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What Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree is Right for You?
Jessica Dickenson Jan 24, 2025
The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic needs of all people. Social workers fight for social justice and improve the lives of individuals and communities across the United States.
Not everyone has the privilege of waking up each day knowing their work has the power to create a meaningful impact. For those who aspire to make a lasting difference, earning your MSW degree offers you a pathway to a unique and fulfilling career. By choosing this path, you’ll not only transform individual lives but contribute to shaping a brighter, more compassionate future for entire communities. Earning your MSW presents you with the opportunity to make a real difference.
What can you do with an MSW?
While the field of social work has evolved to become more diverse and specialized, core master’s degree courses prepare you for a wide variety of job possibilities.
Mental Health
- Behavioral Health Therapist
- Mental Health Social Worker
- Psychiatric Social Worker
- Psychosocial Coordinator
- Residential Therapist
- Substance Use Disorder Clinician
- Suicide Prevention Specialist
- Therapist
- Victim Advocate
Medical Social Work
- Home Health & Hospice Social Worker
- Hospice Social Worker
- Medical Social Worker
- Oncology Social Worker
- Residential Treatment Coordinator
- Social Work Case Manager
Children, Families, and Aging Services
- Adoption Social Worker
- Adult Protective Services Worker
- Child Protective Services Supervisor (CPS Social Worker)
- Domestic Violence Advocate
- Family Protection Specialist
- Family Resource Coordinator
- Family Service Worker
- Foster Care Social Worker
- Gerontology Social Worker
- Pediatric Social Worker
- School Social Worker
- Veteran Affairs (VA) Social Worker
- Youth Specialist
Employment of social workers is expected to increase across all specialties by 7% between 2023-2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. News and World Report scores social workers an 8 out of 10 in terms of future growth. Among available BLS occupational groupings, employment of mental health and substance abuse social workers is expected to rise the fastest (12% growth).
If you love people and want to make a difference in their lives, social work may be a great career choice.
Learn More About Our MSW Degree
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
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