Why Become a Social Worker?

Whether you want to work directly with  individuals, families, communities, organizations—or if you want to develop policies, we can help you train to make society more inclusive and just. Becoming a social worker will enable you to empower the vulnerable and oppressed and improve the well-being of your community and society. 

Explore why social work is such a rewarding profession—and how earning a Master of Social Work from Case Western Reserve University can prepare you for a variety of meaningful and impactful careers.

Social Work Master’s Degrees

Earning a master’s degree in social work will equip you with the advanced knowledge and skills that will prepare you for a diverse set of career opportunities. Graduate programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) offer several social work master’s degrees, including:

  • Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA)
  • Master of Social Work (MSW)
  • Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW)

No matter which career path you choose to pursue within social work, our MSW program will equip you with the specialized knowledge and skills needed to become a change leader! You will also complete supervised fieldwork to gain hands-on experience. Once you have earned a master’s degree, you will be prepared to pursue licensure, which is required to practice in a clinical setting.

Earn Your Master of Social Work Online

The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University is a national leader in social work education and research. Our top-ranked MSW program produces socially conscious leaders who seek to inspire social change. 1

The online Master of Social Work, Case Western Reserve’s CSWE-accredited program, brings our 60-credit curriculum for social work leaders to individuals who want to create a more just world—no matter their location.

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What Can You Do with a Master of Social Work?

Driven by an increased demand for health care and social services, the overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 11 percent between 2018 and 2028.2 By becoming a social worker, you can find career opportunities in a variety of settings—schools, hospitals, government, nonprofit organizations and more—that range from clinical practice with individuals and families to leadership roles that challenge large-scale social systems. 

Graduates of social work degree programs have pursued roles including:

  • Community Engagement Director
  • Executive Director
  • Foundation Director
  • Policy Analyst
  • Program Director

Lead the Charge for Change at CWRU

Pursue your calling. As a student in the online MSW program at Case Western Reserve’s Mandel School, you will join our century-long tradition of social work change leaders

We are committed to advancing individual and community well-being, to social and economic justice, and to the empowerment of all people. We will prepare you to address the most pressing and complex social problems facing society.

Why Do You Want to Be a Social Worker?

Take the next step toward transforming your passion for social change into action. Request information today and an admissions counselor will reach out to discuss your career goals.

1 U.S. News and World Report, Case Western Reserve University’s Graduate School Rankings, ranked in September 2024
2 Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of September 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2023.