Social work is a popular degree choice and professional field for many people, specifically those eager to leave a lasting impact on the lives of individuals or, on a broader scale, communities and society at large.
Below you’ll find foundational information that’s important for anyone interested in learning more about this field, including what social work is and what social workers do.
What is social work?
According to the International Federation of Social Workers, social work is defined as a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people.
The social work profession celebrates the ability to be situated among those with the least—the underserved—and encourages that social workers take the side of these individuals who have been left behind by broader society to alleviate their suffering.
Social work does provide services in common with other professional fields, most notably psychology. These services might include:
- Counseling
- Therapy
- Education
- Connecting clients with appropriate public or private resources
As opposed to similar professions, the field of social work stands out because of its focus on both the person and the environment. Social workers aim to deal with external factors that impact a person’s situation and outlook through creating opportunities for assessment and intervention that can help clients and communities cope effectively with their reality—sometimes even helping to change that reality when necessary.
What do social workers do?
Social workers help clients deal not only with how they feel about a situation but also with what they can do about it, according to the National Association of Social Workers.
Even with only a bachelor’s degree in social work, professionals can find entry-level positions available as a direct service provider, policy analyst, or advocate to promote social justice for the most vulnerable populations.
They most often work with a diverse range of underserved populations, advocating for them in many different arenas. Furthermore, the professional field crosses interdisciplinary boundaries that allow social workers to pursue career goals within a vast array of different settings and industries—they’re basically everywhere you look, even if you’ve never noticed.
Social workers can be found in the health care field, working in hospitals and helping people cope with acute conditions and chronic illnesses or possibly providing therapy at community health centers. They can also work in education, helping design programs that, for example, prevent students from dropping out of school.
Some social workers help prisoners as they re-enter communities, while others provide rehabilitative support at drug and alcohol centers.
Social workers can provide outreach and long-term care at facilities such as nursing homes and homeless shelters. Some receive licensure to become clinical therapists for active-duty military members and veterans.
Other social workers work as first responders during national disasters. Social workers are executive directors of nonprofit organizations, community organizers, and professors; they’re corporate leaders and members of Congress.
Social workers are valued across these different professional settings because of the unique training that allows them to approach a problem from many different angles, including from individual and societal levels. This unique training is driving demand for new social workers.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment for social workers is projected to grow much faster than the average of all other occupations through 2028. This employment growth is predicted to be driven by increased demand for health care and social services but will vary by specializations.
Social work at Pacific Oaks College
For those interested in learning more about social work or pursuing a degree in the field, Pacific Oaks College offers the Bachelor of Social Work program that combines our foundational values of respect, diversity, inclusion, and social justice with an academic curriculum focused on hands-on training and preparation for a successful career.
Fill out the form below to request more information about our Bachelor of Social Work program, visit our social work programs page, or apply today through our application portal.
