What Degree Do You Need to Become a Social Worker?

As a social worker, you’re responsible for working directly with individuals or groups to address problems and help find applicable solutions. With additional credentials, you may also provide psychotherapy services. You help individuals deal with difficult situations and provide the necessary support so they can move through their lives with as much guidance as possible.

If you’re looking to start a career as a social worker, you first need to earn a degree. This article explains which degree or degrees you need to become a social worker, the different areas of study and types of social work, and how to continue your education and expand your social work knowledge.

What degree do you need to be a social worker?

To become a social worker, you typically must earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited program, per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [1]. A Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is sufficient for many social worker positions to begin your career. However, some states also require that you hold a license.

In addition to obtaining your degree from a program that is accredited and approved by the Council on Social Work Education, you also need to complete additional training and internships to prove to employers that you have relevant experience in the field.

If you’d like to advance to the role of clinical social worker, you’ll need a Master of Social Work (MSW). Beyond this, you must have a license and at least two years of experience, such as an internship. It’s important to note that you don’t need a bachelor’s degree in social work to become a clinical social worker—you can qualify with a bachelor’s degree in several related fields.

Read more: Your Guide to Social Work Degrees

Social work degree: What should I major in?

Before getting your MSW, you may complete an undergraduate degree in social work or a related field, such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, biology, or political science.

Possible majors for social workers

Below are some popular undergraduate majors for clinical social workers: 

• Social work: When you study social work, you learn about groups and individuals that need support and what you can do to help them, whether through research, counseling, therapy, or advocating for legislative change. You’ll learn to develop skills that can help you as a social worker, such as thinking critically, problem-solving, communicating well with others, and exercising compassion.

• Psychology: Psychology focuses on human minds and behavior. As a social worker, you assist individuals who need help with emotional and mental health problems. An undergraduate degree in psychology is a good place to start before eventually transitioning to an MSW.

• Sociology: In a sociology degree program, you'll study group and institutional behavior. As a sociology major, you examine trends of human behavior in groups and institutions and analyze your findings to determine how they affect society on a large and small scale. Sociology and social work studies may overlap because of the shared interest in social issues and human behavior. So, if you complete an undergraduate degree in sociology, you can eventually pursue an MSW with some knowledge of the field. 

Types of social work

Within your social work major, you may choose a specialty you are most interested in. Here are some examples of common social work specialties:

Family

Family social workers often work directly with children experiencing familial trauma. As a family social worker, you ensure that the child receiving care receives proper counseling, guidance, and support from the individuals around them. You may also facilitate foster placement, adoption, or the reunion of families and check in frequently to ensure the child is happy, healthy, and safe.

Addiction

As a social worker who specializes in addiction and substance abuse, you assist individuals by providing them with resources like counseling and rehabilitation programs designed to help them overcome their addiction. You may work in a hospital, rehabilitation facility, individual and family services center, or on a case-by-case basis through a social work agency.

School

When a child struggles with schoolwork or bullying and needs support, a school social worker may come in to provide it. As a school social worker, you work with the child in need of guidance as well as their family and teachers to provide a safe space for the child to improve within their academic environment, utilizing resources like therapy and tutoring.

Health care

When an individual is diagnosed or suffers from an illness or medical complication, they may need a health care social worker to support them through their struggles. In this role, you aid in the transitional process as a patient goes from a home setting to living in a medical facility or vice versa. 

You also support a patient’s emotional needs during their illness or medical diagnosis, as their mental health may be affected. You are there to give any assistance you can to either the patient or the patient’s family during that time, often providing a space to talk through the financial and logistical obstacles that may come with a medical diagnosis.

Social work jobs that don’t require a bachelor’s degree

Not every social work job requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Some examples of jobs related to social work that you may pursue without a college degree can be found below. 

Community health worker

As a community health worker, you work with individuals to get the help they need within the health care system. You also work within the community to secure resources such as housing, meals, and health screenings for individuals and families who need additional support. 

If you’re looking to become a community health worker, you typically need a high school diploma and may also require additional training. This training may come in the form of a certificate or associate degree and a training program, depending on the state you plan to work in.

Substance abuse counselor 

As a substance abuse counselor, you work directly with those struggling with addiction. You provide support by offering counseling, individually or in a group setting, and resources to help create recovery plans.

Some states may require a substance abuse counselor to complete a bachelor’s degree before getting a job. Still, others only require that you have obtained a high school diploma and some level of training or certification.

Social service assistant

In this role, you create action plans to help individuals struggling in some way, such as during an emotional crisis, with a mental health challenge, or while recovering from an injury. You will work directly with social workers to provide your clients with resources and emotional support during times of need. To qualify for this role, you'll typically need a high school diploma and on-the-job training, but some employers may require a related certificate or associate degree.

Case aide

As a social work case aide, you’ll work with case managers to organize and research cases in a health care or psychiatric facility. You are responsible for keeping clients’ files organized and up to date so social workers can get them the assistance they need. A high school diploma is generally sufficient for working as a case aide. However, an associate or bachelor's degree may give you an advantage over other candidates.

Group home caregiver

When working as a group home caregiver, you oversee individuals getting help in a group home setting. You provide care and support to those suffering from mental health issues, physical disabilities, or seniors with health concerns. For this role, you'll typically need a high school diploma.

Do I need a master’s in social work?

It would help if you had a master’s degree in social work to become a clinical social worker, as a nonclinical social worker only requires obtaining a bachelor’s. 

Clinical social workers typically work in a variety of public settings, such as hospitals, schools, mental health facilities, and treatment centers, dealing with patients who have more long-term issues. Meanwhile, nonclinical social workers often work in private settings and assist individuals with more standard problems that need solutions, such as career counseling or discussing school-related problems. 

An MSW usually takes two years to complete, depending on the university and its program. You must receive a degree from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

Once you have completed your degree, you must obtain a license in the state you intend to work in to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Each state’s criteria for obtaining a license is different; however, most require that you hold a master’s degree, pass the licensing exam in your state, and complete some level of training and fieldwork. The Association of Social Work Boards provides information on specific social work state licensure requirements to become a clinical social worker.

Learn more: 8 Jobs You Can Get with an MSW Degree

Getting started with Coursera

Consider courses and credentials to learn more about social work or build your skills within the field. Explore Social Work Practice: Advocating Social Justice and Change, offered by the University of Michigan, or Social Psychology, offered by Wesleyan University, both on Coursera.