Career Options

Master of Social Work MSW students

Serving our Society

Are you passionate about confronting severe social issues and serving individuals, families, groups, and communities in need? That's what social workers do every day.

Social workers are employed in various practice settings, including mental health and healthcare facilities, substance use disorder treatment centers, social service agencies, schools, governmental organizations, and much more. Social workers provide vulnerable and underserved populations with critical services and resources that improve their health and functioning and the well-being of the communities in which they reside. With a particular emphasis on helping people who are oppressed and living in poverty, social workers focus on the person and their environment, counseling individuals, families, and groups during times of crisis and advocating for community-level change that better meets the needs of vulnerable people.

Social work is one of the fastest-growing fields in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that social work career options will increase by 16% through 2026 with employment opportunities in behavioral health, health care, child welfare, substance use, justice, program development, and community organizing. Over the last decade, Montana has had a consistent need for social workers to work as therapists for Comprehensive School & therapists for Comprehensive School and Community Treatment; Community Treatment (CSCT) programs in local schools, clinical social workers in integrated behavioral health programs, outpatient therapists, child protection specialists, and social workers in local human service organizations.

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