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Master of Social Work (MSW): Career Outlook

Promote Mental Health and Recovery

Pursue your passion for a more just and humane society with your online MSW degree. Gain the recovery values, approach, and tools to promote dignity, autonomy, and mental health among diverse populations in a variety of social work careers.

  • 12% JOB GROWTH FOR SOCIAL WORKERS BETWEEN 2020 AND 20301
  • SOCIAL WORKERS EARNED A MEDIAN SALARY OF $50,390 IN 20211
  • 23% JOB GROWTH FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, BEHAVIORAL DISORDER, AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS BETWEEN 2020 AND 20302

The curriculum is built to be a rigorous, yet flexible clinical training that allows you to maintain a comfortable work, life, and family balance while pursuing your academic and professional goals. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for their states’ licensure exams.

Social work careers are most often filled by individuals with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Social workers may need other credentials, such as a state-issued license or certification, depending on the state and the job. With clinical skills in compassion, empathy, communication, and problem-solving, you can seek a position as a hospital or psychiatric social worker, family therapist, substance abuse counselor, mental health policy analyst, private practice clinician, and more.

SOCIAL WORKER

$50,390/year

Social workers help individuals, families, and communities solve problems. Clinical social workers may also assess, diagnose, and evaluate treatment for mental illness. Social workers are found in many settings, such as health care, education, and government.1

SUBSTANCE ABUSE, BEHAVIORAL DISORDER, AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR

$48,520/year

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors work in health care or community-based settings to help people who suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, or other mental or behavioral problems. With the specialized coursework and experience from an MSW degree, these counselors can seek salaries of up to $77,980.2

Additional roles for MSW degree graduates:

  • Case Worker
  • Community Outreach Organizer
  • Criminal Course Liaison
  • Health Educator
  • Homeless Services Provider
  • Mental Health Clinician
  • Mental Health Policy Analyst
  • Private Practice Clinician
  • Social Work Program Planner

Request More Information

We’d love to get to know you and hear more about your educational and professional goals. If you’d like to learn more about one of our programs, fill out this form and we’ll be in touch:

Note: All fields required.

Program Outcomes: Aligned With the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

You’ll complete this program ready to address the following outcomes for clinical social workers:

  • Recognize every person’s basic human rights to freedom, safety, privacy, an acceptable standard of living, health care, and education.
  • Appreciate the nuanced ways that institutional and interpersonal traumas converge to marginalize and “other” the vulnerable.
  • Develop insight, self-care, and resiliency to prevent past traumas from impacting your professional life.
  • Implement evidence-based interventions informed by your expertise.
  • Understand how to improve mental health policy.
  • Help individuals find their own pathways to resilience and well-being through shared decision-making and treatment planning.
  • Assess clients’ strengths and limitations while considering their unique backgrounds and the DSM.
  • Support clients using trauma-informed interventions, including educating their family, friends, significant others, and allies.
  • Evaluate services in terms of achieving goals and remaining consistent with recovery values.

Career Support

Once you are accepted to Utica’s MSW degree online program, you will be paired with both a success coach and a career coach who will help you identify and apply for your ideal social work career. You can also take advantage of other career support options.

Beyond the Degree

We have the tools to help you make your next career move:

One-on-One Mentors

Work with your program director and professors for professional mentorship and support.

Job Search Assistance

Build your résumé, do mock interviews, and find new opportunities in your area.

Career Counseling

Have our experts review your résumé and LinkedIn and learn to stand out from the crowd.

Handshake

Register for events, create a visual profile for employers, and apply for jobs and internships through our online portal.

*View this grid to verify the licensure requirements in the state in which you plan to practice.

Sources

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Social Workers.” April 18, 2022. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm#tab-1. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.” April 18, 2022. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm#tab-1. Retrieved August 26, 2022.