What are the Prerequisites for a Master’s in Social Work?

If you have ever considered attaining a graduate level education in order to pursue a career in social work, you'll need to first make sure you've satisfied the required prerequisites for a Master's in Social Work. By reading the information found below, you can obtain an answer to this question and several learn about what is required to enter into a graduate program in social work, and other information that pertain to the world of social work.

Social Work-A Brief Overview

Social work is a field dedicated to improving the human ability to solve complex social issues for the purpose of creating a more just, humane society. One of the primary purposes and/or strategies of social work is to emphasize the strengths of individuals, families and communities (as opposed to the weaknesses) so that they can play a role in devising creative solutions for social problems.

Featured MSW Programs

Prerequisites for a Master's in Social Work

If you are attempting to determine what the prerequisites for a master's in social work will be, you should note that each educational institution will have its own requirements. In broad terms, every accredited higher learning institution should require program candidates to attain a bachelor's degree in order to apply. However, some universities will have very specific, distinct requirements beyond this. For example, Fordham University requires applicants to have obtained a bachelor's degree from a college or university that has obtained regional accreditation, and students must also have acquired at least 18 undergraduate credits pertaining to liberal arts subject matter.

Yet another learning institution with specific requirements for the master's in social work program is Sacramento State University. This institution requires that students obtain a bachelor's degree and have a minimum of a 2.80 GPA within the last 60 semester units. Students must also have passed a human biology course with a grade of "C" or higher. The content for this course must include the examination of reproduction and heredity, metabolism, evolution, ecology, energy, as well as other subjects. The student must also obtain a score of "C" or higher in a statistics course emphasizing sampling, introduction to research methods, descriptive and inferential statistics, and probability distribution.

The GRE (Graduate Records Examination)

The GRE is an exam that helps evaluate a student's preparedness to handle graduate level work by examining factors such as verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Because the GRE is required by many graduate level institutions, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the form and content of the GRE exam so you can earn a competitive score.

Careers In Social Work

Once you obtain the master's in social work, there will be a plethora of career options available to you. One such career is that of a social and community service manager. These individuals are responsible for the coordination and supervision of community organizations and social service programs. To accomplish these objectives, they lead and direct staff members who offer social services to the general public. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, social and community service managers can expect to earn about $59,970 annually.

If you have given consideration to attaining a master's degree in social work, you should know that each educational institution will have its own set of unique requirements. Since this is the case, it will be your responsibility to research the specific requirements of the learning institution you plan to attend. Now that you have an answer to the question, "What are the prerequisites for a master's in social work?," you can determine whether pursuing this educational path would be appropriate and advantageous for you.