Introduction: Social Work studies have become a career choice for many individuals who want to take the professional road which includes helping community and individuals live a better life. The Social Work is one of the academic disciplines and profession that focus on solution for individuals, families, groups and communities who are in some kind of distress and need someone to intervene to solve their problem.
Bygone are the days when the same was considered just as helping the poor and the needy by distributing goods they need. The profession itself has taken up scientific and logical approach to solve social problems by designing interventions. It now put efforts to make individuals, society and community empowered enough to solve their own problems.
The key applications that the social work uses is Psychology, Sociology, Political science, law, economics and Public Health. Utilizing the power of these fields a social worker is able to assess situations and design solution for them which are also known as interventions.
Fostering change is not easy therefore the social development sector requires qualified individuals who could work closely within an intervention program and contribute its knowledge to achieve desired changes.
It is safe to say that, might be the social work industry was developed in 19th century but it has now grown into a mammoth sector itself. There are individuals and organizations working continuously towards some cause or the other. If one chooses to make a career in social work then it will be a good choice because now there is organizations equivalent to corporate for employability.
Organizations working in social development zone
There are both national and international organization that requires professionals for various roles and responsibilities. Some examples of organizations that are active are UNICEF, CARE, UNDP, Bill and Milinda Gates foundation, Mama Cash, PHFI, Palladium Group, National Rural Health Mission, TCIF foundation, HLFPPT, ICAR, Room to read, Hero foundation, HDFC bank, NACO, etc.
These are just few organizations just to mention them here, rather, there are almost unlimited (thousands) organizations that work and absorb professional social workers in India as well as abroad.
What areas are catered through interventions in social work?
Almost every area of life is touched by the interventions to help the beneficiaries, where there is a problem there is an intervention. To make your understanding more clear here are some of the areas where the programs are implemented which are as follows Child care, Child Labor issue, Girl child care, Poverty, Slums, Illiteracy, Agriculture, Livelihood, Disaster Management, Water Shed Management, Public Health, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) detection and Treatment, Leprosy, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Women Empowerment, Community Health, Community Development, Micro financing for small business owners, village development, community radio, community college, prostitution, trafficking, Environment, Ecological Interventions, Rural Entrepreneurship, Rural Development, etc.
We think these would suffice to help you decide for your career path. One thing we would also like to mention that this sector is one of the sectors which is equivalent to corporate in terms of employability, so don’t take it for granted.
How do I become a professional social worker?
There are two ways to join the same field. First is if you are a 12th passed student than you can pursue Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and if you are already a graduate then Master’s in Social Work should be your choice.
There are higher academic degrees also like Master’s in Public Health and Doctorate degree which we will discuss both later in the article.
- Bachelor Degree: Also known as Bachelor in Social Work (BSW) this is base course for your career which could be pursued just after the 10+2. This course is available for both full time and in distance education mode.
Eligibility for BSW: Pass Certificate of 10+2 from a recognized board with 50% aggregate passing marks.
- Master’s Degree: Master’s in Social Work (MSW) or MA Social work is a post graduation degree which could be pursued after a normal graduation degree. Many students who complete BSW also like to go for MSW. This course is available for both full time and in distance education mode. Specialization available are Industrial Relation and Labour Welfare, Urban & Rural Community development, Family Welfare, Child Welfare, Correction administration etc.
Eligibility MSW or MA Social Work: Under graduation completion degree from any stream with aggregate 50% pass percentage.
- Ph.D in Social Work: Those who are interested in having a doctorate degree and want to pursue a career as a professor can go for a Ph. D program.
Eligibility Ph.D: For doctorate degree students has to have Master’s degree in social work with 50% pass aggregate percentage. One also has to clear a university level entrance exam for the purpose of admission.
Learn how to complete a Ph.d Degree in India (Full Article): https://careerstar.in/phd-in-india/
- Master’s in Public Health: For those enthusiast who has keen interest in the area of Public Health can pursue the Master’s in Public Health. The course is also available both in full time and through distance learning also.
Eligibility Master’s in Public Health: Post graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university with 55% aggregate marks with few years of experience in Public Health domain.
Learn more about Master’s in Public Health (Full Article): https://careerstar.in/masters-in-public-health/
Career Prospects for Social Work
The career prospects after the course is infinite. You could choose from wide variety of area like we already mentioned above and we repeat it again Philanthropy Organizations, Child care, Child Labor issue, Girl child care, Poverty, Slums, Illiteracy, Agriculture, Livelihood, Disaster Management, Water Shed Management, Public Health, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) detection and Treatment, Leprosy, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Women Empowerment, Community Health, Community Development, Micro financing for small business owners, village development, community radio, community college, prostitution, trafficking, Environment, Ecological Interventions, Rural Entrepreneurship, Rural Development, etc.
The recruiters are Private organizations like NGOs, Schools, Colleges, Rehabilitation centers, Old Age Homes, Government Training Centers, National Rural Health Mission, International organizations, Trusts, Foundations, Livelihood government Programs, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Community Health Centers, Urban Health Centers, Human Rights organizations, Anti Trafficking organizations, Hospitals, Mental Health Centers, Hospitals, Mobile Health Clinics etc.
Salary Packages of Social Workers
As a fresher you could take home anywhere about INR 15000/= to 25000/= per month depending upon your academic background and organizations you have joined. Perhaps it is just the starting with experience and increase in level of designation you could go up to the level of INR 80000/= a month.
There are organizations that are interested in really capable individuals who have sound skills to lead interventions whereas also raise funds for the organizations for future program.
Designations like Team Leaders, Project Managers, Project Directors and Country Directors have a good salary package. Having said that, one has to be of that caliber to take up such high positions.
Top Social Work Colleges/Institute in India
- Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
- Xavier Institute of Labour Relations, Mumbai
- Department of Social Work, Lucknow University, Lucknow
- Department of Sociology, Mumbai University, Mumbai
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
- Roda Mistry College of Social Work & Research Centre, Hyderabad
- Department of Social Work, Jamia Millia Islamia Delhi
- Department of Social Work, Pune University, Pune
- Department of Social Work, Annamalai University, Chennai
- School of Social Work, Mangalore University, Mangalore
- IISWBM, Calcutta
- College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai
- Loyola College of Social Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram
- Department of Social Work, Christ College, Bangalore
- Karve Institute of Social Service
- Faculty of Social Work, MS University of Baroda
- Madras School of Social Work, Chennai
- Amity University (Noida)
Conclusion: I know there are individuals who really love to help others and their satisfaction of life comes from caring for someone else. People like them make excellent career in social work as they have a chance to do what they love and make a living for themselves also at the same time. For others it is an equally great opportunity to be part of group of people who are driven by academic and professional zeal to solve community problems and give them a second chance in life.
I hope this article will be help full to everyone who come across it.
Sharing is appreciated.
