They also try to improve the life of certain disadvantaged like disabled, old aged, orphan and women. The days are gone when social work was done for philanthropic purpose. But now it become a professional courses offered by institutes like TISS, IRMA and Delhi School of Social Work keeping in eyes the proliferation of NGOs in every nooks and corner of the country. Many and many students now prefer social work courses and get wide varieties of opportunities.
Course Details
The minimum educational qualification for a career in social work is Master in Social Work (MSW), which is a 2 years course open to all graduates from any stream. But candidates with Sociology background would get some preference. Many government colleges, universities and private educational institutions are offering this course throughout the country. There is also M.Phil. and PhD programmes in Social Work offered by many institutions. Besides educational qualification career in social work requires certain personality traits like compassion for the underprivileged and urge to help them, capacity to work hard under far-from-perfect working conditions, patience and dedication.
Career Prospects
There are ample job opportunities for MSW degree holders in both the government as well as non-governmental sectors. Opportunity in the governmental sector is mainly in the community development projects pertaining to health, education, rural development, child, woman and tribal welfare etc. Work in NGOs’ can be specific to either urban or rural area. Postgraduates in Social Work also have job opportunities in the industrial and corporate sector. Students opting social work as career may find job in child welfare and family service agencies for providing mental, health, medical, educational and correctional services.
Some MSW degree holders can prefer to be self-employed by establishing their own NGOs. Globalisation has widened the scope of employment for student opting for social work as their career. They may choose to join international NGOs like Amnesty International, Oxfam and Green Peace etc. New problems relating to environment has further forced social work to transgress its traditional limit. Now many NGOs and government agencies are working for environmental protection and conservation where people from social work background can find a good job.
Top Colleges Offering UG/PG/Other Courses
Several institutes and universities are offering Bachelor and Master Degree in Social Work in India. Some most important among them are Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta; Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai; Institute of Social Sciences, Agra; University of Delhi, Delhi; Rajasthan University, M.S. University of Baroda, Bombay University, Aurangabad University, Mangalore University, Loyola College of Social Sciences, Trivandrum and Madras School of Social Work, Chennai.
Remuneration
Remuneration of qualified professional social worker varies according to their job profile, qualification and experience. Those employed in government’s community developmental projects have good earnings of Rs 8000 to Rs 10000. Those working for NGOs also have similar pay structures. One can expect higher salary in corporate houses and industries. Salaries and perks are even higher in International NGOs. The Social Workers who are running their own NGOs also have handsome earnings.
