A Master of Social Work (MSW) degree prepares social workers for advanced career opportunities and growth through individualized career paths. With an increase in demand for qualified social workers in clinical and community settings, earning a master’s degree creates the potential for greater impact and upward mobility in the field.
The online MSW program from Aurora University (AU) is designed for Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) graduates interested in more opportunities as well as working professionals ready to return to higher education. With flexible, career-focused online coursework, students gain the skills to assume specialized roles, lead initiatives, and advocate for individuals and communities. Discover the possibilities with an MSW and learn how AU’s online program can help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
What Is a Master of Social Work?
An MSW is a graduate degree that prepares professionals for advanced social work with a focus on direct practice, social justice, and community support. It equips students with the knowledge and advocacy skills to promote equality, influence policy, and improve the well-being of individuals, families and communities.
The online MSW program from AU emphasizes generalist social work practice, ensuring every student has access to the knowledge, foundational values, and skills necessary to work with a range of populations. Students will experience an MSW curriculum that includes:
- Human behavior and social environments
- Social work practice and theory
- Social welfare policy
- Social work research
- Field instruction and internships
Through this coursework, you’ll develop skills in clinical assessment, policy analysis, leadership, and ethical decision-making. The competencies prepare social workers to serve diverse populations in a range of settings.
Why Pursue an MSW Degree?
An MSW degree provides a strong foundation for a meaningful and gratifying career focused on improving lives, often within your own community. Career flexibility, increased salary potential, and leadership opportunities are more abundant with an MSW, enabling professionals to pursue a career path that aligns with their life, goals and values.
Graduates with an MSW qualify for a wider range of roles, specializations, and licensure options, including Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW). More advanced licenses, such as the LCSW, require supervised experience and passing scores on additional exams. These credentials open the door to greater autonomy, flexible schedules, and the opportunity to focus on the areas of social work that are most important to you.
Students in the MSW online program from Aurora University also have several curriculum tracks to choose from, equipping them to address various needs in the community. These tracks include the following:
- Addictions
- Child Welfare
- Forensics
- Gerontology
- Health Care
- Leadership Administration
- Military and Veteran Social Work
- School Social Work
Students can also opt for the MSW Advanced Standing option, which halves the courses, time, and cost of pursuing their degree. This variety of focus areas caters to students’ interests and the populations they aim to serve, as well as opens doors to a wide range of advanced social work roles.
What Jobs Can You Get With a Master’s in Social Work?
An MSW creates opportunities for leadership, private practice, and higher-level roles within the field of social work. Career paths for MSW degree holders include:
- Clinical and mental health roles: These roles include LCSW, mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor, and private therapist for individuals, couples, and families.
- Medical and healthcare social work: The medical and healthcare social work field is filled with in-demand, high-level positions, such as hospital social workers, palliative and hospice care social workers, behavioral health specialists, and discharge planners.
- School and youth services: School and youth services roles include public or private school social workers, child welfare specialists, and juvenile court counselors who provide support and supervision to young people involved in the criminal justice system.
- Community and policy roles: Community and policy roles for professionals with an MSW expand social impact through careers in nonprofit management, community outreach coordination, policy analysis and advocacy, and government and legislative work.
- Specialized or emerging fields: Fields experiencing growth within the social work sector include military and veteran social work, gerontological social work, forensic social work, and social work in corporate settings, such as HR support or Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).
Prepare for More Advanced Opportunities with a MSW
Discover how an online MSW can propel your career higher.
Explore DegreeMSW Career Growth and Salary Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects careers in social work to grow by 7% from 2023 to 2033, resulting in an average of 67,300 job openings each year. As of May 2024, the median annual wage for social workers was $61,330 for positions requiring undergraduate degrees. However, those with an MSW, licensure or advanced credentials can earn significantly more.
For example, a LISW earns an average annual salary of $81,448, according to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), while LCSWs earn $94,158, per ZipRecruiter. Specializing in areas like healthcare, substance abuse or mental health can further increase earning potential while allowing professionals to focus on their area of passion.
Career Advancement Opportunities With a Social Work Master’s Degree
Professionals with MSW degrees are positioned to take on high-impact roles in clinical practice, administration, leadership, research, and academia. Here are several common advancement opportunities for MSW graduates:
- Social work administrator: MSWs can transition into administrative roles where they oversee teams, shape organizational culture, and guide social work programs.
- Program director: Combined with professional experience, graduates can build, manage, and evaluate social programs within the community.
- Research and analysis: MSW holders can work on policy development, advocacy or social work research that impacts social work practice, impact, and engagement.
- Academic roles: MSW graduates can pursue teaching positions in social work programs at colleges and universities, instructing introductory or specialized courses in their area of expertise.
- Continuing education: There are many opportunities for continued education. These include doctoral studies that lead to advanced clinical practice, certifications in trauma-informed care, technological implementation and integration, and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
Begin Your MSW Journey
The online MSW and online MSW Advanced Standing programs from Aurora University provides expertise, flexibility and the career support you need to succeed in an impactful and vital field. With accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the program ensures a high-quality education designed to help you reach your professional goals.
Take the next step toward a rewarding career in social work. Apply to the MSW online program from Aurora University today.
