Monday, March 12, 2012

The Masters in Social Work Compared to Its High-level Counterpart

People have at least two options when it comes to advanced social work diplomas. Students take up a Masters in Social Work in order to be able to tack on another credential to their resume when applying for jobs. Should the student desire a more theory and analysis-focused study, the doctorate awaits.

The masters class is intended to help students learn more about various policy trends and styles in social work. A Masters of Social Work can be completed within two years. There are a great many scholarships being given for this particular academic option.

Most programs ask too for just a little under 1000 hours of hands-on work from students. You shall usually be asked to handle managerial and administrative work for social organizations. You may choose a particular concentration for your studies to help sharpen your skills towards a goal.

You can find a number of concentrations in this course, from methodology down to health care. Since social work graduates are ones who would like to invest in society, they typically end up in charitable or philanthropic organizations. Other students seek joint degrees, usually in a health-related profession.

Social Work courses can be accredited by the CSWE. In fact, students who majored in a CSWE-accredited program have the option to further their educational status. You even have the choice of finishing your masters in just one year.

The doctoral program is intended for practicing social workers who want advanced studies on the field. There is no consensus on which is the better term: PhD or doctorate. Do not be confused into thinking they stand for different types of programs, however.

The usual areas of employment for people finishing a doctoral would be universities and think tanks. 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. The doctoral enables you to draw attention to yourself as a major thinker and analyst in the field.

Your classes are going to deal with techniques and concepts for assessment and investigation. There is a doctoral dissertation to consider, of course. This is a huge body of research of your own doing that is going to take up a great deal of your time.

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. Although it will be hard work, some professionals prefer the lifestyle of working part time both in the academe and in practice.

If you are hoping to get into a CSWE-accredited course for your PhD, think again, because that body only accredits masters in social work programs. Financial aid options are also not available in doctoral degrees. Longer years of working in the field as well as of study are valued when it comes to admissions for such programs, making them tough to enter.


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