MSW in IN | Master of Social Work Degree Indiana
Indiana is a great state to live in and a great state to become a social worker in. If you are interested in becoming a social worker in Indiana, in virtually any capacity, you would be well advised to consider getting your Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Few degrees offer such a tremendous diversity of choice in careers within the human services sector as the MSW. There are many routes you can take for your career such as: setting up a private practice as a licensed clinical social worker in Indianapolis, becoming a case manager with the department of human services in Fort Wayne or working at a non-profit in Evansville.
With the vast changes in the economy and workforce in the past ten years it is extremely wise to earn an advanced degree in your discipline. After the economic down turn in 2007/08 many workers decided to return to school to retool their careers and earn advanced degrees. In today’s highly competitive marketplace, anything you can do to help your resume stand out is worth pursuing. You will often hear that in this “employer’s job market” that “The Master’s degree is the new Bachelor’s degree”. This reflects how educated and well-trained the modern workforce is. Having your MSW will really give you an edge in the job market in addition to giving you greater options in regards to career choices.
One of the benefits of earning your MSW degree is your ability to become licensed in Indiana as a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). You can learn about exactly what is required of you to attain these licenses in our article on licensure here. The specifics of the laws and regulations around Indiana Social Work licensure can be found on the state webpage which you can access by PLA: Social Workers.
The state of Indiana, like many states, has a population large enough to create significant demand for well-educated Social Workers with advanced degrees. Your chances of securing a job in Human Services increase dramatically with a Master of Social Work degree (MSW) both in terms of mid-level positions as well as opening the door to more advanced careers such as leadership or opening your own private practice. The first step to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and offering Mental Health services in your own private practice is to attain your Master of Social Work degree (MSW) as part of the licensure process. You also can enter very different types of careers in Human Services such as helping children who are having difficulties in school as a School Social Worker in a city like South Bend. Others might want to increase the hands on nature of improving children’s lives by giving children a fresh start with a loving adoptive family as a Social Service Permanency Worker in the city of Indianapolis. Some might prefer to work in a Healthcare context as a Medical Social Worker at one of Fort Wayne’s hospitals. The opportunities and options are vast for Human Services professionals in Indiana who have attained their Master of Social Work degree (MSW).
Finding the Right School for MSW in Indiana
It is very helpful to understand just how much earning your MSW will help you in terms of broadening your employment horizons and also making your resume standout. Once you have seen how important it is to take this educational step, you can begin the process of selecting your ideal school and program in Indiana. Remember, it is almost as important as the degree itself to find a program and school that meets your employment goals. This is why it is so important that you understand the career you are hopping to have after graduation. By first deciding on your future occupation you will begin to really see what your educational needs are. Then you can compare and contrast several schools and programs to understand what your options are and make an informed decision.
Career Options with a MSW
After earning your MSW in Indiana you will find that a great many career paths have become available to you. By doing some in-depth research on various different careers you will be able to understand what your choices are and bring clarity to what kind of career you want. Here at humanservicesedu.org we have built a resource that can help you research this decision. Below you will find a fairly short list of some of the many positions you will qualified for with an MSW. For more in-depth research consult our section on job descriptions:
- Social and Community Service Manager
- Licensed Clinical Social Work
- Social Work Administrator
- Social Service Permanency Worker
- Social Service Screener
- Marriage and Family Therapist
- School Social Worker
- Child Welfare Case Manager
MSW Programs
Finding the Right Program for You
You will want to carefully examine and evaluate several key aspects of each program you are considering in order to make an informed decision. One of the first considerations you will want to make is on whether you find that a physical campus or an online Indiana program (more on this below) is of greater appeal to you. Both have their advantages and disadvantages so this choice comes down to your personal preferences in regards to living situation, finance, learning style and need for flexibility. If you decide that a traditional “brick and mortar” campus is a better fit for you, then you will be able to narrow down your search based on schools located in areas you wish to live. Once you’ve decided on physical vs. online campus, you will want to turn your attention to the following aspects of any program you might be considering:
- Program accreditation (CSWE etc.)
- Admissions requirements
- Program prestige
- The financial costs of the program
- The curriculum
After you have started to narrow your list of prospective schools you will want to turn your focus to analyzing their Indiana MSW program in detail. Always you will want to keep your end employment goals in mind. It is very important that the curriculum of the program you choose closely match your desired career. Some programs for instance will be tailored to helping train future child welfare workers. Other schools have programs that are custom designed to train licensed clinical social workers. A careful review of the curriculum along with a discussion with the school about your academic needs is highly recommended before you make a final decision.
Of course it is important to weigh your financial situation against the costs of any program you are considering. While not as important as other elements, it is worth researching the program you are considering to see how it is regarded in the Indiana social work community.
Online MSW Degree Programs in Indiana
There are advantages to online programs that make them well worth considering. For example, some online programs have far lower tuitions than their traditional counterparts which can make them very appealing to students who are on a budget. Another huge advantage offered by online programs is that they often have much greater flexibility in regards to both class schedules and also the rate at which one can complete the Indiana MSW program. This can be a key consideration for adults who are returning to education after a break, busy parents or others for whom flexibility is at a premium. You will find that quite a few online institutions offer streamlined or fast tracked programs that have a faster turnaround between entering school and joining the workforce. This can be very appealing for those who are looking to get their career started as quickly as possible. Being able to take classes from the office or one’s own home is another compelling reason to consider online programs. There are pros and cons to both traditional campuses and online programs you will have to discover for yourself which method of education is better for you.
Indiana Colleges with MSW Prerequisite and Preparation Degree Programs
| Anderson University-Anderson 1100 E 5th St Anderson, IN 46012-3495 (765) 649-9071 www.anderson.edu/ | Ball State University 2000 University Ave Muncie, IN 47306 (765) 289-1241 www.bsu.edu/ | Bethel University-Mishawaka 1001 W McKinley Ave Mishawaka, IN 46545 www.betheluniversity.edu/ | Butler University 4600 Sunset Ave Indianapolis, IN 46208 (317) 940-8000 go.butler.edu/ |
| DePauw University 313 S Locust St Greencastle, IN 46135-1772 (765) 658-4800 www.depauw.edu | Franklin College 101 Branigin Blvd Franklin, IN 46131-2623 www.franklincollege.edu/ | Grace College and Theological Seminary 200 Seminary Dr Winona Lake, IN 46590-1274 (574) 372-5100 www.grace.edu/ | Huntington University 2303 College Ave Huntington, IN 46750 (260) 356-6000 www.huntington.edu/ |
| Indiana State University 210 N 7th St Terre Haute, IN 47809 (812) 237-6311 www.indstate.edu/ | Indiana University-Bloomington 107 South Indiana Ave. Bloomington, IN 47405-7000 (812) 855-4848 www.iu.edu | Indiana University-Northwest 3400 Broadway Gary, IN 46408-1197 (219) 980-6500 www.iu.edu | Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne 2101 E Coliseum Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499 (260) 481-6100 www.pfw.edu |
| Indiana University-Purdue 425 University Blvd Indianapolis, IN 46202-5143 (317) 274-5555 www.iupui.edu | Indiana University-South Bend 1700 Mishawaka Ave South Bend, IN 46634-7111 (574) 520-4872 www.iusb.edu | Indiana University-Southeast 4201 Grant Line Rd New Albany, IN 47150 (812) 941-2000 www.ius.edu | Indiana Wesleyan University 4201 S Washington St Marion, IN 46953-4974 (765) 674-6901 cas.indwes.edu/ |
| Manchester College 604 College Ave North Manchester, IN 46962 (260) 982-5000 admissions.manchester.edu | Marian College 3200 Cold Spring Rd Indianapolis, IN 46222-1997 (317) 955-6000 www.marian.edu/ | Saint Josephs College US Highway 231 Rensselaer, IN 47978 (219) 866-6000 | Taylor University ( 236 W Reade Ave Upland, IN 46989-1001 (765) 998-2751 www.taylor.edu |
| Trine University 1 University Ave Angola, IN 46703-1764 (260) 665-4100 www.trine.edu/ | University of Evansville 1800 Lincoln Avenue Evansville, IN 47722 (812) 488-2000 www.evansville.edu/ | University of Indianapolis 1400 E Hanna Ave Indianapolis, IN 46227-3697 (317) 788-3368 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN 46556 |
| University of Saint Francis-Ft Wayne 2701 Spring St Fort Wayne, IN 46808-3994 (219) 434-3100 | University of Southern Indiana 8600 University Blvd Evansville, IN 47712 (812) 464-8600 www.usi.edu | Valparaiso University US Highway 30 and Sturdy Road Valparaiso, IN 46383 (219) 464-5000 www.valpo.edu | Vincennes University 1002 N First St Vincennes, IN 47591 (812) 888-8888 |
