SOCIAL WORK

Job description:
Social workers are employed or contracted by school districts or other educational institutions to help students cope with personal and psychological issues that affect their school performance, behavior and socialization. Through one-on-one, classroom or school-wide sessions, school social workers address issues relevant to the student population they serve, such as school attendance, illegal drug or alcohol dangers, teen pregnancy and adjustment to the social setting of the school. They also might assist teachers and administrators in dealing with behavioral or attitude issues by communicating with students to find the causes of their distress.

Job Duties:
Because they are tasked with helping students function effectively in a school environment, school social workers interact with students to assess the areas in which they might need counseling or assistance. Communicating with parents, teachers and administrators is essential to provide a full view of the issues facing an individual student, group or entire district.
School social workers also maintain case files and reports to track student problems and progress and to recognize patterns in behavior. Once issues or behavior problems have been identified, school social workers assist in remediation by providing counseling, treatment plans or workshops. At the university level, school social workers often have faculty positions and counseling responsibilities.

Education :
A bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) is the most common minimum requirement to qualify for a job as a social worker; however, majors in psychology, sociology, and related fields may qualify for some entry-level jobs, especially in small community agencies (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Although a bachelor's degree is sufficient for entry into the field, an advanced degree is required for some positions. A master's degree in social work (MSW) is typically required for positions in health and school settings and is required for clinical work, as well (University of Michigan).
Full-time master's programs usually last two years and include a minimum of 900 hours of supervised field instruction. Entry into an MSW program does not always require a bachelor's degree in social work, but relevant courses in psychology, biology, economics, and the social sciences are generally recommended (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education lists 74 doctoral programs in social work. These programs include a variety of social-work related courses and also require a minimum of 400 hours of supervised field experience (GADE).

Salary:
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social workers who assisted children, families and schools averaged $46,060 per year in salary in May 2013 (www.bls.gov). The bureau also notes that most of these professionals earned between $27,420 and $72,350 per year. Those employed in New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island earned the highest among all states, with salaries of $62,380, $61,800 and $60,170, respectively.

Would I want to become  SOCIAL WORKER Yes I would.