Making a Difference
As a social work major, you will develop the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to make a meaningful difference for people through hands-on experience. You will conduct individual interviews, lead support groups, design real community intervention, write treatment plans, conduct research, make ethical decisions, engage with different cultures, analyze social policies, and work as in intern with real clients.
Find out if this degree is right for you!
Watch expert advice on how to succeed in this major + career options
Highlighted Career Paths
Graduates with a degree in Social Work have a wide array of rewarding careers before them. Check out some of the top careers students get with this degree or explore more career options in I-Plan.
Child Protection
Social workers who work in child protection investigate allegations of abuse, neglect, or abandonment, and intervene when children are in need of protection. Social workers often work closely with law enforcement, write court reports, and testify at court hearings. When working with families they assess parenting, child safety, and family needs. Social workers also provide resources to parents and families to minimize risk of harm to children when in their homes.
Corrections
Social workers who work in corrections may work with adolescents or adults who are incarcerated or on probation. A social worker may be a probation officer, case manager, or a therapeutic treatment provider in a jail, detention center, or prison. Corrections social workers try to minimize risk to the community and rehabilitate offenders. Social workers do this by holding their clients accountable, referring clients for treatment services, and coaching them in solving life problems.
Mental Health
Social workers who work in the area of mental health services may provide case management, group counseling, or individual therapy to clients who have a mental illness. They can work in an office where they meet with clients or they may work with the client in the client's home or community. Social workers assist clients in learning to manage mental illness by listening, problem-solving, providing resources, and advocating for their clients.
School Social Work
Social workers who work in schools often take on a therapy or case management role and address issues that get in the way of a student's ability to succeed in school. In a therapy role, social workers work with individual and small groups of students to address issues such as mental health, substance abuse, relationship difficulties, trauma, anger, and problem-solving skills. In a case management role social workers address poverty, child abuse, housing, hunger, and learning disabilities.
Getting Started in this degree
If you are interested in Social Work, start with one of the following major-specific courses. Students are required to apply to the Social Work Program and be accepted before they can declare Social Work as their major.