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The Benefits of Pursuing a Social Work Online Degree

There are many reasons why pursuing an online degree in social work might be the right fit for you and your career aspirations. If you desire a job with a greater sense of purpose, but also want to balance work, school, and other obligations, enrolling in an online social work program could be just what you need.

An online degree in social work is a great option for students who want to help others as their career but don’t have the time or ability to attend on-campus classes. An online degree program can be completed in about two years. Most programs begin with general education courses like English and math, followed by classes that specialize in either clinical social work or public social work.

Below, we will explore the benefits of pursuing an online degree in social work, what it takes to become a social worker, and common job titles after completing one of these programs.

Deciding on an Online Degree in Social Work

Before you jump in head-first and pick out classes for an online social work degree program, it’s important to consider why you want to study social work in the first place. Social workers assist people who are dealing with a wide range of issues, including poverty, mental illness, and child abuse.

While most states don’t require social workers to have a bachelor’s degree, the American Association of Social Workers (AAASW) recommends that students have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work to be certified as social workers.

It’s also important to note that while a bachelor’s degree in social work is the minimum, earning a master’s degree in social work will help you obtain a higher-paying job, open up more career opportunities, and qualify you for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

If you want to pursue an advanced degree in social work, you can enroll in an online program. This allows you to complete the program from home, which is particularly helpful for students with children, a job that requires travel, or other obligations that make attending classes in person difficult.

Degree Benefits for Students Interested in Social Work

If you enroll in an online social work program, you’ll have the opportunity to gain a wider range of skills as a future social worker. Many of the general education courses you’ll take as part of your online social work degree program apply to multiple professions, but classes that specialize in social work can help you gain skills that are specific to the field.

Some of the benefits of pursuing an online degree in social work include:

Helping people in need: While many jobs provide some level of service to others, very few professions provide the same level of assistance as social work.

Flexibility: Since you can complete your online degree in social work from the comfort of your own home, you can fit your coursework around your other obligations.

Variety: A social work career offers a wide range of job opportunities, so you can choose to specialize in a specific area.

Advancement potential: With the right amount of experience and education, you can advance your career and earn a higher salary.

Continuing your education: Even if you’ve completed an online social work degree program and become a licensed social worker, you can still pursue additional coursework to advance your career.

Sustainability: Due to the growing demand for social workers, especially specializations like child and family social workers, you can expect a steady stream of work for years to come.

How to Become a Licensed Social Worker

Before you can enroll in an online social work program, you’ll need to become a licensed social worker. There are multiple paths to licensure, including earning a master’s degree in social work, earning a bachelor’s in social work, earning a bachelor’s in another field, and then completing a master’s in social work.

Whether you choose to pursue an online social work degree or a bachelor’s in social work, you’ll need to meet a few basic requirements.

  • You must be at least 18 years old.
  • You must have a high school diploma or GED. Some states may require that you have a certain GPA to qualify for social work licensure.
  • You must complete the application process and pay the applicable fees.
  • You must pass the ASWB BSW or LSW exam.
  • You must provide proof of your education and credentials.

Job Titles for Graduates of Online Social Work Programs

Depending on which specialization you pursue, you can expect to earn between $37,675 and $47,931 per year as a social worker. Once you’ve completed an online social work program, you can expect to see above-average job growth over the next decade as well.

Some of the most common job titles for graduates of online social work programs include:

Child and family services – Child and family services workers help families that are struggling with poverty and child abuse.

Health associate – Health associate workers help patients attain the health outcomes they desire by connecting them with the services and resources they need.

Job and Family Services: Job and family services workers help people find employment and connect with the support they need to succeed in their new jobs.

Social and human services – Social and human services workers assist individuals and families with government benefits, job training, and various other resources.

Social work – Social work is a general term that can encompass a variety of different fields.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why pursuing an online degree in social work might be the right fit for you and your career aspirations. If you desire a job with a greater sense of purpose, but also want to balance work, school, and other obligations, enrolling in an online social work program could be just what you need.

An online degree in social work is a great option for students who want to help others as their career but don’t have the time or ability to attend on-campus classes.

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