Different Specializations in Social Work

During the course of many bachelor's and master's degree programs, aspiring social workers
may decide to specialize in specific fields of practice. Specialization allows social workers to
gain more experience and knowledge in their field of interest and possibly increases their
chances of employment. For example, many school social work positions often require
specific education and experience in a school setting. Common areas of specialization
include clinical, school, gerontological and child and family social work.
Child and Family Social Work
Many bachelor's and master's degree programs allow students the opportunity to specialize
in child and family social work, also sometimes referred to as child welfare. On the
bachelor's level of practice, child and family social work usually involves working to improve
the welfare and safety of children, adolescents and their families. Typical job settings might
include working for your state's child protective services agency as a CPS caseworker where
you make home visits and investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect. Master's level
practitioners who specialize in child and family social work may decide to work in clinical
settings providing mental health services, such as assessment, diagnosis or individual, group
and family therapy, to children and their families.
School Social Work
School social workers provide assessments, intervention and counseling to students
throughout their educational careers. A school social work specialization is mainly intended
for students who already know that they want to ultimately work in a school. School social
workers are usually master's level practitioners, so this specialization is primarily offered in
master's degree programs. In this track of study, you will take specific coursework in school
social work. You may also interact with school personnel and parents and provide direct
services to students during your internship.
Social Work and the Aging
Social workers are often called upon to provide services to older adults, including
assessments, supportive counseling and advocacy. Bachelor's and master's level students
interested in working with older adults may decide to specialize in social work and the aging.
Specializing in this field provides you with the education and experience you'll need to work
in some common settings, such as home health-care agencies or community centers for
older adults. In some programs, this specialization may be grouped in with other closelyrelated fields, like health, or may be referred to as gerontological social work.

Specialization in Health and Aging

Students in this specialization may concentrate in health or aging, or can
combine both areas for a dual focus. Students will be prepared for careers as
clinicians, case managers, program directors, and administrators providing
social work services in a range of health care settings, including neighborhood
health centers, community and rehabilitation hospitals, large urban medical
centers, AIDS service organizations, home and community-based programs,
long-term care institutions, and hospice programs.
Health
Students focusing on Health will develop skills and expertise in clinical work
with individuals and families in health care settings, skills in larger systems
interventions, and an understanding of the social work role in interdisciplinary
collaboration. Course content for this specialization reflects a diverse area of
concerns, including experiences of illness, disabilities, and chronic conditions;
spirituality; end-of-life care; and ethical and legal dilemmas. The psychosocial
dimensions of care will be viewed in the context of current health care
delivery systems.

Aging
This specialization focuses on the full range of health and mental health
services for older adults, including those who remain in their own homes and
communities. Course content reflects the areas of concern found in the health
concentration, but also emphasizes life span, long-term care, and specific
aging-related issues. Psychosocial dimensions of care are viewed within the
context of health and social care systems. Health and Aging students have
access to a diverse array of field placements and will learn relevant clinical
skills for work with individuals and families in sites such as acute care
hospitals, mental health facilities, social care agencies, assisted-living
facilities, nursing homes, substance-abuse clinics, and faith-based
organizations.
Sample Electives for Health/Aging Specialization:
SW-478 Social Work Practice in Health Care
SW-501 Social Work Practice with Older Adults
SW-583 Advocacy and Social Action in Gerontology
SW-463 Advocacy and Social Action with Disability and Chronic Illness
SW-554: Health Care Policy and Advocacy in Social Action

Clinical Social Work

The specialization in clinical social work, also often referred to as a mental health
specialization, is generally only available to master's level students, as clinical social workers
must have a master's degree to practice. However, some undergraduate programs may offer
a specialization in mental health or addictions, which prepares students for more advanced
study on the master's level. Clinical social work specializations focus on assessment,
diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and psychological disorders and the treatment of
relationship and family problems. Clinical social workers are employed in settings such as
private practice, mental health clinics, hospitals and community centers.
Considerations
Although less common, a few schools offer other areas of specialization, such as trauma and
interpersonal violence, leadership and development or international social work. Social
workers who have completed a specialization and obtained the required number of hours of
direct experience may be eligible to apply for certain specialty certifications offered through
the National Association of Social Workers Certification generally involves NASW
membership, completing an application, submitting proof of education and experience and
holding a current state license to practice.
Medical Social Work
Medical social workers provide necessary services to patients in the healthcare system. They
are employed in diverse settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities
and medical centers. Within medical centers and hospital settings, medical social workers
may specialize in specific areas, like pediatrics or gerontology. Medical social workers often
have master's degrees, but some may find employment with bachelor's degrees. Although
most states do not offer licensure for bachelor's-level social workers, medical social workers
with master's degrees often obtain state licensure. Master's-level social workers may also
earn the Certified Social Worker in Healthcare credential from the National Association of
Social Workers, or NASW. Medical social workers often conduct intakes, provide psychosocial
assessments to determine a patient's specific needs, intervene in crisis situations, offer
counseling and coordinate discharge plans.
Case Management
Social workers may also decide to specialize in the field of case management. They work as
case managers or case work specialists in settings such as government agencies or social

services organizations to provide direct services to clients in need of assistance. The type of
assistance case management social workers provide is as varied as the needs of their
clientele -- they may help homeless clients find housing, assist families with obtaining food
stamps or monitor day treatment programs for people with psychiatric illnesses. Case
management social workers may have bachelor's or master's degrees in social work -- some
also hold state licensure. Master's level social workers with relevant education and
experience may obtain the Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager credential from
the NASW.
Trauma and Interpersonal Violence Specialization
Viewing early-attachment disruptions, neglect, trauma, and family, community, and global
violence as a spectrum, this specialization prepares students to practice with victims and
survivors, as well as their families and communities. Students also gain skills to work in
settings such as courts, jails or prisons. Electives and field placements educate students to
develop their competency and comfort level with a range of clients.
Students learn the social ecology of the criminal justice system, how to be an effective
"guest" in a "host" environment (e.g., prison, court, police station, district attorney's office,
etc.), and the assessment and treatment of involuntary clients informed by strengths-based
models that embrace social justice. Students become equally equipped to work with juvenile
and adult clients; males and females; victims and offenders; and individuals, families, and
groups.
Sample Electives for Trauma and Interpersonal Violence Specialization:
SW-482 Social Work Practice with Domestic Violence
SW-528 Child and Adolescent Trauma
SW-529 Forensic Social Work
SW-582 Attachment and Neurobiology in Social Work Practice
Specialization in Mental Health and Addictions
This specialization prepares students for careers in mental health and/or addictions. This
includes work with clients struggling with severe and persistent mental illness; those with
addictions; and those with co-occurring mental illness and substance-abuse disorders who
receive care in acute care settings such as inpatient units, detoxification settings, and partial
or day hospitals. The specialization is also designed for students who wish to work with
clients with psychological and social problems of a less severe nature who receive help in
mental health clinics and family agencies.
In conjunction with aligned field settings, electives provide students skills in rapid and
thorough assessment, evaluation, and formulation. Students learn to use several treatment
modalities such as psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and group therapy.
They will become skilled at developing various treatments and will deepen their theoretical
understanding of mental illness, neurobiology, addiction behavior, and the treatment
processes.
Sample Electives for Mental Health and Addictions Specialization:
SW-438 Alcohol, Drugs and Social Work Practice
SW-462 Advanced Group Work with Vulnerable Populations
SW-475 Narrative Approaches
SW-483 Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches and Treatments
SW-578 Practice with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness
SW-584 Psychodynamic Approaches to Work with Adults
Empowering Social Work
Basis: Evaluation, maintenance and promotion of the ability of most usual clientele groups in
social
work
require
co-ordinated
and
responsible
professional
expertise.
Content: Questions related to substance abuse, mental health, physical health, disability and
ageing, social rehabilitation, psychosocial workm preventive intervention, evaluation,

multidisciplinary co-operation, networking of services, influencing decicion-making and

providing
it
with
professional
knowledge.
Social Work in the Field of Marginalisation
Basis: The basic tasks of social work in dealing with processes causing marginalisation and
discrimination
require
highly
developed
expertise
during
social
transition.
Content: Questions related to discrimination, proverty, incurring debt, severe income
problems, multi-cultural society, unemployment, criminalization and accumulation of
separate problems, psychosocial work, preventive intervention, evaluation, multidisciplinary
co-operation, networking of services, influencing decicion-making and provinding it with
professional knowledge.