Working as a social worker or clinical social worker can be tremendously satisfying as you help those in need cope with their problems and become better able to participate in life with their families and communities. Although some social workers enter the workforce with a BSW degree, many more go on to master’s level study, where they may become licensed social workers and clinical social workers.
If your bachelor’s degree is in a subject other than social work, but you’ve decided you’d like to earn an MSW degree, have no fear: many programs are available that will accept students with degrees from other disciplines. Read on for more information about one-year MSW programs online with no BSW.
How to Get Into an MSW Program without a BSW
Although every college and university has its own admissions requirements, you will need a valid bachelor’s degree from an accredited school to enter any MSW program. Your undergraduate degree can be in an associated field, such as psychology or sociology, or a completely different field. Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in a similar field may be able to have some of their undergraduate credits count towards their MSW degree, decreasing the total number of hours required. You may also be able to waive certain course requirements in your MSW program if you’ve already earned a graduate degree in a similar field, such as a Master’s in Counseling.
Most schools require a GPA of 3.0 or higher, though this varies. You may have to submit a personal essay about yourself and your career goals and letters of reference. Some schools will also require you to take the GRE, and if English isn’t your first language, you’ll have to demonstrate your proficiency.
You’ll likely need to complete introductory social work classes before you can be admitted into an MSW program, as this will provide you with the foundation of knowledge that’s needed to keep up with graduate-level courses in this field. Courses in other subjects, such as communication and writing, may be prerequisites as well. Ask your admissions counselor what the requirements are for the school you are interested in.
The 8 Best One-Year Online MSW Programs (No BSW)
What You Can Do with an MSW
There are many career pathways you can follow with an MSW degree. Social workers may be employed by schools, courts, hospitals, or other social or healthcare agencies. Here are some jobs you may qualify for after earning your online MSW.
Nonprofit executive
Nonprofit executives are the CEO of clinics, social good agencies, and other organizations designed to help people. They may rise up through the ranks, beginning their career as active social workers until they are promoted to leadership positions. They may also hold degrees or have certificates in business, nonprofit management, or leadership. They make a median pay of $86,851 a year. Nonprofit executives design and implement strategic plans for their organizations. In some smaller organizations, individuals may have additional responsibilities, such as overseeing the daily operations of staff or handling the financial management of the organization’s funds. Fundraising may also be a large part of their job.
Community service manager
Community service managers coordinate and supervise staff at organizations engaged in social work. They may work for nonprofits, for-profit social service companies, or governmental agencies. The median pay of a community service manager is $74,000 per year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is growing faster than average, with a 12 percent increase in the number of managers by 2031. Community service managers may work for a single organization but generally interact with multiple agencies and other stakeholders on programming to help those in need. They are charged with designing and implementing efficient, cost-effective programs with positive, measurable outcomes. They may supervise staff and be involved in hiring and firing others.
Family social worker
Family social workers provide social services within a family setting. They may work with children, teens, and adults to help the family function better together and aid in the personal and academic growth of the children in the family. Family social workers work with foster or adoptive children and their prospective parents, with abused children, or with young parents learning to care for their children. Family social workers earn a median pay of $50,820. They may work with schools, nonprofits, or in private practice and may also help during investigations into the abuse and neglect of children. They may assist families in finding housing or food or help families handle red tape while applying for welfare or other support.
School social worker
School social workers are similar to family social workers in that they work extensively with children and their families. But they are school-based rather than agency-based, and they will also work with teachers, administration officials, and community members to ensure the best learning experience for students. School social workers are trained to provide individual and group counseling and therapy to address mental health and behavioral concerns. They may participate in assessment meetings, provide crisis intervention, and teach staff how to better handle the factors affecting each student’s behavior. They make an annual mean salary of $67,990 and often follow the school’s schedule, which means that they are off during the summer months and school holidays.
Healthcare social worker
Healthcare social workers work in hospitals, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, hospice centers, and clinics of all kinds. They may also be involved in home healthcare services or community agencies. These professionals provide support and counseling to individuals, families, and other groups when they are coping with disease or illness. They may advise doctors, nurses, and other caregivers and often serve as part of a healthcare team working with individual patients. They may provide assessments of a patient’s mental outlook, offer counseling and education to family members and others, and assist in discharge planning for patients leaving a hospital or other care facility. Their primary responsibility is to serve as a patient advocate, ensuring that the highest level of care is given. Healthcare social workers make a median salary of $60,280, although those in specialty situations can make considerably more.
Mental health counselor
Mental health social workers work in outpatient care centers, hospitals, and other care facilities treating substance abuse and psychiatric disorders. They may work with patients challenged by depression, bipolar disorder, or drug addiction, among other mental health issues. Being a mental health counselor is possible without being a licensed social worker. However, social workers are more likely to work with patients during times of trauma or stress, while mental health counselors work with stable patients who have undertaken counseling voluntarily. Mental health social workers may specialize in working with young people, the elderly, substance abuse counseling, or other specialties. Mental health counselors make an average salary of $70,756.