To become a licensed clinical social worker
(LCSW), an individual must first fulfill the educational and supervised
work requirements. A licensing exam developed by the Association of
Social Work Boards (ASWB) must also be passed. Before registering for
the ASWB exam, students should already possess a master's degree in
social work from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work
Education (CSWE).
Online Master of Social Work (MSW) Degree Overview
CSWE-accredited online Master of Social Work (MSW) programs are designed for individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited school. Master's degree programs offer advanced courses that focus on clinical skills and supervised training with clients. Students may choose to specialize in working with certain populations, such as the elderly, families and children, substance abusers or the mentally handicapped. All online programs in this field require the completion of an in-person internship in a social work setting.Program Information and Technical Requirements
Most online Master of Social Work programs are part-time and take 2-3 years to complete. Two or three semesters of online coursework are typically followed by 2-3 semesters of internship. Internships require face-to-face interactions, but can be completed locally in nearby medical clinics or nursing homes. Some schools require a short campus visit at some point in the program, while others have no on-campus requirements.Online courses are delivered in various ways, including interactive TV, Web-based learning programs and video-conferencing. Many online programs require specific computer equipment; for example, one MSW program requires students to use only IBM PC-compatible computers. A few online MSW programs request students to have access to a webcam, voice recording software and a microphone for real-time interactions.
List of Common Social Work Courses
Online courses in social work provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to assist at-risk populations.Human Behavior in the Social Environment: Child Development Course
This course investigates potential threats to the healthy development of the child from birth to adolescence. Factors that might affect a child's development include bullying, peer pressure and violence, sexual, physical and emotional abuse, drug abuse, alcoholism and divorce.Family Counseling in Social Work Course
Students are introduced to the theories and methods used in family counseling. They learn techniques for assessing problems and strategies for overcoming them.Social Work Field Course
With the school's assistance, online students find local internships in medical clinics, schools or nursing homes. Under close supervision from experienced social workers, students are trained to work directly with clients.Career Information for Licensed Clinical Social Workers
LCSWs may work in environments such as schools, government programs or long-term care facilities. They might find positions as counselors, program managers or researchers. LCSWs may also set up private practices to provide counseling.The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects the need for social workers to grow by 16% through 2018 (www.bls.gov). Salaries for social workers generally depend on previous experience and area of specialization, but the BLS does state that in 2008 the median annual wage for a social worker was $39,530.
No comments:
Post a Comment