The world’s going to the dogs. Maybe, but what are you doing about it? If you are willing to do something and have the idea of making the world a better place, then a course in social work is what you are looking at. There is a huge dearth of volunteers in this field, but even lesser are people who actually know a thing or two about how to deal with social issues. Shouting slogans and marching on the roads is not the only way to make a difference. These marches are anything, but social work. Real social work revolves around working with people and within society. And getting the social act right is not easy and neither does it come naturally to people. But help is at hand. There are properly defined courses in this field. However, just like any other field, perfection in this field comes with experience, but a good course and some basic knowledge in the workings gives you a good head start. So, take a look at the various aspects of social work courses.
Courses In Social Work
Course Details
Course Details
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for social work is a very simple one to understand. For a Bachelor’s degree (BSW/BASW) the applicant needs just a 10+2 certificate from any stream. Even for a Master’s degree (MSW) a graduation in any stream would do, however, applicants from sociology and social welfare streams are preferred. If looking for a M. Phil, then you must have a Master’s in Social Work and similarly an M. Phil. in Social Work is a must, if you wish to opt for a doctoral programme.
Details Of Course Curriculum
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History and Philosophy of Social Work
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Human Growth and Development
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Community Organisation/Work
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Political Economy of Rural Development
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Social Welfare Administration
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Non-Farm Sector and Rural Poor
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Child Rights
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Disability
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Social Accountability and Rural Development
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Human Rights
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Social Action, Movements and Campaigns
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Management of Non-Governmental Organisations
Specialisations
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Law and Social Work
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Social Harmony and Conflict
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Information Technology for Rural Development
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Disaster Management
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Development Communication
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Training Methodology and Management
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Education
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Child Rights
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Women Rights
Skills Required
The field requires a lot of selfless devotion to social causes and people in general. So obviously, selflessness is one skill one has to have to be in this field. The other key skills are:
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Empathy – to understand the plight of the people and to be able to relate to them.
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Emotional maturity – to deal with the sentiments of the people involved without hurting anyone.
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Objectiveness – to keep a straight head and avoid getting carried away in sentiments.
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Sensitivity to people & their problems – so that sensible solutions can be worked out for people.
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Independent working style – because the kind of human sentiments involved calls for independent attitude.
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Good interpersonal relationship – to break ice with people.
Career Prospects
Needless to say but the world today requires many selfless individuals who would work towards making it a better place to live in. And this fact only creates more opportunities for people from this domain. It is not like the paychecks are thin either. The paychecks are sufficient, but the work demands a lot from an individual. The nature of the social work courses is such that they produce highly qualified professionals for their industry. Such individuals find excellent scope in various fields such as anthropology, psychiatry or health related fields. And seeing the current times and the dearth of social workers in the world, the scope of building a career in social work looks extremely promising both in the developing as well as the developed countries.
Best Schools
The best global schools offering courses in social welfare are:
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Washington University, St. Louis
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University of Chicago, Chicago
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University of Wisconsin–Madison
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University of Edinburgh, UK
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University of Washington, Seattle
The best Indian schools providing courses in social work are:
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Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University
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Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
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Palli Sangthan Vibhag (Rural Reconstructions College)
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Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
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University of Delhi, Delhi