Masters in Social Work (MSW) is a post-graduation course that teaches macro-, meso- and micro- aspects of professional social work practices in society. Further, it offers professional opportunities in direct practice and makes you a licensed social worker. Also, this paves way for lucrative jobs and advancements in the sector.
The Masters in Social Work degree takes 2 years to complete. It is available as both a full-time and part-time course. Moreover, the correspondence course can be completed in 5 years of time. The popular distance institutes for Masters in Social Work are Delhi University (DU), IGNOU, Yashwantrao Chawan Maharashtra Open University Nashik (YCMOU), etc.
The average fee of the Masters in Social Work course in regular mode is INR 20,000 to 2 lakh. In addition, the private institutes charge a higher fee when compared to government colleges. While the fee in correspondence mode is approximately INR 40,000 to 50,000. After completion of the Masters in Social Work course, you have various opportunities like working government sector, healthcare, private institutes, and NGOs. Thus, the average salary you can expect after Masters in Social Work is INR 3-4 lakh per annum. Over the years your salary can increase up to INR 10 lakh per annum after 8-9 years of work experience.
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In this blog, we have covered everything you need to know about the Masters in Social Work course. For more information, counselling or admissions contact us at ForeignAdmits.
Eligibility for MSW
The basic eligibility criteria required for Masters in Social Work admission are:
- Firstly, a bachelor’s degree from a recognised institute with an aggregate of 55% marks.
- Secondly, the undergraduate degree is preferred in Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). However, the candidate can hold a degree in Arts and related subjects like psychology, social work, and sociology.
- Thirdly, some institutes also accept students from science, engineering, management, and other backgrounds.
In addition, you also need to possess excellent communication skills. Some other skills that are required for Masters in Social Work are critical thinking, social perspective, good listening skills, integrity, self-awareness, tolerance, persuasion, coordination, ability to set boundaries, emotional intelligence, and empathy.
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Syllabus of MSW
The core subjects and concepts covered in the Masters in Social Work course are mentioned below:
- Social casework
- Introduction to the Social work profession
- Social group work
- Dynamics of human behaviour
- Study of Indian constitution
- Analysis of Indian Society
- Study of Indian economics
- Block placement
- Social work research and statistics
- Personal and professional growth
- Social work with the rural, urban and tribal community
- Labour welfare and legislation
- Communication and counselling
- Human resource management
- Introduction to disaster management
- Medical and psychiatric social work
- Social policy, planning, and development
- Women and child development
- Community organisation
- Social work approaches for social development
- Criminology and correctional administration
- Social work administration
In addition, there is a lot of fieldwork that will help you gain professional experience and show you a glimpse of the professional environment. Moreover, the fieldwork includes social work camps, summer placements, and study tours.
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Top Institutes in India
Some of the top institutes that provide the Masters in Social Work Degree are:
- Delhi University, New Delhi
- Tata institute of social sciences, Mumbai
- Madras school of social work, Chennai
- Rajagiri College of social work, Kochi
- Loyola College, Chennai
- Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
- Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
- Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- Christ University, Banglore
- Central University of Rajasthan, Ajmer
Since most of the above-mentioned Universities are private institutes they have a high fee in the range of INR 1-2 Lakh per annum. Also, some of these universities conduct their own entrance examinations for admission like the Delhi University Skills Assessment test, BHU PET, TISS NET, etc.
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Scope after Pursuing MSW
After completing the Masters in Social Work course the student can either pursue higher education or apply for a job. However, the jobs that are available in the field of social work are discussed below. The sectors in which Masters in Social Work graduates can search for jobs are NGO’s, educational institutes, the government sector, rural areas, and international companies. Moreover, some of the common areas of work are health industries and hospitals, old age homes, mental hospitals, gender issues NGOs, counselling centres, disaster management, clinics, educational sector, correction cells, management companies, and prisons.
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However, the highest-paid job for Masters in Social Work degree holders is that of a professor with an annual income of 4 lakh per annum. The next high paid jobs in line are case manager, counsellor, program manager, and project coordinator.
In addition, in the government sector you can work in the following departments ensuring the obligation of basic policies Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Law & Justice, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Ministry of Social Justice & Employment, and Ministry of Women & Child Affairs.
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However, to apply for a professor’s job in central or state sector you should qualify UGC NET or SET examination. Some of the top recruiters of Masters in Social Work candidates are:
- Department of Rural Development
- CINI
- UNESCO
- CRY
- UNICEF
- KISS foundation
- HelpAge India
- Teach for India
- Goonj
The job roles that Masters in Social Work candidate can take up after post-graduation are:
- Consultant
- Counsellor
- Program manager
- Professor/lecturer
- Project coordinator
- Documentation specialist
- Case manager
- Social worker
- Community health worker
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the core values of social work include compassion, fostering dignity, and promoting strong human relationships. If you think you have these, then you should definitely work to achieve a degree in Social Work. Thus, it is important to promote individuals, communities, and societies.
To secure a seat in top institutes for a masters in social work, contact us now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is Masters in Social Work a decent career path?
Ans. Yes, MSW students have good job possibilities. Candidates who complete the MSW program are hired by the government’s welfare department or by various non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Q2. What is the best MSW degree?
Ans. Applicants with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree are recommended for MSW entrance. Applicants who have qualified from social science and humanities fields, however, are also qualified for MSW programs.
Q3. Who may pursue a master’s degree in social work?
Ans. This program is often taken by students who’ve already completed their undergraduate course in social work or a comparable field. Furthermore, any student with a minimum of 55% average in their graduation can register for this program.
Q4. Is social work a difficult degree to obtain?
Ans. Social work is among the simplest professions to get wrong and among the most challenging to get right.
Q5. Can I pursue an MBA after completing my BSW?
Ans. Yes, after completing the BSW program, you can pursue an MBA in Hospital Management. Applicants who have graduated from a recognized university are qualified to obtain the MBA entrance test.