SOCIAL WORK
WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK?
Social work is the study of how to help people in our society with major personal or social problems. These populations include the elderly, homeless and unemployed people, abused children, substance abusers, people with disabilities, juvenile delinquents, and the chronically- or terminally-ill. If you are interested in helping people, this major is a terrific place to start.
WHAT COURSES DO YOU NEED TO TAKE?
In your general education classes, you will probably have the chance to take a social science course in psychology or sociology that will give you a taste of what the study of social work is like. Some colleges offer social work-type courses in their sociology departments (sociology is the study of groups and how they interact). Other schools have specific social work majors. As a social work major, you'll learn about some of the grave problems plaguing society as well as how the government and private sectors have tried to address these issues with varying degrees of success. You will take classes that will prepare you to analyze social problems and design plans to help solve them. Many programs enable you to emphasize a specific area like mental health, health care, family services, children, substance abuse, and gerontology. Most social work majors also spend time doing outside internships and working in the field.
Here are some classes you might take as a social work major:
- Alcohol and Substance Abuse
- Child Development
- Families at Risk
- Fieldwork
- Gerontology
- Introduction to Social Work
- Legal and Ethical Issues in Social Work
- Social Welfare Issues
- Social Work Methods
- Social Psychology
- Statistics
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A SOCIAL WORK MAJOR?
Many undergraduates majoring in social work go on to work at public and voluntary agencies where they help people directly. Others go to work planning social policy, administering community organizations, or providing services in schools, hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities. Some job titles you could have include parole officer, caseworker, drug control officer, social group worker, and counselor. If you pursue a graduate social work degree, you could get a job as a certified social worker, graduate social worker, medical social worker, college professor, psychologist, or psychiatric social worker.