It’s hard finding a rewarding career that is also not mentally draining you by the end of the day. Supposedly, only people who love their work get to experience that, and even then, only on some days. However, we are of the opinion that a wholesome career can be found in another way – by helping people who need it the most.
We’re not quoting philosophy here, it is very possible with a Masters Degree in Social Work. This course can take your career to the next level, putting good money in your account while doing work that is emotionally rewarding. Read on to know more about this course, who can take it, its benefits, and much more.
The Master of Social Work course is a postgraduate course that most graduates can pursue after completing their bachelor’s degree course. Generally, it is taken for a duration of 2 years and is in the semester system. We say generally because they can vary, depending on a few factors like the mode of classes – online programs may take shorter or longer.
Refer to the table below to get a general overview of the main features of Masters in Social Work programs.
| Program Name | Master of Social Work (MSW) |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Mode of Examination | Semester System |
| General Eligibility | Graduation with 50 per cent marks |
| Average Fees | 20K -2 LPA |
| Average Salary | 3 – 5 LPA |
| Areas of Work | Counseling Services, Child Welfare Services, Community Mental Healthcare, Social Services, Healthcare, Disaster Management, CSR |
| Top Recruiters | Fellowships, Franchises, Non-Profit Organizations, Schools, Private Institutions, Governments (State and Local), Colleges and Universities, Private Practices/Firms, Foundations and Trusts, Hospitals, Military |
The eligibility criteria for MSW courses may change slightly from college to college, depending on various factors. At Cheran Arts Science College, the eligibility criteria for admission to our social work masters programs are as follows:
This can be counted as one of the benefits of a master of Social Work degree too – there are various areas that you can choose to specialize in. What that’ll do is allow you to get more salary than your unspecialized peers in the same post at work. Below are some of the common specializations you can find in a Master of Social Welfare or MSW course.
We’re sure that you’ll come to guess a few benefits of doing a postgraduate course like MSW on your own if you think about the relationship between social work and public health. Some of the ones that we think are worth mentioning are discussed below.
Working with vulnerable people will help you take a personal, hands-on experience with people who’ve been through a lot. Helping them through their pain will provide you with insights into the various things that affect the mental health of people, and many other things. This will not only make you more empathetic in your work, which is the goal of social work anyway. You’ll be able to serve people better and react to your own ups and downs better.
A master’s in social work can land you roles across various industries as people workers are necessary for almost every field. The transferable skills you learn, whether they’re specialized or not, will stay relevant across fields. For example, if social work in public health is your specialization, it will be a determining factor for recruiters across fields like clinical research, hospitals, community service, etc.
Some of the top companies that actively recruit MSW graduates are listed below.
As social workers can find opportunities within both government and private industries, they often have the freedom to choose the highest-paying one among them. In the government sector, the average salary of an MSW graduate ranges from INR 3-7 LPA, while for the private sector, it is about INR 4.3 LPA.
Refer to the graph below to get an idea of the average salaries of some top positions that some master of social work counselling skills can get you.
(Source: Self-created)
While most other high-paying jobs are bound to leave you mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted by the end of the day, a social work gig won’t. The personal fulfillment and satisfaction that comes from helping fellow human beings do a little better is incomparable to anything else in the world. And this feeling is consistent no matter which field you work in, or whether you graduated from a medical social work program, or more community-service based.
A masters degree in social work is not only emotionally and mentally rewarding but financially too. On top of that it offers the freedom to choose a specialized field you’d like to pursue for your career, which also has the side-effect of raising your profile to employers looking to hire in those fields. Check out the MSW programs at Cheran University if you think this degree might be what you really need out of an ideal career.
1. Is there scope for further study after MSW?
Yes. You could opt for an M.Phil or PhD in Social work after completing your MSW. However, most people generally look for jobs after completing their postgraduation in social work unless they are really keen on research.
2. Which government agencies hire social workers?
Lots of government agencies hire social workers to implement schemes across this large country of ours. Some common examples include the Ministry of Social Justice, Child Vision Foundation, Ministry of Women & Child Affairs, etc.
3. What are some of the core subjects common across most MSW courses?
Some of the core courses common across most MSW courses include Human Rights Legislation, Sociology for Social Work, Counseling and Guidance, Social Work with Communities, etc.
4. Can I do an MSW without a Bachelor in Social Work (BSW)?
Yes. Most graduate students are eligible for an MSW, so you can do an MSW without BSW.
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