Master of Social Work Course: Fees, Duration, Syllabus, Colleges, Eligibility, Career & Scope 2025
Update on 26 Mar, 2025
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MSW (Master of Social Work) Course: In basic words, social work applies to specific services intended to support the needy and the elderly and to improve their health.
The full form of MSW Course is Master of Social Work. It is a postgraduate academic degree in the social work field awarded for the program. MSW Course length is 2 years, split into 4 semesters.
The Master's in Social Work program is aimed at educating individuals who are currently employed or who want to work in the growth and welfare sectors.
MSW (Master of Social Work) Course: Highlights
| Type of Degree | Masters degree |
| Full Name of the Course | Masters of Social Work |
| Duration of the Course | 2 years |
| Age Limitations | No age limits |
| Minimum Aggregate Percentage | 55% marks in aggregate |
| Subjects Required | Subjects in graduation corresponding to postgraduate |
| Approx Fees Incurred | INR 10,000 - 60,000 per annum |
| Approx Salary Offered | INR 3.99 L per annum |
| Employment Profiles and Roles | HR Manager, Social Worker, HR Generalist, Program Coordinator, Non-Profit Organization, Assistant HR Manager, Senior HR Generalist, Sr. HR Manager, Medical Social Worker, Executive Director, etc. |
| Placement Avenues/Opportunities | Amazon.com Inc, Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP), Famy Care Ltd, Consolidated Construction Consortium Ltd, Shahi Exports Pvt Ltd, etc. |
MSW Course: Overview
- MSW is the term for the Master of Social Work. It is a master's degree program that focuses mainly on the sector of community service and health care.
- The length of the MSW courses is 2 years.
- Criteria for eligibility for the MSW course include a bachelor's degree from a recognized board or university.
- The curriculum is designed to cover topics such as Community Organization, Women and Child Development, Labor and Legislation Welfare, Communication and Counseling, etc.
- Someone may take up this course with attributes such as social and self-awareness, analytical thinker, emotional connection for the community along strong communication skills.
The Popular Colleges in India which provide MSW Courses are enlisted below:
- Madras School of Social Work, Chennai
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Christ University, Bangalore, etc.
The qualifying requirement for the MSW degree is a Bachelor of Social Work from a recognized institution with a postgraduate subject of at least 50 percent. The course provides students with problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and social work/society study skills, as well as knowledge about the huge ocean of disparity between Indian culture and other cultures around the world.
The MSW Course curriculum requires aspirants to attend and plan seminars for the well-being of the people in various areas. Most universities and colleges are encouraging their students to opt for internships in various organizations to give them full insight into the concept behind social work and the necessary realistic work experience.
What is MSW Course or Master of Social Work Course?
The question "What is an MSW course?" can easily be answered as "Master of Social Work Course is a social work master's course and its different uses to improve the lives of the poor."
The length of the MSW course is two years, and other specifics of the MSW course include the MSW curriculum which focuses on the logic and definition of social work and its recognized effect on the different genesis of humans and animals.
The course is tailor-made for those who wish to hold a position in NGOs and NPOs as clinical, supervisory, or program director. An MSW is currently considered the terminal degree in the arena of social work, in spite of the availability of higher degrees.
Working on Social Statistics across the nation and helping people with the principles of Social Welfare are some of the lessons to be taught during the Master's course.
A few of the subjects which are pursued as part of the MSW curriculum under the conduct of the syllabus are listed below:
- History, Philosophy, & Fields of Social Work.
- Theory & Practice of Counselling.
- Project Planning & Management.
- Social Work Research & Social Statistics.
In some of the most prolific but successful NGOs including Smile Foundation, Nanhi Kali, among others, an aspirant may opt to pursue a prospective, lucrative career.
MSW's spectrum of employment in India is broad and wide in terms of the social development and social work field. The admission procedure for the MSW course varies throughout the country, from college to college.
Scope of MSW Course:
Master in Social Work is a technical course to prepare students to become social activists, social workers, and social employees. This course involves preparation in the classroom and fieldwork so that participants can obtain full expertise and live experience to develop their careers in this field easily.
Professional Education:
MSW graduates are also given the option of going for higher studies. Those include degrees in education such as MPhil, Ph.D., degrees in management such as MBA, technical certificate course, and related PG diploma courses.
A few courses that you can pursue after graduating from MSW are MBA in Social Work Administration, Certificate course in Social Work & Criminal Justice System, among others for greater opportunities and career advancement.
Jobs at MSW:
The job prospects are relatively high for MSW students. All jobs relating to social service or charity work in this sector. There is plenty of employment in government industries, NGOs, educational institutions, rural areas, and many foreign firms.
Graduates also can work with educational institutions. Students can work as consultants in many renowned organizations, after acquiring enough breadth in this area.
| Clinics | Correction Cells | Counseling Centers |
| Education Sector | Health Industry & Hospitals | Human Rights Agencies |
| Prisons | Management Companies | Old Age Homes |
| Disaster Management | Mental Hospitals | Gender Issues |
Government Sector:
- You will operate with the govt. Ensure that basic policies and rights are followed and developed and implemented in various parts and sections of society, especially among uneducated and marginalized parties and individuals.
- You will serve in such departments as the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Law & Justice, Ministry of Labor & Education, Ministry of Social Justice & Education, Ministry of Women & Child Affairs, etc.
- You can clear the appropriate examination like UGC NET and get employed as a lecturer or professor in central or state government colleges or institutes if you want to go into teaching.
Educational Institutes:
- In various schools, colleges, and institutes across India, you may become a teacher or professor, or researcher. You will clear the UGC NET to get a salary according to the govt to do so. Emulations.
- You may be employed as a Junior Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow, Project Helper, Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, etc.
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs):
- You can get reputed jobs and incentives when working for NGOs for a variety of job roles as well.
- They work seamlessly to introduce social justice and disseminate information in less fortunate parts of society, whether in the urban or rural market. We struggle for social inequality, hunger, exploitation of animals, prejudice on castes, racial discrimination, etc.
- Top Indian NGOs include TeachForIndia, Goonj, and the KISS Foundation.
- Social work is one of the rare occupations in its own right, in which, aside from the pen-paper test, aspirants can genuinely test their skill-sets and values in a realistic and imaginative way.
- Postgraduate aspirants to this course may choose to work with some of the world's renowned and active NGOs or welfare work associations approved by UNESCO and UNICEF.
- A Master of Social Work graduate will grab seats on some of the world's credible and trustworthy media outlets, such as Al-Jazeera, Bloomberg, CNN, and others.
- An MSE graduate will extend his/her job opportunities in NGOs to cover a range of sectors such as Women Empowerment, Animal Prodigy, Human Trafficking, Social Inequality, and more for the welfare of society.
- Many who complete this degree through work in the fields of medical, mental health, and education, providing support as therapists, social workers in health care, social workers in schools, and social workers in clinics.
- Many students now prefer their nobility, novelty, and urge to help the disadvantaged, to social work. An aspirant will obtain a chance to start his / her own NGO that can be recognized by the government and other global organizations such as the United Nations.
Master of Social Work Course Entrance Exams:
The list of entrance tests that an aspirant needs to pass in order to gain admission into the MSW course are enlisted:
- Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) MSW Admission Test
- Jamia Millia Islamia MA Admission Entrance Test
- Calicut University MSW Entrance Examination
- IGNOU Entrance Examination
- KUCET Social Work Entrance Exam
- Manipal University Entrance Exam
- Sree Sankaracharya University MSW EntranceExamination
- Tata Institute Of Science And Technology Social Work Entrance Exam
- University of Delhi Combined Entrance Examination
- University Of Mysore Entrance Exam
Master of Social Work (MSW) Course Exam Preparation Tips:
Frame up a full-proof study Plan: A successful research program helps the students achieve their goals. The plan has to be pragmatic and should be in line with the students' schedules and other daily requirements. Students are expected to prepare and do their day accordingly.
In adopting this approach, their plan's efficacy would be improved and the risk of stress and even mild headaches will. Steps in preparing for the Exam: Students must meticulously schedule their time. Secondly, they can split their study sessions so they can finish their portions in time. Including getting to know the study content, it's also important for them to understand the degree of difficulty they have on different topics.
One thing they will hold in mind always is never to overwork. It will not only do them any good, but they will still not be able to focus on their portions for a long time. They may refer to both guides and short notes. This can be purchased at all leading book stores. Among the recommended books are:
Government of India:
- Encyclopedia of Social/Work in India from the Ministry of Welfare
- India Social Problems by G.R. Madan
- Principles of Population Studies by Asha A. Bhende and Tara Kanitkar
- Sociology by C.N. Shankar Rao
List of Master of Social Work Course Colleges:
The famous colleges in India providing MSW courses are enlisted:
| S.No. | Name of the College |
| 1 | Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai |
| 2 | Madras School of Social Work, Chennai |
| 3 | University of Delhi, Delhi |
| 4 | Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi |
| 5 | Indian Institute Of Social Welfare and Business Management |
| 6 | Loyola College of Social Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 7 | Madras Christan College, Chennai |
| 8 | Christ University, Bangalore |
| 9 | Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad |
| 10 | Vimala College, Thrissur |
Distance Master of Social Work Course:
The colleges that are offering MSW courses through distance learning methods or correspondence modules are listed below:
- Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli
- Madhya Pradesh Bhoj University, Bhopal
- Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Satna
- Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Bengaluru
MSW (Master of Social Work) Course Fees:
The average course fees range between INR 10,000-60,000 per annum for an aspirant to the MSW course. This value may vary depending on the reputation and staff of the school, college, or university in which the aspirant pursues his or her degree, as well as government and quotas for administration.
MSW Course Duration:
The Master of Social Work or MSW Course is a 2-year long post-graduation course and it comprises 4 semesters to systematically impart this course to the aspirants. Each semester of this course is of 6 months and semester-wise examinations are conducted.
MSW Course Syllabus:
The syllabus of the course as stated in the MSW curriculum is tabled below. This structure of the syllabus may vary according to the college or organization but the crux of the structure of the syllabus remains constant throughout.
| 1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
| Social Work Profession | Social Group Work |
| Social Case Work | Community Organisation |
| Concurrent Field Work including Social Work Camp | Concurrent Field Work including Study Tour |
| Analysis of Indian Society | Social Policy, Planning & Development |
| Dynamics of Human Behaviour | Social Work with Rural, Urban & Tribal Community |
| Study of Indian Economics | Social Work Approaches for Social Development |
| Study of Indian Constitution | Social Work & Social Justice |
| 3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
| Social Work Research & Statistics | Social Work Administration |
| Concurrent Field Work including Summer Placement | Concurrent Field Work with Case Studies |
| Dissertation | Block Placement |
| Women and Child Development | Labour Welfare and Legislation |
| Criminology and Correctional Administration | Human Resource Management |
| Introduction to Disaster Management | Medical and Psychiatric Social Work |
| Communication & Counselling | Personal and Professional Growth |
MSW (Master of Social Work) Course Eligibility:
The eligibility of the Master's degree in Social Work is to receive a Bachelor's degree from a recognized University. Candidates who hold a Bachelor's degree in subjects related to humanities / social science/science/commerce or management are also eligible. Students with a background in social work, psychology, social science, sociology, or other related fields are given priority over others.
The selection is done in the respective entrance exam, group discussion, and interview based on one's results. The test tests the intellectual capacity and general knowledge of oneself. The aim of the interview is to determine the sincere interest of an applicant in Social Work. Candidates who belong to the SC / ST require marks of at least 40 percent at qualifying exams. Depending on University this percentage can vary.
MSW or Master of Social Work Course Admission Process:
Aspirants are required to appear for entrance examinations which are carried out by the individual university according to their eligibility criteria. Aspirants must access the university application form for their preference, although they can refer to any nearby counseling centers. Individuals aspiring to follow a particular course must apply the application form to the specified individual or to any other administrator without fail.
The declaration of the entrance examination results is contingent on the universities in terms of their admission procedure. Aspirants must undergo the therapy process as the next step towards acceptance performed by the university in question.
MSW or Master of Social Work Course Specialisations:
The specialization choices available to graduates of MSW course are enlisted:
- Community Social Work
- Child, Family, & School Social Work
- Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Work
- Social Work with Military Members & Veterans
- Social Work Administration
- Domestic Violence Counseling
- ElderCare
MSW or Masters of Social Work Job and Placement Opportunities:
Graduates of the MSW course enjoy a strong international reputation. First international organizations such as the World Health Organization, UNESCO, and UNICEF employ social workers in awareness programs and initiatives for developing countries.
Many of the Reputed Organizations working for Socio-Economic Protection, as well as for the welfare of the Poor, Orphans, and Disabled People are:
- CINI
- CRY
- Department of Rural Development
- HelpAge India
- UNESCO
- UNICEF
- Internationally recognized NGOs
The Employment Areas for Graduates of Master of Social Work or MSW are:
- Clinics
- Correction Cells
- Counselling Centers
- Disaster Management Department
- Education Sector
- Gender Issues Associations or Groups
- Health Industry
- Hospitals
- HR Department of Industries
- Human Rights Agencies
- M.N.C's
- Mental Hospitals
- Natural Resources Management Companies
- NGO's
- Old Age Homes
- Prisons
MSW Jobs for Freshers:
The job opportunities available to a fresher or a graduate of MSW course are enlisted:
- Documentation & Communication Officer
- Humanitarian Values & PMER Officer
- National Secretary of Community Development
- Junior Research Fellow
- Sub-Regional Training Coordinator
MSW Government & Private Jobs:
The massive variation of job possibilities available to aspirants of MSW course are enlisted below:
- Assistant Director
- District Consultant
- Documentation & Communication Officer
- Humanitarian Values & PMER Officer
- National Secretary of Community Development
- Junior Research Fellow
- Project Coordinator
- Professor
- Programme Co-ordinator
- Senior Manager - Human Resources
- Sub-Regional Training Coordinator
A brief description of each job profile type is listed below:
| Job Role | Job Duties | Salary |
| Social Worker | A social worker functions for the upliftment of different areas of society to fight for a number of social problems and social evils. | INR 4.88 LPA |
| Project Coordinator | A Project Manager holds all the project (s) details allocated and works with others to make it effective. | INR 3.80 LPA |
| Professor/Lecturer | A professor is working in schools or colleges and takes lessons and carries out studies on various social work topics. | INR 8.50 LPA |
| Program Manager | A Manager is a top-level role that checks the program's proper functioning to fulfill the goals, artifacts, and all the targets. | INR 4.50 LPA |
| Consultant | A consultant in an NGO or any company gives suggestions and strategies for how to deal with a specific case. | INR 4.5 LPA |
| Counselor | They directly interact with patient victims and guide them with solutions or try to solve their problems. | INR 4.90 LPA |
| Documentation Specialist | These people take care of all the required paperwork in all the programs, programs, and cases. | INR 4.10 LPA |
| Community Health Worker | These practitioners are the key workers working in this field to ensure community wellbeing. | INR 4.39 LPA |
| Case Manager | He/she handles all of the work relevant to the case on which he/she is named. | INR 5.0 LPA |
MSW or Master of Social Work Course Salary:
In MSW an aspirant's average course salary is INR 3.96 lakhs per year. This value varies depending on the job sector and business, as well as the aspirant's commitment, persistence, and perseverance at the workplace.
Conclusion:
Dear Students, in this article we have tried to provide you with all the details regarding the MSW or the Master of Social Work Course. We hope that this information would help you know the details of the course better and would help you decide your career path.
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