Did you come into college with the general idea that you want to help people, or maybe you’ve thought about going pre-med, doing nursing, or psychology? I know I did.
There are a million misconceptions out there about social work. The first thing you probably thought of was a child welfare worker, someone who investigates families and “takes kids away.” I’m here to tell you that social work is so much more than that. In fact, I’m going to argue that it’s the best major offered at FSU.
- Mental Health and Advocacy
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Social work is the major for the girls who are always saying, “I just want to help people.” The profession is grounded in principles of social justice, advocacy, and service, making empathy not just a personality trait, but an actual part of your career.
As a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) student, you take classes like Diversity and Social Justice, Social Welfare Policies and Programs, and Human Behavior and Social Environment. The curriculum is rooted in all forms of advocacy and ways of helping others.
- Career Flexibility
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Social work operates on three levels: micro, mezzo, and macro. These levels define the scope of your social work practice. Micro work involves individuals and families, mezzo with groups and communities, and macro with policies and international programs.
There are so many areas and avenues to take within social work. You can work in schools, prisons, community centers, clinics, non-profits, and more. If you continue your education and earn your master’s, you can become independently licensed and own your own private practice as a therapist!
In a master of Social Work, you’re also qualified to teach in colleges and universities. Many of our professors here at the College of Social Work (CSW) are master-level clinicians who bring years of experience in the field into the classroom.
- Built-in Internships
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Heard of people grinding to secure an internship before graduation? Not in the CSW. As an undergrad in social work, your college experience ends with a full-time, hands-on internship at a social work agency. You can choose to do your placement in a school, hospital, community agency, or many other options.
FSU’s CSW website lists potential internship sites, called field placements, for both BSW and Master’s of Social Work (MSW) students, and you’re not limited to just Tallahassee. There are field placements in all states around the country, and even some internationally!
This gives you real experience before you enter the field post-grad, so you get a feel for what you’re doing, what you enjoy doing, and what you don’t.
- Master’s in One Year
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One of the greatest advantages of majoring in Social Work, in my opinion, is that it makes you eligible for an advanced-standing master’s degree, which can be completed in only one year instead of the standard two!
This is a major benefit if you know you want to continue into higher education. You get a sort of head start since so many of your undergrad credits count in master’s programs.
- Social Work at FSU
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FSU is home to the best social work program in the state of Florida, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It’s currently ranked No. 33 in the nation as well.
Not only is the quality of education first-class, but the environment at the CSW really makes the whole experience. Classes are capped at 19 students, creating a close-knit and supportive environment. Also, no classes on Fridays? Immediately, yes.
The CSW really emphasises self-care, even hosting monthly self-care initiatives, giving students space to decompress and de-stress in a field that can be so emotionally draining. I’ve had plenty of classes where we literally just color, do crosswords, and make friendship bracelets.
Ready to make a change? Apply to the College of Social Work today and start your journey. A bachelor’s degree in social work can take you so far. The sky is the limit!
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