Social work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or perceived social injustices and violations of their human rights Research is often focused on areas such as human development, social policy, public administration, program evaluation and international and community development. Social workers are organized into local, national, continental and international professional bodies.
Professional social workers are generally considered those who hold a degree. Often these practitioners must also obtain a license or be professionally registered.
The
education of social workers begins with a Bachelor's
degree (BA, BSc, BSSW, BSW, etc.) or diploma in
Social Work. Some countries offer Postgraduate
degrees in Social Work like Master's (such as
MSW, MA, MSc, MRes, MPhil etc.) or PhD
(doctoral studies). More and more graduates of
social work continue to post-doctoral studies.
Masters of Social Work
