Masters in Social Welfare

Social Welfare is a policy degree that is research-intensive. Special emphasis is placed on social welfare issues like poverty, health, violence and aging. The purpose of research-based study is to prepare students for the writing and defense of an academic thesis. Social Welfare Master’s Programs can be completed in a minimum of two years, though you can pace yourself and take classes part-time if you currently have a job, a family or other responsibilities. If taking classes full-time, your first year will consist of courses and field instruction. The second year will be a concentration in social work practice. You will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge needed to perform your post-graduation employment with the utmost proficiency.

Since you need a bachelor’s degree to be accepted into a master’s degree program, you may already be using your undergraduate degree to work in the field of social services. In order to expand your employment opportunities and increase your pay range, you may want to further your education. In some cases, if you are employed in social welfare already, you can use your work experience to fulfill part of the field instruction portion of the graduation requirements. Other than that, you can complete most courses online from the convenience of home. This excellent option is perfect for self-motivated individuals who are good at working independently.

By completing your master’s degree in social welfare, you will be prepared for entry into advanced social work positions. For positions of teaching, policy analysis and research, students will need to go beyond a Masters in Social Welfare and earn a doctorate degree. In other welfare career positions, you will be granted positions of leadership if you are able to prove what you learned during your years of study.