What Jobs Can You Get With a Social Work Degree?

Students earning a child and family specialization learn how to advocate for children, recommend child welfare services, and develop programs for children and families. Learners examine youth development, the needs of vulnerable children, and best practices for interventions. Coursework also emphasizes legal and ethical requirements for child and family social work.

Graduates with a child and family specialization often pursue careers in child protective agencies, youth welfare services, and the juvenile justice system. Many of these social workers also pursue clinical training.

Career Options for This Specialization: Adoption social worker, child protective services social worker, children's services specialist, family service worker

Clinical social workers diagnose and treat clients. A clinical concentration prepares social work students to examine mental health interventions. Learners explore the assessment process and gain evaluation skills. Degree-seekers learn to provide individual and group therapy. Coursework emphasizes core social work practices including case management, advocacy, and direct services. Students also examine social services and assessment practices.

Students earning a clinical specialization focus on areas such as mental health and social justice advocacy Other options include multigenerational families, community services, and child welfare. Learners complete supervised fieldwork in clinical settings. Graduates often pursue licensure as a clinical social worker.

Career Options for This Specialization: Clinical social worker, licensed clinical social worker

Aging and geriatric social workers help older clients navigate their general health, mental health, and social service needs. This specialization explores the social safety net for older adults. Learners also examine reporting systems for elder abuse and care-planning issues. Students learn about community services for older adults, family based approaches, and social justice issues for the elderly.

Students complete field experience in long-term care, hospice, or elderly care services organizations. This specialization prepares students to work with older adults and their families.

Career Options for This Specialization: Geriatric social worker, hospice and palliative care social worker

Many social workers pursue careers in the healthcare field. Coursework in a medical and health specialization emphasizes the mental health and social service needs of patients in the medical system. Students learn about services for people with chronic illnesses and those in acute care settings. Learners may focus on oncology care, pediatrics, or palliative care.

Medical and healthcare social workers advocate for clients and coordinate with healthcare providers. Students in this field explore intervention research, best practices for social workers in healthcare settings, and the needs of various patient populations.

Career Options for This Specialization: Healthcare social worker, medical social worker, hospice social worker

A school social work specialization prepares learners for careers offering social welfare support in educational settings. School social workers conduct developmental assessments, provide counseling services, and intervene in crisis situations. In addition to working with children, these professionals coordinate with parents and school staff.

This concentration features coursework on the social and emotional needs of children. Students learn how to help children build mental health skills. The concentration emphasizes a team-based, community approach. Students complete an internship or practicum in a school setting.

Career Options for This Specialization: School social worker, school counselor

This specialization emphasizes addiction treatment and recovery approaches. Students learn how to conduct substance-use disorder screenings and assess each client's needs. Learners also explore recovery services and study counseling approaches for substance-use disorders.

Learners examine case-management techniques, the referral process, and current research. Degree-seekers also learn how to create recovery plans and work with clients in individual and group settings. Most programs feature a supervised internship experience in an outpatient or inpatient recovery setting.

Career Options for This Specialization: Substance abuse social worker, addiction social worker, substance abuse counselor

Graduates with a military and veteran concentration help service members, veterans, and their families cope with the stress of deployment and reintegration into civilian life. Students explore the social services network for military personnel. Courses also cover social work approaches to military issues, including mental trauma, anxiety, and loss.

This specialization typically requires coursework in psychosocial issues related to military service, job-search resources for veterans, and military culture. Degree-seekers prepare to offer mental health support for military personnel, intervene during crises, and provide family counseling.

Career Options for this Specialization: Military social worker, Veterans Affairs social worker

Social work students can pursue a specialization in justice and corrections, criminal justice, or forensics. These concentrations prepare learners for careers in the legal system. Students learn to conduct mental health evaluations and recommend custody and guardianship arrangements. They also provide expert testimony in court.

Coursework explores topics related to the corrections system, including juvenile justice, probation, and parole. Learners examine the relationship between law and social services. Most programs feature an internship or practicum. Graduates often pursue careers in victim assistance programs and correctional facilities.

Career Options for This Specialization: Forensic social worker, corrections counselor, crisis worker, victim advocate