December 2, 2023

Masters of Social Work in India

Masters of Social Work (MSW) is a professional degree course in the field of social work, in which professionals work for the welfare of the people, communities, etc. The eligibility for the MSW is that the course can either be pursued after completion of a Bachelor’s in Social Work or any other graduation degree from a recognized university. Although, candidates from any stream can choose to do MSW preference is given to those who specialize in Psychology, Sociology or related fields.

Course Structure:

The Masters of Social Work is a two-year program that is divided into four semesters.  Aspirants can either pursue the course full-time, part-time or distance learning. The course fees range from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1,00,000/- There are no entrance exams for the course. The selection depends on the qualifying exam and Interview round.

The course curriculum of Masters in Social Work includes some of the following subjects:

–         Analysis of Indian Society

–         Dynamics of Human Behaviour

–         Community Organization

–         Field Work

–         Social Policy, Planning, and Development

–         Social development and social justice

–         Social Work Research and Statistics

–         Working on Case studies

–         Women and Child Development

–         Criminology

–         Disaster Management

–         Human Resource Management

–         The welfare of the Labour

–         Social work in the Healthcare sector

–         Rural Development

About the Course:

The course focuses on Professional Social Work Practice in various forms and fields of social services. There are a variety of specializations and topics to choose from for the MSW aspirants. These include mental health, social service administration, social justice, Addiction Studies, Sexual Diversity, managing public welfare, Children and Families, Mental health, Old age care, etc.

The main aim of social workers is to help the poor and solve various problems such as poverty, unemployment, the health of the masses, increasing anti-social activities such as drinking, smoking, drug abuse, etc.

After the completion of the degree, the candidate can work in various fields of social work such as therapists, social work in healthcare, social work in schools, clinical social workers and various other jobs. The graduates and MSW holders can also work in educational institutions.

An aspirant should possess some qualities if they wish to pursue a Master’s in Social Work. These qualities include excellent communication skills, he/she should be a good listener, self-awareness, critical thinking skills, tolerance, cooperative attitude, emotionally independent, able to persuade among other soft skills.

Job Opportunities for Social Work Graduates:

Jobs are abundant in the Government as well as the private sector. Some colleges offer on-campus placements in companies such as:

UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), CRY (Child Rights and You). CINI (Child In Need Institute), Department of Rural Development, HelpAge India, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), WHO (World Health Organisation), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MAD (Make a Difference) NGO, Amnesty International, Green Peace are some among a thousand other organizations

The social work graduates can work in various fields. For example, with a specialization in the medical field, the graduates can work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, and NGOs, etc. Other places where they can work include counseling centers, the education sector, the Human Rights Agencies, Old Age Homes, Health Industry among others. The graduates can choose to be a part of various projects such as the Nanhi Kali and the Smile Foundation, to impart education to the poor kids. The private sector jobs include working as a manager of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) department that works for the social and other similar needs of the company’s employees. 

You will find immense opportunities in this field. After completing the Masters in Social Work, the starting salary can range from Rs. Two to Ten Lakhs depending on the type of job.

The top institutes that offer the Masters in Social Work in India include:

–         Presidency College, Chennai

–         Christ University, Bangalore

–         Banasthali Vidyapeeth, Jaipur

–         Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM), Kolkata

–         St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, Calicut

–         Amity University, Noida

–         Guru Nanak College, Chennai

–         Jaipur National University, Jaipur

–         Xavier Institute of Labour Relations, Mumbai

–     Delhi School of Social Work, Delhi

– Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Tuljapur campus)

Apart from the Bachelor’s and Masters in Social Work, M. Phil and Ph. D. Programmes are also important courses in the field of social work. 

Scope of Masters in Social Work:

India is a developing country with the majority of people living below the poverty line. The poor and underprivileged people face various problems in their lives, for instance, child labor, crimes against women, poverty, illiteracy, abuse, etc. The NGOs and other non-profit organizations continuously work towards bringing a change in the conditions of these people and help elevate their lives. The MSW holders can work as Administrators, policymakers, planners or advocates to promote and plan welfare programs to solve the various health, education, economic issues that are faced by the public of the nation. A social Worker can even work as a Counselor and help individuals solve issues such as communication problems, sex education, guidance to help relieve stress.  The counselors can also work at Rehabilitation centers to help the drug addicts. The MSW graduates can work as a professor in universities and colleges.

One can pursue a Masters in Social Work from some of the top recognized universities abroad. 

This can be a rewarding career for individuals who want to bring some change in society or the community around them. There are a plethora of opportunities for social work professionals as our growing country needs implementation of schemes and welfare programs for the growth of the Indian Economy.