Career advancement, prestige and a salary increase can be expectedfrom pursuing a master’s degree in social work, but a few studentswere given an unexpected boot from the county.
This semester, unlike previous semesters, not all county workersare guaranteed their job back if they pursue an MSW. According toLoring Jones, curriculum chair for social work, the county used togive employees who were interested in the child protection programeducational leave with a right of return to complete the degree.However, now they must face a difficult decision in whether theyshould sacrifice job security for a higher degree.
Jones said the policy change affects 20 graduates a year from apool of 1,000 applicants. She said 10 of the 2003 program graduateswere not taken back by the county, although all of them foundpositions in non-profit child welfare organizations.
“Ihave seen this happen before, and things will change,” she said.”Government entities freeze employment in budget turndowns andunfreeze them when the finances improves.”
Moreover, the program, which is funded through federal CaliforniaSchools of Social Work and the County Welfare Directors Association,gives preference to county employees in financial awards.
“If county employees no longer apply for this program, we willgive their stipends to other students looking for a career in childwelfare,” Jones said.
It takes the average student three years to complete the MSWprogram and only 300 students are admitted annually. Undergraduategrade point average, experiences relevant to social work and awritten essay are all taken into consideration for the applicant’sadmission.
Director of the Consensus Organizing Center Mike Eichler receivedhis MSW from the University of Pittsburgh and teaches social workpractice skills in the School of Social Work. He said he takes instudents who are interested in working with low-income communitiesand making a difference in people’s lives, but is interested ingetting more people involved with the program.
“We need dedicated people determined to create change,” he said.”We need students who see the big picture and want to affect changeand empower people.”
With an annual salary of about $27,000 with a bachelor’s degree,some students may need more incentive to become a social worker. A$10,000 increase may just be the right answer.
According to the Fall 2003 National Association of Colleges andEmployers salary survey, a social worker with a master’s degree isoffered $36,992 a year. Furthermore, a doctorate degree yields anadditional $6,611 per year. Doctorate scholars were offered $47,434last year, but with new budget cuts on the rise, these figures dropagain.
Jones said there is concern with her program, but has alreadyfactored in different contingency plans to deal with various budgetcut scenarios.
“I assume any tuition increases would reduce the applicant pool,”she said. “We may have larger classes and fewer elective offerings.”
While large classes will draw criticism from students, at large,one former MSW student said many in the administration seemed moreinterested in improving the national rank of the program thanteaching the class. The student, who wished his identity be keptprivate because of an impending legal action against a facultymember, further criticized the program’s textbooks and assignedreadings for lack of research.
All criticism aside, international business junior Josh Lohnessaid he would pursue the MSW if he were in the social servicesprofession, nevertheless.
“Studying is always more interesting and challenging than work,”he said. “Even if the county doesn’t take me back, the chances of(MSW) increasing my salary in the future are still there.”
