What can you do with a social work degree besides social work?

August 14, 2018

If you’re passionate about improving the quality of life for people of all ages and advocating for social justice causes, social work may be your calling. A broad degree with a variety of applications, Marian University’s social work program trains students to think critically and solve problems. Through the program’s coursework, you’ll learn communication, leadership, and research skills to make you career-ready following graduation.

Although social work degrees often lead to employment in the traditional social services, opportunities are popping up in many fields.

We’ve listed some of the jobs that you may see when you’re searching on how to put your social work degree to use.

Juvenile Court Liaison  

As a juvenile court liaison, you will facilitate the legal processes between the court system and minors. The interpersonal skills you developed from your social work classes will be crucial for this position, as you ensure smooth communication between families, attorneys and schools. Additionally, you will explain to families and minors how they can become involved with programs and services like legal assistance or mental health counseling. Juvenile court liaisons earn an average of $40,000 per year.

Community Outreach Organizer  

Students refine their teamwork and leadership skills from our social work program, both of which prepare you for a career as a community outreach organizer. This job exists in nonprofit and governmental sectors. In this position, you will perform a range of tasks including managing volunteer groups, planning community events and educating the public. Community outreach workers earn a median salary of $32,000 per year.

Health Educator  

As a health educator, you will help patients and caregivers communicate with one another, provide assistance with paperwork and create program materials. By serving as an advocate for your patients’ rights, you provide comfort and counseling to individuals in need. Health educators earn an average of $45,000 per year.

Social Responsibility Manager    

Although social work is often thought of as a public-sector job, opportunities for social workers have expanded into the corporate sphere. As private businesses become more cognizant of their environmental impacts, they search for capable social workers to evaluate products or services to ensure diversity and sustainability. Social responsibility managers serve as a moral compass for establishing ethical practices within the company. The median salary for social responsibility managers is $80,000.

Human Resources Coordinator

With their excellent organizational and communication skills, social work graduates fit right in within a human resources department. As an HR coordinator, you will manage new employee hiring and training, address workplace problems that arise between employees, and make policy changes. Human resources coordinators earn a median salary of $47,800.

Ready to make a difference? Learn more about the exciting opportunities a social work degree at Marian University offers.