Earn Your Master of Social Work

at Southern

 

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Social Work in the Modern World

Social work is about empowering others, driving change, and making a lasting impact. At Southern, we prepare social workers to live out these principles within a Christian framework. Southern's MSW program offers an advanced generalist degree, equipping you to work across all three levels of practice:

  • Micro – individuals and families

  • Mezzo – communities, churches, schools

  • Macro – government, legislation, policy

 

Graduates are ready for roles as school and medical social workers, foster care professionals, nonprofit administrators, and more.

Whether you want to help people directly or influence change on a broader scale, you’ll graduate with the skills to thrive—and the flexibility to pursue diverse career paths.

First, let’s take a look at what opportunities are available for graduates of MSW programs.

Or, visit the School of Social Work's Graduate Catalog for program details.

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Career Paths

With an MSW, more than 600 career paths are available, giving you the freedom to pursue your interests while keeping the flexibility to explore new opportunities. Graduates of Southern’s MSW program have achieved remarkable success and made a lasting difference in countless lives.

Southern's program offers three areas of emphasis—Crisis and Emergency Management, Mental Health Practice in Social Work, and School Social Work—so you can focus on the path that best aligns with your goals.

Here are some common career paths you could pursue with an MSW:

 

School Social Worker

Many students face challenges such as poverty, difficult home environments, mental health concerns, or learning disabilities. School social workers collaborate with students, families, teachers, and administrators to provide support and help shape policies related to mental health, crisis management, discipline, and student services.

Crisis and Emergency Management

The role of a crisis and emergency management social worker is intense and demanding, as you help people navigate injuries, illnesses, trauma, abuse, and other emergency situations. It is also deeply fulfilling to provide support and guidance when individuals need it most.

Mental Health Social Worker

As awareness of mental health grows, so does the need for skilled social workers in this field. In this role, you’ll help clients navigate challenges such as illness, trauma, substance abuse, depression, and anxiety while providing strategies to cope and heal.

Community Practitioners

Community practitioners represent the people in their communities and advocate for change. This may involve working with local organizations and government agencies to improve living conditions, applying for grants, and improving the lives of those in your community.

What Salaries Do Social Workers Earn?

Depending on your area of specialization, career track, and job location, you can expect a salary in the range of $45,000 - $65,000.

Here’s a quick look at the average annual salaries for some of the most common career paths after earning an MSW:

Mental Health Social Worker
$62,400
School Social Worker
$52,370
Child and Family Social Worker
$48,430
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
$51,760
Geriatric Social Worker
$51,760
Medical Social Worker
$52,850


The MSW Degree Options at Southern

There are two enrollment options for Southern’s MSW program: Advanced Placement and Foundation Placement. Advanced Placement is only available to students who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.

You’ll also have the opportunity to choose from three different emphases:

  • Crisis and Emergency Management

  • Mental Health Practice in Social Work

  • School Social Work

Explore the MSW Program

 

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School Social Work

The School Social Work emphasis in Southern’s faith-based MSW program will provide you with the practical and theoretical knowledge to succeed as a social worker in the school system and incorporate biblical values of compassion and respect for each individual.

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Crisis and Emergency Management

Our program will help prepare you to work with doctors, first responders, or other professionals to ensure that your clients are safe. By learning in a faith-based program, you’ll have the opportunity to apply God’s teachings to your everyday practice by demonstrating compassion, patience, and respect.

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Mental Health Social Work

Graduates of Southern’s MSW program who have selected an emphasis in Mental Health Practice in Social Work are thriving in a wide range of settings, including private practice, hospitals, mental health clinics, community health organizations, primary care facilities, and rehabilitation treatment centers.

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MSW/MBA Dual Degree

The MSW/MBA dual degree at Southern is designed for people whose passion for helping others is matched by their passion for business and leadership. The program meets at the intersection of social work, business, and healthcare leadership and combines the best of both the social work and business fields.

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Access the Free MSW Program Guide

To help you discover what you’ll learn in each of Southern's areas of emphasis, the career options you’ll have to choose from, and how our program will prepare you for a successful career as a social worker, we’ve put together this extensive resource: Make an Impact for Good: The MSW Program at Southern. In this online ebook experience, you’ll get insights into:

  • Each area of emphasis and what type of work you’d do in each field
  • Personalized career trajectories into each career path
  • What our distinguished faculty love most about the program
  • What you actually learn in the MSW program
  • Southern's unique faith-based approach to social work

 

Access the Free Guide

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Career Roadmap: What Can You Do with a Social Work Degree? 

Social work is a dynamic, service-based career that opens the door to many opportunities. Check out the blog to learn more about careers you can pursue with an MSW.

More on the Blog

A Faith-Based Approach to Social Work

As a faith-based social work program, we bring God’s teachings to the way that we seek to understand and empower others, practice compassion, and pursue service-based careers.

Our students learn in a nurturing, encouraging, relationship-based environment and are taught to bring those virtues to their everyday practice.

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Looking for More Program Information?

We’re happy to tell you more about the MSW program specifics, requirements, and admissions process. You can request additional program information or schedule a meeting with a Southern representative below.

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Meet the Faculty Who Will Support Your Social Work Career

Our social work faculty will inspire and support you, sharing their expertise and hands-on experience to help you achieve your career goals. Many graduates maintain lasting relationships with faculty and continue to seek their mentorship.

 

Laura Racovita, Ph.D. headshot

Laura Racovita, Ph.D.

Dean


423.236.2638
racovita@southern.edu

Evie Nogales Baker headshot

Evie Nogales Baker

Associate Professor


423.236.2640
evien@southern.edu

Lunelle Bertresse, MSW headshot

Lunelle Bertresse, MSW

Assistant Professor


423.236.2634
lunelleb@southern.edu

Stephanie Guster, MSW headshot

Stephanie Guster, MSW

Senior Advisor for Diversity, Associate Professor


423.236.2020
sguster@southern.edu

Candy Dolcy, MSW headshot

Candy Dolcy, MSW

Assistant Professor


423.236.2630
candydolcy@southern.edu

Nina Nelson headshot

Nina Nelson

Associate Professor


423.236.2635
nnelson@southern.edu

Corneliu Rusu, MSW headshot

Corneliu Rusu, MSW

Professor


423.236.2628
crusu@southern.edu

Kristie Wilder, JD headshot

Kristie Wilder, JD

Professor


423.236.2206
kwilder@southern.edu

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Why Southern?

Every journey begins with a single step, and we invite you to take that step with us. Graduates of Southern’s MSW program have gone on to build meaningful careers and make a positive impact in the lives of many others.

Flexible. Valuable. Christ-centered.

Learn More About Southern

 

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