited.
+MrDeweydog123 best of luck
Hi David.I really want to help peoples and i see that i can be that with social work.I am in the first year of Social work but i have a question.If I am very soft you know I am a person that affects fast in emotions,for ex i cant see even an animal dying.and i know that Social work its not an easy work,My question is:Can this weakness can impact to enforce the proffesion?
I'm not sure I understand your question correctly. Are you saying you're worried how your emotional sensitivity can impact the work you'll do as a social worker?
If that's the question that you're asking, then yea, that I would say is probably like the biggest challenging in being a social worker. The clinical term that gets thrown around a lot is "vicarious trauma." It's when the suffering and the trauma that's experienced by the clients we help ultimately gets transferred to us as well in the process of helping others. It's a biggie in our field, and it explains why social work has such a high burnout rate, when compared with other professions. The thing is to take good care of yourself while you're doing this work, and make sure to be connected to people that care about you and people who can comfort you and counsel you. Hey, social workers need therapists and other social workers themselves too. It's tough work, this profession of reaching out to the most vulnerable populations, trying to understand their plights through empathy, advocating for them, and coming up with ways to empower them. It's tough work and it can get to us.
I know someone who was a social worker in end-of-life care. He did it for over a decade and then the job wore him out. He quit being a social worker and ended up being a taxi cab driver. It was tough because every time he became real attached to a client, the client would die eventually, and that took a big toll on him. Social work jobs are full of toughies like that. We have to take really good care of ourselves to get through it, and even then, I recognize that this profession just isn't for everyone. I'm not sure myself if I can make it through it okay, but it's my passion now, and hopefully, I don't end up with vicarious trauma for myself.
But the short answer is that, yes, it can have a huge impact. It's important to be mindful of it, and find ways to be joyful and relaxed and enjoy yourself. Different people have different ways of coping with vicarious trauma issues. Some people like to cook with their friends and families. Some people write things down in their journals. Some people cope using art and music. For some people, they have to make sure they keep work totally separate from their private home life. For some people they have to find ways to keep thinking about it and talking about it but you know, without going against confidentiality rules and such.
Me, for example, I like to escape with video games, and I have a friend who's a Master's Degree in psychology and we discuss client cases from time to time. I also write fiction, where many of the characters I write vaguely remind me of the clients I've come to interact with. I also constantly seek counsel from my supervisor and my practice professor. It can get hard for me too, all these emotions I get from all the cases I've come to encounter, but I think I've found my ways of coping. I hope you can find your own way as well. :)
***** I am very grateful for responding! Our hard work waiting for us and we hope to become stronger
Thanks again.
***** hey man thanks for expounding on the oblique repercussions of the career. i'm currently contemplating getting a BSW and i've heard all manner of horror stories about poor salaries, lack of job opportunities and high burnout.
Hi! I'm considering majoring in social work and i was wondering if a bachelors degree in sufficient for the jobs you mentioned such as the hospital social worker. Do you need a masters for most social work jobs? Or like every other degree is it just more beneficial? Thank you for the video!
You should only get an MSW if you want to deal with more specific problems clients have. Hospital is one of them as you desire. High level administrative positions, domestic violence, homelessness, legal programs, school environments, children services, mental health, etc are those areas where an MSW is needed and it is where the high paying jobs are. But is a lot more work to handle because it is extremely specialized.
Having only a bachelor's degree can only get you Case Manager positions or something similar. Often, Case Managers positions are generic because often it is a lot of service/information referrals for clients to assist with their problems instead and following up to make sure the referrals are helping them.
Other duties involve are assisting with phone calls, assist with filling out/understanding documents and supportive listening. Depending on the position, it may require some home visits or taking them to appointments.
Bachelors' Case Managers make less salary than the MSW person, although they can still get by. Case Management usually is not an area that requires specific educational training as any bachelor's degree level person can easily learn on the job with supervision and experience.
Although there are MSW people doing Case Management positions, and often the title is named Social Worker because of their MSW background, however it is not ideal for them to stay in it long term because they only make a little bit more than the Bachelor's Degree person in this job and usually only stay in it for a few years for experience and then move onto something more specific.
What I can say is for anyone else who is reading this, the MSW is only beneficial if you want to specialize in something more specific and usually that is where the money is, but it is a lot more work.
However, for those who are not sure or uninterested on if they want to specialize in a particular area and are just happy with doing general Case Management, it is better to not go for it, because your salary will only go up slightly a bit more if you continue to stay in Case Management and doing an MSW program is a lot of commitment and time and energy needed to be spent. Also, a bachelor's degree only person can have other options to move into other high level positions and make more money without the need of a Master's degree and there have been cases of that.
3:04 minutes to say what u r going to explain. For a social worker u really like to exaggerate the importance of u addressing a topic.
Can you be a social worker with a sociology degree?
megan mitchell NO
Is a Human Development degree similar to social work?
I still dont see how your living on your own in NY without a job you could only have saved so much. Also arent your loans at default now? I think your a very charismatic guy I think it sucks to see you in this position. I know students who live of mommy and daddy credit card with no ambition unlike you.
I am currently pursuing a Bachelors in Early Education, but I want to continue my education in Psychology. I would like to be a counselor or a therapist for young children. Do you think I should get into the Psychology field or should I pursue a degree in Social work? What do you think the difference is between the social work and the psychology fields?
Hi April, thx for the comment.
So first off, my knowledge of the psychology field is pretty limited. One of my closest friend has a Master's in Psychology and a number of my social work colleagues have BA in Psychology so that's kind of how I know what's different/similar between the two fields (social work and psychology), but since that's pretty much my source of reference, be mindful that my comment here is as a social work student and thus, with bias towards that field.
From what I know, you can be a counselor or therapist in either field. If therapy is really all you're interested in, psychology might be the better path for you, but the catch might be that you'll probably have to get a doctorate/PhD degree in psychology. Psychology as a profession has more prestige and respect, especially at the doctoral level. On the other hand, it's a more competitive field. I hear that for some even getting admitted into the doctorate program is very challenging. If you don't plan on getting a post-graduate level degree and would like to be done with school with a Master's Degree, the options in the psychology field are more limited. Thanks to recent developments, now you can get licensed with a Master's in psychology, those licenses being LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor), LCAT (Licensed Creative Arts Therapist). You can get these accreditations with Master's in Psychology, though with LMHC and LCAT, you also need some years of supervised experience to obtain that license. To be a licensed psychologist, you need a Doctorate in Psychology.
This is why a lot of the students in my social work school have a psychology background, because they want to be therapists but don't plan to get a doctorate degree. An LMSW (Licensed Master's in Social Work) is the most flexible of the master's level licenses, particularly in the east coast states like New York and New Jersey, but I believe this is also the case in big urban states like California and Illinois. For example it's much easier to open a private practice (and bill insurance) with an LMSW than with a LMHC.
The catch is that social work is not psychology on a lot of levels. If you just want to focus on therapy and not really bother with the social justice or the sociological or the administrative aspects of social work, I recommend you not get into the social work profession and pursue psychology (or counseling) degree instead. If you're more interested in social science research, psychology is the more appropriate field because social work research is still in its infancy and is tends to be focused more on policy and sociology than on mental/biological psychology and social psychology.
I hope my comment here helps somewhat. I recommend you keep asking around from people more knowledgeable than I. Cheers! :)