Online Master of Social Work Degree
Distance learners know the standard benefits of online education: flexibility, convenience, affordability. One of the other perks of studying from an accredited online university is the accessibility of specialized degrees that might otherwise not be available to you from the campuses in your area.
Saint Leo University’s Master of Social Work is the perfect example for online students in the Virginia, Georgia, and Florida area. With an online graduate degree program in social work, students can get the training they need for a specialized career in social work, including mental health and substance abuse social workers; medical and public health care social workers; social workers in private practice; and other facets of the field.
A social worker’s job responsibilities may include:
- Helping people cope with or resolve issues in their daily lives
- Help clients with a disability or life-threatening disease
- Help with social problems such as unemployment, inadequate housing, or substance abuse
- Provide therapy for family and/or personal problems
- Serve as a link between students, families, and schools
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for social workers is varied depending on location. Highly populated areas with social worker programs available are impacted, while more rural areas and locations without social worker programs on hand–save the online social work degree method–are seeking qualified professionals to fill several positions. Social workers have exhausting work schedules but an ethical and rewarding occupation that maintains employee retention for decades.
Depending on if a social worker is employed by an elementary or secondary school, local government, state government, or family or residential services, earnings can range from $30k to $50k a year to start. Clinical social workers have even more lucrative benefits after licensure.
An online master of social work degree program will prepare students for the licensing and certification exams needed for practice in the States and District of Columbia. Most states require 2 years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience to qualify for a position. Typically, a minimum of 900 of these hours are completed through degree training.
Here are five interesting facts about the online master of social work degree from Saint Leo University:
- The online master of social work degree program is currently only offered to distance learners in Virginia, Georgia, and Florida.
- There are two concentrations: advanced clinical practice; and management.
- Those who enter the program during candidacy are eligible to take the clinical social work licensure exam and apply for jobs which require the MSW degree. Each student is responsible for checking with his/her state licensing board to see if this program meets the criteria for receiving a license in clinical social work in that state.
- Classes are attended via webcam and are presented online.
- Saint Leo University also offers a bachelor of social work degree program. Students may transition fluidly from the bachelor to master degree program.
Learn more about an online master of social work degree program today.
