Both master’s and doctorate levels exist for social work programs. The Masters in Social Work is intended for those that want to get a start on possible employment in this field. Those who want to go focus more on the academic aspect of the field, though, should go with the PhD program.
Humanistic and, of course, sociological topics are at the fore in a masters-type program. A couple of years shall suffice for this program. Master’s courses are typically given a lot of attention by scholarship-granting funds and institutions.
Every participant in a social work class is obliged to produce proof that he has done at least 900 hours of time putting his skills to good use in the field. You shall usually be asked to handle managerial and administrative work for social organizations. The ideal is for students to major in a specific subject in social works.
Students of masters in social welfare may also specialize in public policy, methodology or even psychotherapy. Generally, most students end up working in public and non-profit organizations in order to instill values in social planning and social changes. It is possible to sign up for a joint degree instead.
You can find accredited degrees by looking up the records of the group called the CSWE. The council’s list of accredited schools all boast excellent social work courses that can be continued with doctoral courses. Students are then able to finish their Masters program within a year’s time.
The doctoral program is intended for practicing social workers who want advanced studies on the field. Some schools, however, prefer to call a DSW a PhD. Either way, they stand for the same thing.
Professionals in the field of social work generally earn a doctoral degree to move their career into research and teaching. Because this is a research-focused life, the center of your world is going to be in analytical papers and publications, and not in the people actually being written about in those same publications. If you enjoy the idea of yourself as an instructor or published writer, get a doctorate.
The methodologies here have to do more with the evaluation of data on paper than right on the field. Like all other doctoral degrees, a DSW requires students to complete dissertations. You usually choose a topic that interests you, do extensive, probably year-long research on it, then compile that research into a single body of text.
You should set aside several years to finish the whole program: it is not going to be quick and easy. With a PhD, you shall usually stick behind the desk, but there are a few who choose to play exception to this rule. It might be an option for those who cannot choose either one to work in both town and gown, so to speak.
Those with masters in social work degrees can have CSWE accreditation, but not those in doctorates of the same discipline. Financial aid options are also not available in doctoral degrees. The admissions requirements for doctorate students are tougher too, demanding a strong academic background and better experience.