Monday, March 12, 2012

Differentiating Between the Doctorate and Masters in Social Work Degrees

Both master's and doctorate levels exist for social work programs. Your average Masters in Social Work course is one designed to help you get started on a satisfying career path. A doctorate, on the other hand, prepares students to conduct research and policy analysis mostly in academic and non-academic research centers.

A Masters in Social Work, also known as an MSW, includes course content in social policies and programs, methods of practice, human growth and development and social research. A couple of years shall suffice for this program. There are a great many scholarships being given for this particular academic option.

Every participant in a social work class is obliged to produce proof that he has done at least 900 hours of time putting his skills to good use in the field. You shall usually be asked to handle managerial and administrative work for social organizations. The ideal is for students to major in a specific subject in social works.

Those in a masters in social work program have a great many options when they are going to be choosing a specialization. Generally, most students end up working in public and non-profit organizations in order to instill values in social planning and social changes. Some opt for the joint degree, which is a viable solution if you have two areas of interest.

Social Work courses can be accredited by the CSWE. The council's list of accredited schools all boast excellent social work courses that can be continued with doctoral courses. Some people actually accomplish all requirements of the program in a single year.

The doctorate is meant to be an extended study course, a way of providing people with even more specialized and complex tools for social work and its evaluation. While you shall hear some institutions referring to the course as that for a PhD, you shall also hear others referring to it as a doctorate course. Do not be confused into thinking they stand for different types of programs, however.

Professionals in the field of social work generally earn a doctoral degree to move their career into research and teaching. That means that your focus will be more on the academic side of the field. PhDs are generally employed by universities as lecturers or part of the "thinkers" of the department.

Your classes are going to deal with techniques and concepts for assessment and investigation. The major course requirement is the dissertation. The easiest way to think of a dissertation is as an enormous essay that is going to be a complete book by the time it is done, composed of work you have done in researching your chosen subject and conclusions you have drawn in the process.

Your average doctoral degree demands about 3 years of studying and research. While many professionals have their primary focus on teaching and collaboration on research with academic colleagues, many still continue their social work practice. Although it will be hard work, some professionals prefer the lifestyle of working part time both in the academe and in practice.

If you are hoping to get into a CSWE-accredited course for your PhD, think again, because that body only accredits masters in social work programs. Hardly any possibilities exist for getting financial scholarships for doctorate students. The admissions requirements for doctorate students are tougher too, demanding more education and better experience.


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