MSW (Master of Social Work) Course, Eligibility, Admission, Syllabus, Salary, Scope

A Master of Social Work is a postgraduate degree of two years duration. This course not only helps the aspirants to make a successful career but also serves society as they work for the betterment of people and a community as a whole. A social worker is one of the noblest professions of all times. Aspirants need to remember that this course needs a lot of patience, work ethic, empathy and selflessness. It is a giving profession which involves making sure of bringing smiles on the faces of the people around.

Master of Social Work is an affordable degree which can be pursued with the fee between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 60,000 per annum. The top entrance tests for the admission in MSW are DSSW, AMU, Jamia Millia Islamia, TISS and more. These entrance tests include English, reasoning, general awareness followed by a group discussion and personal interview round. After pursuing a master’s degree in social work, an aspirant can become a child welfare social worker, substance abuse counsellor and more. Stay tuned to know the complete eligibility, fee, top entrance exams and average salary.

What is MSW full form?

The MSW full form is Master of Social Work, is a postgraduate degree programme in Social work. Candidates from any branch can opt this course. Various colleges and education institutions offer the MSW course.

Highlights -MSW

MSW Eligibility

All the universities have different eligibility criteria for admission. But, the most common of them all is as follows:

• The interested candidate must have graduated from a recognised university.

• They must have secured a minimum of 50 to 55 per cent marks in their undergraduate program.

• Most of the universities admit only those candidates who have pursued BSW or BA in social work in their bachelor’s degree.

MSW Admissions

The MSW admission process includes the entrance test followed by a group discussion and a personal interview round. Go through some of the important points of the MSW admission process in this section.

• Several private and government institutes offer the Master in Social Work degree as per their tests.

• Renowned government institutions such as AMU, Jamia Millia Islamia, and TISS are considered one of the best for pursuing this degree.

• These institutes conduct their own entrance examinations which include a section on English, reasoning, and general awareness.

• After the student clears the written test, they are called for the group discussion and personal interview round.

• Therefore, the evaluation for the selection is based on both written and GD and personal interview rounds.

MSW Fee Structure

• MSW is a postgraduate degree that can be pursued for an affordable amount.

• The government colleges such as DU, AMU, JMI offer MSW programs often have less fees between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 60,000.

• On the other hand, private universities charge a higher amount which can be between Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 2,00,000.

• Students can also pursue the MSW course through distance education which is much more affordable and can be pursued for a comparatively less amount.

• IGNOU can be one of the best options when it comes to distance learning. Its curriculum covers all the important topics. In addition to this, students can pursue the course as per their convenience which makes it flexible.

Top MSW Exams

Go through the list of some of the top MSW entrance tests and know the sections asked in the same in order to prepare it well.

List of MSW entrance tests

• DSSW

• AMU

• Jamia Millia Islamia

• TISS

An Insight in the MSW Entrance Test

Some of the top MSW entrance tests set the paper covering the topics from English, reasoning and general awareness followed by GD and personal interview. Let us dwell upon each of these areas and know on what basis the selection is done.

English: In this language section, general grammar is asked which includes comprehensions, antonym-synonyms, jumbled sentences, and more. Students are advised to practice the tense and basic grammar from the English book which is preferred for the preparation of competitive exams.

Reasoning: Students are advised to prepare the questions related to reasoning which includes classification, analogy, coding-decoding, number series, and directions. Most of the questions will be asked from these major sections in reasoning.

General Awareness: This section incorporates the topics of current affairs and general knowledge. Students can prepare for the general awareness section by taking online tests. For the general knowledge section, prefer the general topics asked from History, Civics, Geography, and other similar subjects.

MSW Course

A Master of Social Work is a postgraduate course in the field of social work. Usually, this course is taken by aspirants who have already pursued a bachelor’s degree in social work or a related discipline. However, any candidate who has secured at least 55 per cent marks in their graduation can apply for this course. A master’s degree in this field will not only let aspirants earn well but serve a society which is one of the noblest works in the world.

Why Pursue a Master of Social Work?

One of the foremost reasons for being in this field is to make a contribution to society. Social work is a profession that involves selflessness, emotional intelligence, diligence, and strong work ethics. This profession will make the aspirant a better individual and give them the satisfaction of serving society. Hence, if the aspirant has a giving attitude and enjoys helping the people around selflessly, they should choose this profession and make a contribution to bettering society.

MSW Specializations

Master of Social Work offers several specialisations which include family and child welfare, medical and psychiatric social work, urban and rural community development, and more. Let us know about these specialisations at a glance.

Family and Child Welfare: This is the specialisation where the issues related to family and child welfare are taught. Aspirants are trained to help people deal with such issues and preserve healthy family life. In this specialisation, aspirants are taught about family ethics, problem-solving techniques and so much more.

Medical and Psychiatric Social Work: It is a type of medical social work that includes supporting and taking care of individuals who are mentally ill or need psychiatric guidance. Their job is to make their clients learn to deal with mental illness and help them cure the same.

Urban and Rural Community Development: It is a specialisation in which improving the life approach and standard of living of the underprivileged population is taught. It also involves the fulfillment of the economic and non economic needs of the community.

Criminology Administration: This specialisation involves the teaching to support family members impacted by offender actions. They also provide assistance to survivors through the legal process from the moment of reporting to trial and beyond.

Type of MSW

MSW stands for Master of Social Work. It is a postgraduate-level degree program with a duration of two years. It is offered in both regular as well as distance learning modes. MSW is a specialised program designed for individuals who want to work with human rights agencies and non-government organisations functioning for social causes.

Also Read: Online Sociology Courses

MSW Syllabus

The syllabus of MSW can differ as per the institution but we have compiled the topics which are generally included in the curriculum of the Social Work course. Find the important topics of the MSW in the table as follows.

Master of Social Work Syllabus

Scope of MSW

Master of Social Work is a course that will have relevance at all times. It is one of the areas which helps to serve society. Aspirants who take up this responsibility not only do well in their careers but also serve humanity in the best way possible. This course will not only help them to be successful in their respective careers but give them the satisfaction of bringing smiles to the faces of people.

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Advantages of Master of Social Work

One of the foremost reasons for being in this field is to make a contribution to society. Social work is a profession that involves selflessness, emotional intelligence, diligence, and strong work ethics. This profession will make the aspirant a better individual and give them the satisfaction of serving society. Hence, if the aspirant has a giving attitude and enjoys helping the people around selflessly, they should choose this profession and make a contribution to bettering society.

Careers Opportunities after MSW

After pursuing the MSW degree, aspirants can go into a number of fields which includes the private sector, health industry, human rights agencies, NGOs, and more. Some of the top career options are as follows:

Humanitarian: A humanitarian is one who does not just work in a particular place but globally. They dedicate their time, energy, and intellect to strengthening the bond between the communities and helping people experience equality and peace.

Child welfare social worker: A child welfare social worker is one who safeguards children from situations such as abuse and other cruel and violent treatment. They ensure their client’s physical and mental health peace.

Substance abuse counselor listens to their client’s problems including the reasons for their indulgence in addictive behavior and provides them with mental and emotional assistance to deal with the same.

Medical social workers make sure of the psychological, financial or social problems a patient is going through reason being their medical condition. Therefore, they counsel them and work towards bettering their condition.

Further Study Options

After pursuing a Master's in Social Work, aspirants can work as social workers, humanitarian, child welfare social workers, and more. Apart from this, the ones who are interested in studying further can go for a Ph.D. or M.Phil in social work.

• M.Phil (Social Work)

• PhD (Social Work)

MSW Salary

The salary offered after pursuing courses related to social work is not lucrative. This field requires an abundance of patience, empathy, and selflessness. Aspirants who are bent towards social work and experience solace in helping others or society, in general, can choose this field. However, an average income can be expected from this field which can be between Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 3.89 lakh at the entry-level and can be increased with experience.

MSW Salary by Experience Level

Source: Payscale