At George Mason University’s College of Public Health, we believe in careers that make a difference. Being a social worker is one of those impactful careers. Not only does a professionally trained and skilled social worker have the capacity to transform lives at the individual level, but their work also creates a ripple effect throughout the entire community. Learn more below about what social workers do, how their work makes such a positive impact, and why it’s important to pursue a master’s degree.
What Do Social Workers Do?
There is no one set job description for a social worker. From working in schools with students, to private practice mental health and substance abuse clinicians, and those who specialize in gerontology or LGBTQIA+ youth and their families — social work is a vastly diverse field.
Social workers can take on a variety of roles, and one’s day to day tasks and responsibilities may look completely different than another social worker’s practice. However, they all have at least one thing in common: Social workers make a difference by helping people and communities address and navigate the problems they face.
Here are a few of their general, fundamental responsibilities:
- Identify individuals and groups in need of support
- Assess client needs, circumstances, and support systems
- Help clients adjust to changes and challenges in their lives, such as illness, relationship or family transitions, loss, unemployment, etc.
- Work with clients to set achievable goals, define intervention strategies to meet those goals, and follow up on outcomes
- Intervene in crisis situations involving abuse, mental health emergencies, or trauma
- Advocate for and connect clients to community resources like childcare, physical and mental health care, and public and private social services and resources
- Develop and strengthen programs, policies, and services that benefit clients and the broader society
- Provide psychotherapy services (if they’re a licensed clinical social worker)
Why Get Your Master’s Degree?
An MSW is often the minimum educational requirement for employment in supervisory, clinical, and specialty practice. Through specialized training received through Mason’s MSW program, students learn essential skills and strategies they can rely on throughout their careers. Graduates are prepared to help clients change negative behaviors, cope with challenging situations, and advocate for services or resources.
While there are many reasons to seek higher education in social work, it’s important to note that in Virginia (and many other states within the United States), a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from a CSWE-accredited program is required to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
Without certified licensure, an otherwise professionally qualified individual cannot visit homes, take on cases, or evaluate results that are gathered by other professionals in the field. An MSW is also the minimum educational requirement for employment in supervisory, clinical, and specialty practice.
LCSWs are able to take their professional training a step further by diagnosing and treating mental illness, behavior issues, and emotional problems. LCSWs can be found in private practice counseling settings with individuals, couples, and families, as well as working in and leading public and private agencies.
Although students of all academic backgrounds can pursue an MSW, those who have received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSW) within the last five years are eligible to apply for Mason’s Advanced Standing Program. Our Advanced Standing Program allows students to begin their studies during the summer semester and then move directly into the final year of the program.
Through supervised clinical practice, students in Mason’s Master of Social Work program earn 1,050 field practicum hours: 450 in their generalist year and 600 in their specialization year. In combination with Mason’s uniquely defined coursework, these field practicum hours prepare students to apply for the LCSW in Virginia.
Mason’s master’s level social workers can specialize in a specific population of practice: adults and healthy aging or children, youth, and families. Program experience focuses on both micro/clinical and macro/policy practice, resulting in an advanced degree that opens more doors for them and extends their reach throughout their communities and beyond.
The Growing Need for Social Workers
Social workers support those who are struggling, advocate for social justice, and improve communities with their work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the occupation is expected to rise faster than the national average from 2021 to 2031, with nearly 75,000 job openings projected each year.
According to a 2018 article in The Guardian, there is “a positive economic return when governments invest in social services.” They also report that communities with active social workers typically have a positive impact on crime rates, health statistics, school attendance, and employment. There’s no wonder why the profession is on the rise with the evidence that social workers truly make a difference in their communities.
When applying, there are often several funding opportunities for MSW students that are supported and encouraged by the community. For example, Mason offers the Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program (CWSP) in partnership with the Virginia Department of Social Services. The program provides $10,000 per academic year with a work payback program. Similarly, there is a Mason Community-Academic Partnerships in Behavioral Health (CAP-BH) stipend program, which offers a $10,000 stipend with additional required specialized behavioral health training.
Learn more about George Mason's CSWE-accredited Master of Social Work program, which prepares students to make an impactful difference through advanced social work practice.