Masters in Social Work
Masters in Social Work is spelled MSW. Aces in Friendly Work can be abridged to MSocWk or MSocWork or MSW. Professional social work practices in communities, hospitals, schools, and other social service settings are covered in depth in the technical Master of Social Work program. In India, the MSW program lasts two years and is divided into four semesters.
After graduating from a recognized university with at least 50% marks in relevant fields, candidates can take the MSW Course. A merit list or an entrance exam serves as the basis for MSW admission. Students must complete graduation in a relevant field to be eligible for the Master of Social Work program.
MSW Course Details
| Column1 | Column2 |
| MSW Full Form | Master of Social Work |
| MSW Duration | 2 Years |
| MSW Admission | Entrance exams |
| MSW Entrance exams | TISS NET, DUET, BHU PET etc |
| MSW Course Types | Full Time, Distance, Online |
| MSW Top Colleges | Delhi University, TATA Institute of Social Science, Christ University, etc |
| MSW Course Fees | INR 1,50,000 to INR 3,50,000 |
| MSW Salary | INR 4,50,000 to INR 8,00,000 starting salary |
| MSW Job Roles | Healthcare, Social Services, Human Rights, etc |
The MSW is a social science course that teaches students how to use resources to solve society's problems and try to alleviate their suffering through counseling, financial aid, or other social strategies. Social work topics like labor welfare, human resource development and management, rural reconstruction, child rights and child protection, and community development are covered in depth in this course. However, there is a gender gap in the field of social work in India, with only 12.5% of workers being women.
Why Study MSW Course?
There are numerous responsibilities associated with a career as a social worker, as well as opportunities to give back to society and the nation. Studying MSW can lead to a rewarding career for the following reasons.
Jobs available:
The course makes MSW job opportunities more likely. According to the most popular job boards, there are more than 100 open positions for social workers each month. LinkedIn lists over 490 open positions for social workers. Jobs for social workers are available in both the public and private sectors. Over 3.17 million non-profit organizations operate in India.
Enhanced Remuneration:
After earning a master's degree, social workers' salaries have reportedly increased by 29%. As a result, a BSW graduate with the same amount of work experience will earn more than a Master of Social Work graduate with the same job profile. Another interesting fact is that social workers worldwide receive a 3% increase every 16 months, whereas social workers in India receive a 10% increase every 17 months.
Chance to work in a field that is growing quickly:
The US Department of Work Insights predicts that the social work area would develop at a pace of 16% over the course of the following ten years, hence carrying more current open doors to MSW graduates universally. Social Work offers over USD 30 Billion to the economy under the tertiary area in India.
Opportunity to Work with Global NGOs:
MSW occupations can furnish graduates with chances to work for the most perceived NGOs on the planet including UNICEF, WHO, CRY, and so on. In India, there are over 3.3 lakh NGOs that can offer Master of Social Work graduates employment opportunities.
Benefits and a Good Return on Investment: The MSW degree program costs between INR 20,000 and 25,000. As per payscale MSW work in India pays a normal of INR 380,000 for each annum, alongside advantages like dental, clinical, and vision.
Satisfaction within oneself:
Social specialists have an effect in people's lives by zeroing in on key civil rights issues, like destitution, handicap, imbalance, and youngster misuse. Job satisfaction can be tremendous when you have the chance to make a difference in someone else's life.
Who should do MSW Course?
• Candidates who wish to work in the social and humanitarian sectors should take this course.
• This course is recommended for candidates who wish to pursue a career as a social worker.
• This course is available to those in charge of corporate social responsibility at large multinational corporations.
• This course is an option for candidates who are interested in pursuing other career paths.
• The Master of Social Work, on the other hand, is an option for those who want to start their own non-governmental organizations.
• BSW (Lone ranger of Social work) graduates can seek this course to further develop their work possibilities.
MSW Admission
A merit list or a combination of a merit list and an entrance exam is used to determine admission to the MSW program. The colleges sometimes combine a personal interview round with a round of group discussion.
Graduation-level grades are used to make admission decisions. Admissions are sometimes made based on entrance exams. The General Discussion and Personal Interview follow the Common Admission Test or Skill Assessment Test.
The online application form can be completed by candidates directly or submitted during the application process.
Merit-based
Candidates who are selected for admission based on the merit list are required to fill out an application form on the college's website.
To complete the application process, candidates must pay the application fee. The supporting documents must be submitted in the required format.
To view the merit list, candidates must visit the college's website.
The majority of colleges create an admissions cut-off list. The minimum percentage needed to get in is shown on the Cut-off list.
If a candidate makes the merit list, they can pay the admission fee to complete the admission process.
Entrance-Based
Candidates must visit the agency or university website for entrance-based admission.
After completing the registration process and paying the application fee, candidates are required to submit the required documents in the prescribed format.
The purpose of the entrance exam is to assess a candidate's ability to think critically and use their skills.
The GD/PI round follows the announcement of the results for further candidate screening.
Candidates who have been chosen are either notified via email or a merit list is created based on their abilities, skills, and the number of seats in that college.
Eligibility for MSW
The fundamental requirements are as follows:
• a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a reputable college with at least 50% marks.
• The minimum percentage of aggregate marks obtained is reduced by 5% for candidates from the reserved category.
• The MSW course is open to students from a variety of backgrounds, including the humanities, social sciences, management, and science, with a minimum of 50% from a recognized college or institute.
• Candidates must also qualify for the entrance exam, if one exists, as previously stated.
Types of Master of Social Work
• MSW is gaining fast popularity as an academic discipline in India due to its participation in various fields such as medical, mental health, and educational field. There are different types of MSW courses to choose from and to meet the demands and needs of the students.
| Types of MSW | Eligibility | Admission | Average Fees |
| Full-Time MSW | Bachelor’s Degree and qualifying Entrance Exam in some cases | Merit-Based/Entrance Exam | INR 20,000-INR 200,000 |
| Distance MSW | Bachelor degree | Merit-Based admission | Up to INR 36,000 |
MSW Syllabus
| Column1 | Column2 |
| MSW Syllabus- Semester 1 | MSW Syllabus- Semester 2 |
| History and Philosophy of Social Work | Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy |
| Social Problem and Social Development | Rehabilitation and Resettlement |
| Social Work Research and Quantitative Analysis | Social Work Methods |
| Human Growth and Development | Visual Culture |
| Social Work Practical-I (Structured Experience Laboratory and Research Methodology Practical) | Social Work Practical-III (Concurrent fieldwork – Community Placement) |
| Social Work Practical-II (Skill Development Assessment) | Social Work Practical-IV (Learning Social Work through Participatory Approach) |
| IT in Social Sector | Community Intervention and Entrepreneurship Development |
| MSW Syllabus- Semester 3 | MSW Syllabus- Semester 4 |
| Ideology and Ethics of Social Work | Social Work Administration |
| Social Legislation and Labor Welfare | Corporate Social Responsibility |
| Vulnerable Children and their Development | Tribal Anthropology and Social Work |
| Elective-I | Elective-II |
| Social Work Practical-V (Concurrent fieldwork – Agency Placement) | Fundamentals of Medical Social Work |
| Social Work Practicum-VI (Micro Level Study on Social Exclusion) | Block Field Work Placement |
MSW Jobs
The career opportunities for graduates of MSW are quite high. All jobs in this field are related to social service or charity work. There are abundant jobs in government sectors, NGOs, educational institutes, rural areas, and many international companies.
It is possible for graduates also to work with educational institutions. After gaining enough spectrum in this field, students can work as consultants in many renowned organizations.
Common areas of work include
| Column1 | Column2 | Column3 | Column4 |
| Clinics | Correction Cells | Counseling Centers | Disaster Management |
| Education Sector | Health Industry & Hospitals | Human Rights Agencies | Mental Hospitals |
| Prisons | Management Companies | Old Age Homes | Gender Issues |
A short description of each job type is listed below:
| Column1 | Column2 | Column3 |
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Total Salary |
| Social Worker | A social worker works for the upliftment of different spectrums of society to fight for a number of social issues and social evils. | INR 3.88 LPA |
| Project Coordinator | A Project Coordinator maintains all the information on the project(s) assigned, and coordinates with everyone to make it efficient. | INR 3.90 LPA |
| Professor/Lecturer | A Professor is employed with schools or in colleges and they take lessons and do research work on different subjects of social work. | INR 7.50 LPA |
| Program Manager | A Manager is a top-level position who checks the proper functioning of that program to fulfill the aim, objects, and targets. | INR 4.10 LPA |
| Consultant | A Consultant in an NGO or any organization gives ideas and solutions on how to go forward with a particular case. | INR 3.5 LPA |
| Counselor | They interact with the victims of patients directly, and guide them with solutions or try to solve their problems. | INR 4.2 LPA |
| Documentation Specialist | These people take care of all the paperwork required in all the projects, programs, and cases. | INR 3.10 LPA |
| Community Health Worker | These professionals are the main personnel employed to ensure community health in that area. | INR 2.39 LPA |
| Case Manager | He/she manages all the related work associated with the case on which he/she is appointed. | INR 5.0 LPA |
MSW Scope
Students can become social activists, social workers, and social personals through the professional Masters in Social Work program.
This course combines classroom instruction with fieldwork to provide graduates with the knowledge and practical experience they need to quickly launch successful careers in this field.
Graduates of the MSW program can also pursue higher education. These include MPhil and Ph.D. degrees in research, MBA degrees in management, professional certificate programs, and relevant PG diploma programs.
Ph.D. in Social Work
After earning their PG degree, candidates can pursue a Ph.D. in Social Work. In that case, the candidates must take various entrance exams, such as UGC NET, CSIR JRF through GATE, SLET, and others. The Ph.D. program lasts between three and six years. The average cost of the course is between INR 18,000 and INR 2 million.
M.Phil in Social Work
Candidates can apply for the M.Phil in Social Work after completing the PG course. The best Ph.D. in social work schools are TISS, Delhi University, Madra School of Social Work, and so on. The course will take place over the course of two years. To enroll in this course, candidates must pass the NET exam. The course typically costs between INR 3,000 and INR 2,000,000. Osmania University, Loyola College, Pondicherry University, and other institutions are among the top M.Phil. programs in social work.
MBA in Social Work Management
After earning their MSW, candidates can take a number of courses, such as an MBA in Social Work Management and a Certificate course in Social Work & Criminal Justice System, among others, to increase their career prospects and opportunities.