Social work is a highly rewarding field, and it is more convenient than ever to become qualified thanks to advancements in online education. Here is a look at why completing your degree remotely is an excellent way to enter this field.
What do social workers do?
Social workers rarely receive the recognition they deserve for the amount of work they do to keep society running smoothly. When you think of a social worker, you might imagine children being removed from unstable homes. While that is certainly an incredibly important part of their work, social workers help people in many different situations around the country.
One of the areas in which social workers thrive is the healthcare system. It can be difficult navigating the medical field in the United States, especially when also dealing with a serious illness. Patients who are unfamiliar with the system or those who need some extra support and advocacy are often connected with healthcare social workers. These professionals ensure that patients not only receive the care they need but also the care they want and are entitled to receive. They provide invaluable help in incredibly difficult situations and work to support patients through some of the worst experiences of their lives.
Other types of social workers include:
- Clinical
- Case manager
- Geriatric
- Child welfare
- Disability
- Forensic
- Corrections
- Substance abuse and mental health
- School
As you can see, social workers help people in a range of situations make safe choices and improve their quality of life.
Social worker shortage
Social work is an incredibly important field, and there are not enough qualified professionals to help those in need. In fact, the United States is facing a serious shortage of social workers, in addition to rising demand for mental health services and child wellness checks. The lack of social workers is having a great impact on the country. From children remaining in bad situations because there are not enough social workers to investigate every claim right away, to students dropping out of school because they don’t have the mental health care they need to thrive in traditional learning environments, the cost of the shortage is steep.
If you are passionate about helping people live their best lives and are willing to dedicate your time to protecting others, you might make an excellent social worker. As with many other careers, social work requires professionals to have an educational background in the field before they can work full-time in the industry. The good news is that you can complete a Master’s in Clinical Social Work online from the comfort of your own home, and you can do it through accredited programs from well-respected institutions like Keuka College. Their accredited program prepares students with the clinical mental health treatment skills and social work knowledge needed for a social work career, along with offering a field placement to provide them with hands-on experience in the field.
An online degree is a great option for students who want to make a difference but don’t have the time or money for the traditional university experience. While some people might believe that online school has some downsides compared to conventional in-person classes, the truth is that earning your degree remotely can be an incredibly beneficial option. Let’s take a closer look at how you can become a social worker online and how studying from home might be the perfect option for you.
Benefits of an online degree
Studying online can be a great choice for many people. From raising children to working while studying, there are many reasons remote schooling might be the best option for you. Here is a closer look at some of the benefits of earning your degree online.
Work around your schedule
The primary reason many students decide to study online is the flexible schedule. While many students were able to pursue a traditional college experience a few decades ago, life is different for today’s students. Not only do many of them want to pay their way through college to avoid student loans, but nontraditional students have quickly become a significant part of the industry. Some students are going back to school after their first career choice did not meet their expectations, which puts them at a disadvantage as far as funding goes. Many of them already have families of their own, including children who need to have their parents at home as much as possible.
Online study allows students who might never be able to complete a traditional degree to finish their coursework on a schedule that suits their existing commitments. Some classes consist of recorded lectures and self-paced tests, for example, which allow students to study at any time of the day, even if it means late at night after their children go to bed.
Other courses are structured around live lectures, typically one or two a week, with the remainder of the class completed at the student’s own pace. This structure isn’t quite as flexible as the previous option, but it is a lot easier to find time for a one-hour lecture you can watch from your phone a couple of times a week than it is to spend hours on campus every day, including driving to and from work and class as your schedule dictates.
Study at your own pace
Traditional degrees are typically completed on a strict schedule. Remote degrees are more forgiving, and students can often add or remove classes from their schedules as needed to work around other commitments. This has the added benefit of giving you more time between classes to study. If the material is difficult to master, this time can be incredibly helpful.
Work full-time while studying
Finally, online degrees are excellent for students who also work full-time. The number of students working full-time through college is rising, and remote learning often allows them to watch lectures on their lunch break and study between work shifts. This is a great option for nontraditional students who simply don’t have the time to spend hours in a classroom every week.
The US is in dire need of social work professionals, and you could have an unforgettable impact on someone’s life as a social worker. Take advantage of the benefits online study has to offer, and you’ll be on the path to a fulfilling career.
