“All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don’t discover why. Success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others,” said Danny Thomas, founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Danny). That concept inspires people every day to do better for others. Some are so passionate about helping individuals they decide to make a career out of it. Social work is one of the most renowned occupations when it comes to helping people. The path to becoming a social worker is very difficult, in both getting a degree and choosing an occupation. To be licensed as a social worker in Minnesota, North Dakota and most other states a person must obtain a Bachelor of Social Work degree (B.S.W.) (Social Work). Currently many colleges have an undergraduate program to receive this degree. An adequate school for attaining a B.S.W. degree is Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM). It has been accredited by the Council on Social Work Education since 1973 (Social Work). To graduate from MSUM with a B.S.W. degree, students have to take a total of 72 credits; 42 requirements, 27 related requirements and three electives (Social Work). Presently the annual banded tuition to attend this university is 6,140 dollars (MSU). Which may comes off as a lot of money, but the average tuition cost in the United States is 7,605 dollars (What It). Within that banded tuition a scholar can take anywhere from 12 to 19 credits (MSU). If a student makes the decision that they want to get their degree in four years, they will have to take 18 credits annually. Also to graduate it is a requirement that two human service experiences and a 480-hour internship are completed (MSU). Once a graduate i... ... middle of paper ... ...Cited "10 Jobs a Masters of Social Work Degree Could Get You." College Crunch. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. "Danny Thomas Quotes." QuotesUp.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2011. "MSU Moorhead Costs." Minnesota State University Moorhead. N.p., 16 Feb. 2011. Web. 6 Mar. 2011. "msw." St. Cloud State University Undergraduate Catalog. N.p., 8 Dec. 2010. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. "Salary Wizard." Salary.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. "Social Work." MSU MOORHEAD. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2011. "Social Workers ." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. N.p., 9 Dec. 2009. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. "St. Cloud State University: Billing and Payments." St. Cloud State University. N.p., 25 June 2010. Web. 21 Mar. 2011. "What Can You Do With a BSW Degree?." Education-Portal.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. "What It Costs To Go To College." College Board. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2011.
The basis of this assignment was to create a further and more in depth understanding of my chosen field, social work. Social workers aid and support individuals, groups, and communities through difficult times and ensure that vulnerable people are safeguarded from harm. Without them our nation would not have the proper support to establish order and relations in society. I explored the numerous types of social working jobs, ranging from Child, Family, and School social workers, Mental Health and Substance Abuse social workers, to social workers in Administration, Policy, and Research. I provided all of the educational requirements necessary to become a social worker, along with the benefits of acquiring a higher degree. In addition, I included the average salary of an entry level social worker and the average salary for a social worker with a Master’s degree or other professional licensure. I provided all essential information one would need to know before entering the field of social work. For example, what the job requires beyond what you can learn in a classroom. Patience, understanding and empathy are a few of the many imperative personality traits a social work must possess. Along with the facts and statistics I incorporated into my paper, I also included a personal section explaining why I chose to enter this field.
I knew I loved to help others but it was not until I was an emerging adult that I knew what my calling was. My devotion to improve the quality of life for those who are disadvantaged is one of the reasons I have chosen to pursue a Master’s in Social Work. After obtaining my masters, I plan on diversifying my masters by getting licensed and becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I would like to study social work because I feel it will lead me directly to one of the most emotionally fulfilling careers available, as well as giving me the chance to combine helping people 's mental well being with their physical
"College Costs - Average College Tuition Cost." College Admissions - SAT - University & College Search Tool. The College Board. Web. 23 Mar. 2011.
College Board, The. “What’s The Price Tag For a College Education?” College Data. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
Becoming a social worker is dependent on numerous factors, one of which being education. “A bachelor’s degree in social work (BSW) degree is the most common minimum requirement to qualify for a job as a social worker, however, majors in psychology, sociology, and related fields may be sufficient to qualify for some entry-level job” (Chao & Orr, 162). Many people when pursuing the goals of being a social worker, however, are most interested in jobs in public agencies and/or having their own practices. “A master’s degree in social work (MSW) is necessary for positions in health and mental health settings and typically is required for certification for clinical work” (Chao & Orr, 162). One’s level of school is not the only thing employers are focusing on when looking to hire social workers. Along with one’s education, a social worker must have “a broad liberal arts base which includes a knowledge of the social sciences (sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, political science, and economics) to provide explanations about the nature of human society and the human condition” (Johnson, 48). There are many more skills that are just as essential, if not more beneficial, to the employer as well as client.
“Tuition costs of colleges and universities.” National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a part of the U.S. Department of Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013. .
Social work as a profession strives to help the welfare of those within the community whether its persons or families through advocacy. Often times clients are those who may be vulnerable and disadvantaged. Social workers aim to help people fulfill basic needs in their everyday lives and assist them by providing beneficial resources and intervention counseling. They do more than just help them in their current situation, it’s about helping them to survive and set attainable goals to live a fuller and better life for themselves, and most time for their families.
Zastrow, C. (2010). Introduction to social work and social welfare: Empowering people (10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
The career of a social worker is not as attractive to many because it’s not a field where you can make a lot of money right away. I want to make good living once I enter the real world, but I also want to have a purpose in life. I have always loved to help people. I am a very nurturing person and have always been passionate about helping others. I want to be able to make a difference in my community and the lives of other people. I also want to be a social worker because I want a career where I can have some diversity. I do not want a job where I must be confined to a desk to perform my job daily. Each day will be a different challenge as a social worker. I need to be involved in a field where I will not be bored and pushed to resolve the many
Social work practice has become a vital part of our society. They are found in almost every aspect of our community as well as our schools. Social workers are problem solvers that help people deal with daily issues that may become problems that affect them. As our society becomes more challenging, social workers help bridge the gaps for people who face extraordinary challenges in their lives. The social worker’s scope of practice may contain helping at risk or overwhelmed individuals find resources, develop new coping strategies, resolve problems and conflicts, and secure opportunities to improve their quality of life. (Flynn, 2013) Although the scope of practice is basically the same, there are various types of social workers with various levels of education. It doesn’t matter if you are a medical, clinical, school, military, psychiatric or community social worker, the goal is
The Five Most Popular Social Work Careers. (n.d.). Masters In Social Work Online Program Online MSW Degree MSWUSC. Retrieved February 1, 2014, from http://msw.usc.edu/mswusc-blog/the-five-most-popular-social-work-careers/
I strongly believe that my urge to become a social worker stems from the frightening idea of what would have happened with my grandmother as well as my own parents; had they not had someone helping them. I understand that not every older adult or young child has the good fortune of having family members care for them. I am also aware that some face neglect and more often than not, abuse from family members or those trusted to care for them. I feel that I can be an advocate for those older adults or children that are neglected or abused. I feel that the masters in social work program would give me the theoretical foundation as well as the intensive training that is necessary to become a successful social worker.
Of all the social sciences and helping profession, what sets social work apart is the mission to serve marginalized, historically underrepresented, and disenfranchised populations (Lum, 2011; Morales & Sheafor, 2004; National Association of Social Workers [NASW]. The social work profession and particularly social workers have to keep an eye on the voices of oppressed in our society, take an active stand against inequities, injustice, and make a commitment to changing the lives of individuals as well as institutions and society (CSWE, 2015).
Over the course of the semester, I have learned a variety of many things regarding social work. These things vary from learning how to help oneself to understanding how to help others. Not only were the textbooks very useful, but also the materials that furthered this textbook learning. The in class presentation, activities, and guest speakers gave us insight and a different perspective on the material we were learning. I feel like this course has given me a good foundation and prepared me as a future social worker (1).
The social work profession is defined as “a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people (ISFW, ‘Global Definition of Social Work’, 2016).” The definition may be true about the profession but it is more in depth than just that. To me, the profession’s primary focus is to help others through life as much as we can while letting them make their own choices and guiding them. In society, social workers are utilized in many different nonprofit and government roles. They serve the community in many different ways from monitoring parent visits to helping people through mental illnesses. Human beings are so complex and things that happen