by Melissa Hagan-Nelson, MSSW, Quentin Powell, MSW, LCSW, LCASA, and Amee Ramsey, MSW, LCSW
Pursuing a sophisticated diploma could be extraordinarily aspirational. In keeping with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022), the median annual wage for social employees was $50,390 in Could 2021. The Bureau of Labor Statistics offers extra perception that the bottom 10 % of social employees earned lower than $36,520 whereas the higher 10 % earned greater than $82.840. Pursuing a doctoral stage diploma in social work can enhance an individual’s earnings even additional.
Having extra earnings is nice, however is {that a} true purpose to pursue a sophisticated diploma? For social employees, it’s simply as essential to know the why when contemplating furthering your training, in addition to different features that this text will provide within the type of questions. The 4 questions have been developed primarily based on our experiences and are derived from the ideas of goal, sort of training, feasibility, and affordability. We consider they’re value contemplating earlier than pursuing a post-graduate diploma, particularly with a DSW in thoughts.
Query 1: Why Do I Desire a DSW?
What’s your why for pursuing a DSW diploma? Some individuals who pursue their DSW take into consideration working in larger training, with the objective of both tenure or non-tenure observe positions. Some individuals take into consideration working for his or her native authorities or directing nonprofit organizations. It doesn’t matter what an individual’s profession path is, having a goal for pursuing your DSW could make a distinction in how profitable you are feeling as you make your means by a DSW program.
Wanting on the goal of a DSW program is essential, too. Will this system assist your goal of constructing psychological well being accessible to all individuals, figuring out greatest practices for kids in susceptible communities, or exploring the influence of casinos on communities? It does make a distinction what sort of training you obtain if you already know why you might be pursuing a DSW diploma.
Query 2: Is a DSW Proper for Me?
Your private {and professional} objectives will enable you resolve whether or not you must pursue a DSW or a PhD in social work. Though each a PhD and a DSW program will result in a doctoral diploma, the trail you select will decide what future careers it is possible for you to to pursue after commencement (Middleton, 2022).
If you wish to form the way forward for social work by way of instruction and designing and conducting analysis, a PhD could also be the only option for you. A DSW diploma, alternatively, is extra sensible in nature. Relatively than emphasizing philosophy, ideology, and analysis, a DSW diploma is targeted on enhancing your medical and/or social work management talents. Professionals with a DSW might pursue careers comparable to superior follow social employees; nonprofit administrators; and social work directors in well being care services, establishments, medical settings, and social or neighborhood service organizations. A DSW will allow you to take your Grasp of Social Work (MSW) training and abilities to the following stage.
Relying in your chosen observe, medical or management and administration, DSW coursework is tailor-made to satisfy your private {and professional} objectives (The Dissertation Success Teaching Crew, 2022). On the finish of your program, you may be required to display the experience acquired out of your research. The college that you simply attend will decide the ultimate demonstration of data.
Examples of ultimate tasks might embrace a dissertation or a capstone undertaking. A dissertation is a prolonged piece of scholarly writing primarily based on an recognized analysis query that the coed develops, implements, and evaluates. Abbreviated materials from the dissertation could also be submitted to journals for publication.
A capstone undertaking is a analysis task that’s just like a dissertation, however the objective is to make use of or prolong the analysis to offer an answer to a real-world downside. As you discover universities and applications, pay attention to which culminating undertaking you may be required to finish, as one could also be extra possible for you. Keep in mind that your blood, sweat, and tears will go into this undertaking, so make certain you might be in a program that’s greatest suited to you.
Query 3: Do I Have the Time To Go Again to College for a DSW?
It’s now time to contemplate the commitments concerned with acquiring a DSW diploma. You’ll provide your time, expertise, and treasure for the whole lot of this system. Let’s begin with time and expertise. Social employees who take into account a DSW program will almost definitely have employment obligations. Social employees even have obligations to essential relationships and their communities. These obligations are an funding of time. A DSW program goes so as to add obligations and take time.
Bear in mind all the necessities you skilled in an MSW program—they are going to enhance. There shall be studying, writing, researching subjects, attending class, taking part on dialogue boards, social justice advocacy, and different necessities the varsity of social work determines to make sure rigor in educational {and professional} pursuits. Did we point out studying? There’s loads of studying. We additionally decide to providing our skills to our DSW applications.
Social work is a demanding self-discipline. Most social employees try to set wholesome boundaries round work. A DSW program is about increasing our follow of social work, so our follow shall be in additional environments lending to feeling stretched.
A remaining consideration, concerning feasibility, is the supply of this system. Will this system be on-line solely, in-person solely, or a hybrid mannequin? Is there an in-person residency requirement? Relying on life circumstances, one among these could also be a greater match for you. We should ensure that we’re prepared to supply our time and skills to a DSW program. A important purpose to verify we’re prepared is that there’s a dedication of our treasures.
Query 4: Can I Afford a DSW?
Social employees who’ve obtained an MSW are conscious that larger training has prices, in some ways. There’s a monetary burden to returning to highschool. A potential pupil can count on complete tuition to vary from $38,000 to $90,000 (Middleton, 2022). If we are trying to repay earlier pupil loans, the considered extra instructional prices can appear overwhelming. Social employees should resolve if the cost-benefit evaluation works of their favor. It’s useful to implement important pondering abilities when figuring out the advantages of a DSW.
There are avenues for monetary assist. Larger training establishments might provide school-based scholarships, instructing fellowships, and/or graduate assistantships to assist scale back the price of tuition. We encourage you to discover tuition reimbursement out of your employer. One other consideration is the numerous prices between online-only applications, in-person, and hybrid applications. As you set forth to supply your time, expertise, and treasure, it’s crucial to seek out this system that’s best for you. Being aware of the price is very essential as a result of you may be extending your self and it’ll deplete you.
Self-care is significant for social employees. It’s so important that the Nationwide Affiliation of Social Staff (NASW) added self-care to the Code of Ethics (2021). The NASW decided that self-care is part of moral follow and essential to assist the values of social work.
Take-Aways
A recap of the concerns we hope you’re taking away from this text are:
- In a career the place we regularly focus extra on giving than the cash we obtain, your goal for pursuing this diploma should at all times stay top-of-mind.
- Select a program that may align along with your wants and can advance your skilled objectives.
- You may be including tasks and commitments. It’s crucial that you already know what you possibly can add to your already full plate.
- Training is an funding. You have to weigh the associated fee and advantages earlier than committing your self to this endeavor.
We hope the 4 questions introduced on this article convey the significance of deciding whether or not pursuing a DSW is the best alternative for you. Committing to a DSW program requires sacrifices and perseverance, with the potential to advance your profession. The potential doesn’t imply {that a} DSW is true for everybody. Nevertheless, should you use these 4 questions for self-reflection, you like to study, and also you need to enhance social work insurance policies and practices, then chances are you’ll be heading in the right direction. Who is aware of, this text might immediate you to start your journey to turning into a Physician of Social Work.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Division of Labor. (2022). Occupational Outlook Handbook, Social Staff. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm
Middleton, A. (2022, July 21). PhD in social work and physician of social work (DSW) levels: An entire information. https://mastersinsocialworkonline.org/degrees/phd-in-social-work/
Nationwide Affiliation of Social Staff. (2021). Code of ethics. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
The Dissertation Success Teaching Crew. (2022, March 22). Capstone vs Dissertation? 5 issues to contemplate earlier than making a call. https://dissertationsuccess.com/blog/capstone-vs-dissertation/
Melissa Hagan-Nelson, MSSW, is a Physician of Social Work pupil at Spalding College, College of Social Work. She earned her Grasp of Science in Social Work from the Kent College on the College of Louisville, the place she targeted on systemic adjustments to organizations, laws, and buildings rooted in inequities negatively impacting kids and households.
Quentin Aaron Powell, MSW, LCSWA, LCASA, works for Lifestance Well being as a psychological well being therapist, Caromont Well being as a medical social employee, and the social work division at Mars Hill College as adjunct college. Quentin is a Physician of Social Work pupil at Spalding College.
Amee R. Ramsey, MSW, LCSW, is a Physician of Social Work pupil at Spalding College College of Social Work. She made the choice to return to highschool after six years of social work follow. The choice to return was rooted within the need to create radical change in follow and coverage.
