Career Outlook
If you are interested in a satisfying people-oriented career, you may wish to consider the profession of social work. Social workers practice in a variety of situations helping individuals, families, groups, and communities to resolve problems. A social worker uses professional skills and human understanding to help individuals function effectively in today’s changing world. Just a few of the settings in which social workers practice are mentioned in the list below. Social work offers a challenging career because of the many different types of client groups with which social workers interact. The job openings for graduates of undergraduate social work programs have been and will continue to be quite good. Employment opportunities are equally good for men and women. The Social Work Program at Ole Miss prepares students for both beginning practice and for graduate education in social work. For those going on to graduate school, it is often possible to enter a one-year accelerated master’s program.
Salaries
Although salaries vary, starting salaries in public agencies are a good guide. Current annual starting salaries for bachelor’s level social workers in the public sector in Mississippi are approximately $25,000. A recent survey indicated that about a third of bachelor’s level social workers (B.S.W.) made over $30,000 annually. A master’s degree will almost always improve earning potential. According to the same survey mentioned above, about one third of master’s level social workers (M.S.W.) made more than $40,000 annually.
Below are some career opportunities for students who graduate with a Bachelor of Social Work degree:
- Child Protective Services
- Foster Care/Adoption Services
- Family Preservation Services
- Hospital Social Services
- Home Health Care
- Specialized Medical Settings
- Public Health Services
- Substance Abuse Services Corrections Services
- Youth Court Services
- Gerontology Services
- Gero-Psychiatric Social Work
- Psychiatric Hospital Social Work
- Therapeutic Group Home Services
- Services for Developmentally Disabled
- School Social Work
- Community Mental Health Practice
- Medical Social Work in Clinics