What can you do with a social work degree?

It’s a great time to become a social worker. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that the overall employment of social workers is projected to increase 7% between 2022 and 2032.

If you enjoy learning about mental health, and you are considering a career in child welfare and social services or other social work programs, you might consider enrolling in a Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) degree program. Some programs, such as those offered by the University of Phoenix, allow you to complete your coursework online along with required field experience in your state of residence.

BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.

As a social worker, you may potentially end up working in one of the most important social work fields out there: child protective services. These social workers help keep track of at-risk kids and provide counseling to ensure children stay in school, have adequate nutrition, live in safe homes and are protected from danger in their everyday lives.

Social workers with a Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) learn valuable skills for careers with organizations like child protective services or in the fields of child welfare, behavioral health and other social work programs.

According to My Majors, family protection specialists fulfill key roles in the mental health or social work field, such as assisting parents, executing successful adoptions and matching children without guardians to appropriate foster homes.

Sometimes they can play a pivotal role in connecting with young people during a crucial stage of their development. They might be asked to speak at school assemblies or one-on-one with students and teachers in an advisory capacity. They might help people address a range of important issues such as food insecurity, mental health concerns, teen pregnancies, juvenile delinquency, poor academic performance, higher education goals, behavioral issues or questions around entering the workforce.

As of May 2023, social workers earned between $37,900 and $85,590, with a median wage of $53,940, according to BLS.

Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of University of Phoenix. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. University of Phoenix does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement. BLS data is geographically based. Information for a specific state/city can be researched on the BLS website.

Foster care social workers assist children in their most urgent time of need, and that can potentially include situations involving abuse or the tragic loss of family members. These specialized social workers conduct background checks on potential foster parents and try to place kids in loving, supportive homes as soon as possible, sometimes within the hour.

This fast-paced, rewarding and competitive mental health field is a growing one, but many sources (including BLS) note that employers often require a BSW of any prospective social worker. 

Having a BSW (or BSSW) can help you prepare for opportunities as a case manager, depending on which agency is hiring. (Case managers often work in child welfare, behavioral or mental health or with public social services agencies.) Case managers can oversee a department of social workers, providing guidance and managing their teams.

Case managers may make sure mental health and social workers are managing caseloads effectively, following ethical guidelines, facilitating appointments and preventing waiting areas from becoming overcrowded. They are as essential to the mental health and social services fields as anyone.