SOC WEEK 1

Angela Bullock  

Social Work Career (Substantive Responses to the Question Will Count for Participation Points!)

Hello Class,

 After reading your introductions/bios on the class wall it appears that many of you may choose to work in a profession outside of social work upon completion of your degree. However, imagine that you have decided to switch careers and move into the social work field. What type of work do you see yourself doing? What population would you work with? What agency/social work setting would you work within? Conversely, if your ultimate goal is to become a social worker, what type of work do you see yourself doing? What population do you primarily want to work with? What agency/social work setting do you want to work within?

 For an opportunity to earn participation credit, please respond to these questions and provide an explanation of your response.

Choose two different career paths within the field of social work. Explain the educational requirements, for entry into and for advancement in each of the two careers. Explain if you feel the educational requirements are sufficient for the role people in both careers play. Explain why.( this was the post she responed to) just for FYI

Breanna Williams   In order to become a mental health counselor, one must start with earning a bachelor’s degree. According to Maddocks (2018), it is not a requirement that the bachelor’s degree is in the field of sociology or psychology, but it is beneficial if it is. Once the bachelor’s degree is obtained most states require an additional 60 hours of graduate-level coursework in counseling. Maddocks (2018) explains that courses should cover topics such as research methods, group counseling, substance use disorders and addictions, and emotional and mental disorders. The educational requirements for this field of work are sufficient enough for the job being performed. However, on the bachelor’s degree level, it should be required that the degree is in a field related to mental health in order to better prepare the person for the work that will be expected of them.

Substance abuse counselors do not technically require a degree to enter this field, however, it is required that an individual receive specialized training (National University, 2021). In order to advance in this field, there are higher educational requirements that must be met in order to receive certification. According to the National University (2021), most states require 415 academic hours of substance abuse counseling and practicum to start working in the field and then pass a state-issued test to receive certification. Between the hours needed on an educational level and the hours needed in the field, these requirements are sufficient enough. Not only does the individual receive the education material they need to succeed they also are able to receive hands-on experience to become better equipped to handling this type of career.

Farley, O. W., Smith, L. L., & Boyle, S. W. (2011).  Introduction to social work (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. ISBN-13: 9780205001972 

URL:

http://gcumedia.com/digital-resources/pearson/2011/introduction-to-social-work_ebook_12e.php