<p>I'm currently a high school senior, and I want to, eventually, be a social worker that focuses on foster children cases or child welfare in general. I've learned that jobs such as those mostly require a MSW. I want to get a MSW from possibly University of Washington or University of Chicago. </p>
<p>But I don't know what I should do as an undergraduate. Does majoring in Psychology make sense? Or is it better to major directly in Social Work? Because I've also heard that some Master programs want the applicants to have credits in other disciplines. Does Psychology count as a different discipline? Or does it not matter what my Bachelor's is in? (e.g. Applying for medical schools) </p>
<p>I am 100% certain I want to be a social worker. I'm just not sure what I should do to start on that path. Any reply would be wonderful!
Thank you!</p>
<p>I looked at the two programs you mentioned and psychology is a perfectly acceptable major as an undergraduate. And it definitely makes sense. And it has been my experience that psychology practices typically have counselors with BAs or BSs in Psych and MSW.</p>
<p>Here is Chicago’s admissions page. There are many possibilities for under=graduate majors acceptable for admissions.</p>
<p>Uchicago is a wonderful school, but it is extremely selective and expensive. I think going to a school with a social work program may work for you. Chance me.</p>
<p>I have my MSW and my undergraduate major was psychology. It was a great major to prepare me for my graduate studies. But if I could make a suggestion to you in your search for MSW programs? Social work is noble profession but it doesn’t pay all that well, so you might want to consider a less expensive school for your MSW. Though I am a school psychologist now (and making a lot more $), I’m proud to have started out as a social worker. I went to CSU Long Beach for my MSW which was a good program and also very affordable. I had a job lined up before graduation. Some of my colleagues at work went to USC for their MSW and they were saddled with debt. I, on the other hand, had no debt and I was hired at a higher salary than many of them because I am bilingual. So, I guess what I’m getting at is that, if you were planning on getting an MBA, where networking is important, it might make sense to go to a prestigious program even if it is expensive. But social workers work with the disenfranchised; many times we work with people no one else cares about. And for very little pay. It is a calling; a vocation. Trust me that it isn’t necessary to attend an expensive graduate program to be a good social worker. Attend a less expensive MSW program and use the $ you save to learn another language fluently if you are not already bilingual. You will be buying yourself job security. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>My daughter is a rising senior planning a similar path of study: a double major in Spanish and sociology with a minor in Portuguese with the ultimate goal of earning an MSW.</p>
<p>Based on advice we had received, it would seem an undergraduate psych or sociology degree would prepare you well for an MSW program. A BSW has two potential pitfalls: as a terminal degree, it would greatly restrict your job choices and even in this relatively poorly paying field, the pay difference could be well worth it, especially if, as mentioned in the preceding post, you can find a program without such a burdensome tuition; also, should you change mind along the way, those credits you will have earned as a psych major within a college of arts and sciences are much more likely to be useful toward earning a degree in another major than credits parked in a school of social work would be.</p>
<p>If you are 100% sure you want to become a social worker, then pehaps get your BSW because many programs allow you to get advanced standing if you have your BSW.</p>
<p>Not only should you look at more affordable MSW programs, but also undergraduate programs - I’m not sure what your plans are for next year, but you want to keep your undergrad debt as low as possible, too. You will have much more flexibility in the jobs you pursue and ultimately accept if you are not saddled by the concern of paying back student loans. Psychology, social work or sociology are all acceptable majors to prepare you for advanced study in social work. </p>
<p>Keep an eye on MSW pre-reqs - some programs may expect certain undergraduate foundational courses that they would require you to take your first semester as you begin your MSW program, so you want to have those completed in undergrad rather than wasting a semester catching up in graduate school.</p>