Why Do Social Workers Need an MSW Degree?

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Social work is critical to the well-being of society. Look at the most prosperous countries in the world, and you will find one thing in common – appreciation for social work.

Social work is a profession that is concerned with the overall development and well-being of underprivileged individuals, families, or communities.

Nigeria is the fastest-growing nation in Africa. It is struggling with a plethora of social challenges, such as juvenile crime, terrorism, poverty, unemployment, and drug abuse. One of the primary reasons the country is battling with this crisis is the lack of a proper social work infrastructure.

The government of Nigeria has realized the relevance and importance of social work in society. It is taking the necessary steps to enhance the role of social workers in promoting peace and sustainable development.

Social workers’ roles affect our society largely. To explore career opportunities in the social work field, they need a master of social work (MSW) degree.

Various Roles of Social Workers

The idea behind community development is to make residents take collective steps to solve everyday problems. Social workers readily generate community improvement programs and development projects that enable local citizens to live a better quality of life. Some social workers who graduated from the best schools for master’s in social work engage directly with individuals, and some assess large communities.

The role of a social worker is not fixed; they have varying roles depending upon the need of communities they serve. They could work social service agencies, grassroots organizations, and non-profits to help people with their long-term and short-term requirements.

Here are a few professional roles of a social worker with an MSW degree.

• Advocate
  As an advocate, social workers fight legal battles for the right of others. They represent those who are vulnerable and not strong enough to speak up for themselves.
• Case Manager
  Case managers work with people who are homeless, elderly, have chronic pain, mental or physical health issues, are vulnerable, or victims of social or domestic crimes. They help the suffered individuals by enabling them to locate and access necessary services.
• Educator
  In this role, social workers educate people about how to develop particular skills, such as reading and writing, effective communication, medical diagnosis, budgeting, self-care, etc.
• Facilitator
  As a facilitator, social workers are engaged in mustering group of people for various purposes, such as community development, political organization, self-advocacy, and policy change. They act as task group leaders or group therapists.
• Manager
  Master’s in social work distance learning course provides social workers with comprehensive leadership and managerial skills. Therefore, they are well suited to work as supervisors and managers in multiple settings. As managers, social workers influence policy changes and developments, along with advocating for underprivileged people on a larger scale.
• Organizer
  Social workers are also involved in numerous levels of community organization and action, such as union organization, research & policy specialists, and economic development.

All in all, social work is a profession you can be proud of.

The Impact of Social Workers in Society

Over the past century, social workers who graduated from the best schools for master’s in social work have played a pivotal role in helping disadvantaged people obtain their rights and improve their quality of life. The concept of social work is not prevalent in Nigeria, but the recent boom in the economy has led to changes – some positive and some negative. The increasing awareness and appreciation for social work in Nigeria are evident.

Here’s how social workers have addressed the adverse social challenges of the country.

• Reduction of Juvenile Crimes
  In 1990, 52% of the crimes in Nigeria were committed by juveniles, the reason being poverty, lack of proper education, and lack of adequate paternal care. The increased involvement of social workers has led to a significant decline in juvenile crimes in the country.
• Reduction of Poverty
  In 2018, half of Nigeria’s population was living in extreme poverty. This rising poverty gave rise to several crimes in the country, which were impacting the socio-economic development. Social workers in the country have taken the following steps to improve the livelihood of the Nigerian population:
  • Educating girls
  • Assured the health and well-being of the people
  • Introduced youth to technology and economic opportunities
  • The poverty rate of the country oscillates at 46%, and with dedicated social efforts, Nigeria can come out of this crisis.
• Population Control
  The increasing population is another huge problem in Nigeria. The country’s population touched an all-time high growth rate of 2.72% in 2012. Several social organizations have come forward and educate people about birth control and family planning. The results are bleak but positive, as the population rate has declined by 0.14%–2.58% in 2020.
• Reduction of Drug Abuse
  In the year 2018–2019, 15% of the adult population of Nigeria was reported to use a considerable level of drug substances. Nigeria has one of the biggest youth populations in the world that is the use of drugs at such a large scale. It can be detrimental to the country’s growing economy.
  In western countries like the USA and Canada, social workers have established rehabilitation centers and other initiatives to help people counter drug addiction. Although it is yet to see how social workers in Nigeria perform, it is evident that social work can play a crucial role in helping people overcome substance abuse.
• Nullifying the Effect of Cultism
  Cultism is a significant issue in Nigeria. The country consists of more than 250 ethnic groups of different religious faiths. And there have been constant clashes among them, which hinder the stability of the country.
  Cultism is an identity-related social problem. Many social workers and organizations are closely working with such groups and encouraging them to leave with peace and harmony with each other.
• Improved Literacy Rate
  In 1991, the adult literacy rate in Nigeria was 55%, which witnessed a steep reduction to 51% in 2008. Various school and educator social workers came up and promoted learning and well-being, along with addressing academic and non-academic barriers to learning and development. As a result, the country visited a significant rise in literacy rates. As of 2015, the adult literacy rate was 59.6% and a youth literacy rate of 72.8%.
• Equality
  Cultural diversity and uneven wealth distribution have resulted in inequality in the country. While the rich have access to the best facilities, the poor struggle for basic amenities like education and healthcare. Around 50% of the Nigerian population lives in rural areas, whereas more than 70% of the healthcare budget is allotted to urban areas. Social workers have been fighting for healthcare access to rural areas.

MSW Career Growth and Outlook

While most people get an MSW degree by the desire to help others, money remains to be an essential factor. The salary and career growth of master’s in social work online professionals can vary based on several factors, such as education, workplace setting, practice specialty, and geographic area.

The median salary for a social worker in Nigeria is ₦118K. The lowest-earning social workers earn an average ₦40–50k per month, whereas, some top-level advisors earned ₦525K per month.

Some social work professions in Nigeria that pay well include:

• Assistant Chief Social Worker: ₦114K
• Medical Social Worker: ₦163K
• Advisor: ₦525K
• Advocacy And Governance Consultant: ₦100K

MSW is a globally accepted specialty, and you can find jobs across the globe. Social workers in the USA make an average of $49,470 per annum, with several states like Nevada paying as high as $82,000 per annum.

Some other job roles social workers can fulfill are:

• Child Welfare Social Worker
• Medical Social Worker
• School Counselor
• Community Program Administrator
• Substance Abuse Counselor
• School Social Worker
• Speech Pathologist

You might secure a low pay as a fresher. However, once you spend 5–7 years as a social worker, you can work with large NGO’s and non-profit organizations at handsome salary packages.

Therefore, a postgraduate degree in social work provides you with satisfaction and helps you build a fortune at the same time.

Where Can You Pursue Your MSW Degree?

Do you want to pursue your dream of bringing a positive change to society? In association with Central University of Nicaragua (UCN), Taksha Smartlabz (TSL) offers a master’s degree in social work that can be your guiding light. This is a two-year master’s in social work distance learning program. It is for bachelor’s degree holders having more than two years of experience as a social worker.

In this course, we provide subject-specific guidance that enables you to enhance the life quality and well-being of underprivileged individuals and communities.

This program follows the US credit system and is based on BRICS methodology, which ensures an interactive, block-based online learning experience. By the end of this course, you will be well-vested in professional social work, family and child welfare, workplace social work, and community organization.

Key Takeaways from This Online Master’s Degree

• An international network of students and trainers
• Exhaustive range of job opportunities
• Hands-on professional experience
• Targeted skill development to perform necessary functions

Benefits of the Course

• Affordable online master’s degree in social work
• Internationally recognized and renowned degree
• Flexible master’s in social work distance learning program
• Block-based learning modules
• Exposure to international opportunities