Are you looking to competently and efficiently promote social well-being and quality of life in your community?
West Virginia University's Master of Social Work is a graduate program designed for students who are interested in making a real difference in a variety of sectors — public and private, local and international.
The traditional careers that spring to mind when considering a MSW tend to be positions that focus on social policy or child welfare, however, this master’s degree prepares recipients for a variety of careers in a variety of spheres.
Below, we explore three career paths an MSW will prepare you to hold — jobs at the local, national, and international sectors.
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Housing and Community Development Director
Scope: Local
Housing and community development involves securing free or low-cost housing for low-income or homeless populations. An MSW prepares individuals for a position in this field.
A director of a program like this one needs to not only implement a program plan but must also craft criteria for admission, lead employees, and manage fundraisers. Ultimately, working as a housing and community development director can make a significant impact on homeless and poor communities, alleviating problems that stem from unsuitable housing.
Further, the job outlook for this position is positive: Over the next decade, opportunities in the field are projected to grow by 10 percent.
Public Policy Analyst
Scope: Local or National
A policy analyst considers the feasibility of and best practices for solving problems that beleaguer communities. They may also determine whether existing programs are the best solutions to these problems. As part of the job, policy analysts must use sophisticated modeling techniques and data analysis to ensure efficient, correct decision making.
Policy analysts can make a significant impact on a legislative level, determining which policies are the best ones to create real change in undeserved communities.
Employees in this position can also earn a comfortable salary — the mean annual salary for a policy analyst is $86,510.
Social and Community Service Manager
Scope: Local, National, or International
If you want to use your passion for serving others in a managerial capacity, you may want to consider a career as a social and community service manager.
This role can serve in several capacities, from managing nonprofits that serve isolated older adults to developing outreach programs for a food bank. Becoming a manager of one of these nonprofits or programs can help you make an important impact on the community or communities about which you are most passionate.
Further, this profession ensures you earn a fair wage for your work: In 2016, social and community service managers earned a median pay of $64,680 per year.
How You Can Earn a Master of Social Work
A Master of Social Work program from West Virginia University prepares compassionate people for careers that matter. Through WVU’s prestigious curriculum, students are prepared to succeed in purpose-driven careers.
If you want to make a difference, you don’t need to have an undergraduate degree in social work to be admitted to WVU’s MSW graduate program, making social work a graduate degree for career changers.
By the way, here at WVU, we know that choosing a graduate school can be stressful, but that's why we encourage you to request more information — so you can figure out if WVU is the school for you!
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