Social work is a field that looks to improve the general quality of life and well-being of individuals, groups, people and communities as a whole, through research, focus groups, crisis intervention and community organization. It aims to specifically help those people who are affected by social poverty, mental illnesses and social injustice, including violations of their civil liberties and basic human rights.
Featured Programs
The aim of post graduate certificate programs is to enhance your ability to deal with various kinds of social problems and situations. The post graduate certificate in social work looks to enhance your decision-making skills and increase your knowledge about social problems.
Requirements for admission into a post graduate certificate program in social work
Some universities may require applicants to fulfill a certain criteria. These requirements may include:
-
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
-
An acceptable GPA
-
Proof of English language proficiency in some cases
Curriculum and specialized post graduate certificates in social work
The general core courses in any post graduate certificate program may include:
-
Negotiation study
-
Social study and community development
-
Human rights study and advocacy
-
Social welfare policy and services: children, youth and families
-
Social work in educational settings
-
Counseling and community development
Several universities and colleges offer various specialized postgraduate certificates in social work, these specialized certificates may include:
Post Graduate Addiction Certificate
This certificate program is designed especially for clinical social workers, for people who may deliver behavioral healthcare to addicts, or people with mental or physical disabilities or illnesses. Core courses may include:
-
Understanding and engaging difficult behavior change
-
Stages of change
-
The brain chemistry of addiction and withdrawal
-
Family systems and natural support
-
Addiction, mood imbalances and thought disorders
Post Graduate Integrated Behavioral Health and Primary Care Certificate
This certificate is also designed for direct clinical practitioners who serve communities that have complex issues relating to physical and mental health, and substance use. This certificate aims to instill various skills in the student, such as consultation, intervention and assessment skills. Core courses may include cultural competency, recovery-oriented techniques, evidence-based methods and practices, and healthcare technology
Post Graduate Mixed Methods Research Certificate
This certificate is designed for practitioners and researchers in social work. Students may learn to appreciate scientific methods while enhancing practical social work knowledge. The curriculum may include courses like mixed methods research in social work and critical evaluation.
Post Graduate Sexual Health Certificate
This certificate program aims to address the learning needs of sex educators, sex therapists and sexuality councilors. The curriculum may include courses such as sex therapy, and sexuality counseling and education.
Job and career outlook
You could either try applying for an entry-level job such as a social and human services assistant or you could further your studies. Some universities or colleges may even allow you to transfer your certificate credits to a diploma or a degree.
After you have successfully acquired your postgraduate certificate program in social work, you can possibly find work as a social and human service assistant.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary of social and human service assistants was $28,850 per year in 2012. BLS also predicted that the number of people working as social and human service assistants would rise by 22 percent between 2012 and 2022, which is much faster than the average of all occupations.