MSW in NH | Master of Social Work in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is located in New England and has a rich tapestry of history. New Hampshire is also a state with massive opportunities for a social worker with an excellent educational background. The economy has changed dramatically in the last decade and one of the hallmarks of this sea change has been that the American workforce is far more educated and well trained than it was just a few short years ago. Given this new reality, if you wish to remain competitive it is imperative that you continue your education until you have earned an advanced degree in your field. In the case of the social worker, the best route to ensuring a multitude of career options is to earn your Master of Social Work (MSW).

With a MSW you will have a variety of careers available to you. For example, you might want to enter a career as a child welfare case manager working for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and help both children and families to create safe home environments. Whatever employment option you choose in human services, a MSW will make you a highly competitive candidate for jobs in human services.

The state of New Hampshire only has one level of social work licensure, the Clinical Social Worker (CSW) and it requires that you have a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. You can learn about all the requirements for the CSW in our article here. You will want to browse the state MHPB website.

Even in a state that is as relatively wealthy as New Hampshire, there are still a wide variety of Human Services agencies that have need of Social Workers with advanced degrees such as the Master of Social Work degree (MSW). A good example of this that will appeal to those who feel drawn towards the Healthcare industry is the work of the Medical Social Worker helping patients gain access to Medicare and Medicaid benefits through their hospital in a city like Manchester. There are also plenty of opportunities for those who enjoy working with children within the school system. Children who are suffering from mental or emotional issues that impair learning are greatly helped by those Human Services professionals who have earned their Master of Social Work degrees (MSW) and have become School Social Workers at one of New Hampshire’s 179+ school districts in cities like Rochester. If you enjoy the idea of helping people with disabilities you may wish to consider a career as an Aging and Disability Services Case Manager. These are just a few examples of the myriad ways that someone who has the expertise borne of having earned their Master of Social Work degree (MSW) can give back to their fellow citizens of the great state of New Hampshire.

Finding the Right School for MSW in New Hampshire

Once you have determined that getting your Master of Social Work is a crucial step towards realizing your goals, you will want to begin the process of finding a school that is an ideal fit for you. A great way to bring your educational goals into focus is by determining your post-graduation career path. Knowing what occupation you wish to hold helps you to focus on schools that have programs that will best prepare you for your career. For example, if you want to become a Social Services Manager you will want to consider attending a program like the one offered at the University of New Hampshire with a degree concentration in Community and Administrative Practice. By looking at the specific elements of various programs you will also learn what is available which will help you refine your understanding of exactly what you are looking for in a program.

Career Options with a MSW

Once you have earned your MSW you will see the full range of jobs that are available to you. Taking the time to do research on possible career paths will pay dividends in terms of helping you clarify your educational goals and creating the best possible outcome. One example career you might want to consider is being a Clinical Social Worker II working for Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon. Here at humanservicesedu.org we have built a resource that can help you research this exact question. 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:

• Child Welfare Case Manager
• Social and Community Service Manager
• Licensed Clinical Social Work
• Social Work Administrator
• Aging and Disability Services Case manager
• Social Service Screener
• Marriage and Family Therapist
• School Social Worker
• Social Service Permanency Worker

MSW Programs in New Hampshire

Finding the Right Program for You

There are a few key qualities of each program you will want to evaluate as you work to find an ideal MSW program. One of the first determinations you can make is whether a “brick and mortar” physical campus or an online program (more info on online programs below) is a better fit for you. Some of the things that you will want to consider in this decision will include: finances, learning style, need for flexibility and area you want to inhabit. You can narrow your focus to a few schools rather quickly if you decide a traditional campus experience such as the one offered at the University of New Hampshire located in Durham (Pop. 14,638) is important to you. Once you have chosen a campus type, you can concentrate on evaluating the key attributes of the schools and programs you are considering:

• The curriculum
• Program accreditation (CSWE etc.)
• Admissions requirements
• Program prestige
• The financial costs of the program

Of all the aspects of programs you will analyze, none are as important as the curriculum. Remember, while most MSW programs will have aspects of their curriculum that are common amongst all programs, there are some that have been custom designed to prepare the student for a specific career specialty. For example, the University of New Hampshire also offers a degree concentration in Clinical Practice which is an excellent type of program to consider if you are planning on becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). If you want more information on licensure in New Hampshire click on this link: Making sure that the curriculum of your MSW program matches your employment goals is crucial to having the best outcome possible.

Analyzing the financial costs of schools and programs is of course very important. You will want to be sure that any program you choose fits with your personal financial situation. For example purposes consider the tuition offered by the University of New Hampshire. They have a tuition rate of $13,500 per year for residents and $25,940 per year for non-residents. This will not include the costs of texts for classes, various student fees, or the cost of room at board, all of which must be considered as you make this important financial decision. Remember, the more schools you research and analyze the better your overall decision will be due to truly understanding what is out there.

Online Programs

There are many ways in which online schools and traditional campuses vary and these differences are worth evaluating to find which one fits your lifestyle and learning style. Online schools often will offer significant financial advantages in that they often have lower tuitions than their physical campus counterparts. Online schools usually offer a more modular program compared with traditional campuses. Flexible class times and program completion at varying rates can be extremely helpful to some students. This kind of flexibility is very helpful for certain “non-traditional” students such as: busy parents, adults who are returning to education after an extended break or others for whom flexibility is critical. Being able to take classes from the comfort of one’s office or home is another reason to consider online programs as this can be a particularly helpful trait for students with certain learning styles. Both kinds of programs will be helpful to certain students, which one is the best fit for you is something you will have to determine for yourself after careful review.