Social Work
The growing complexities of the society have made man more vulnerable and helpless and given rise to various types of social problems. Social Work implies bringing of various resources in helping people with such problems and alleviate their suffering. Social workers try to lessen and prevent social problems caused by factors such as poverty, unemployment, alcoholism, lack of health services, family maladjustments, physical, mental and emotional handicaps, anti-social behaviour, and poor housing.

Social work was once the domain of philanthropists, and done voluntarily. However today, with changing social values and norms, the problems are more complex and effect larger number of people especially in the urban areas and tackling such problems requires people not with just good heart but also with special skills. As a matter of fact it has become quite a sought after career offering reasonable financial returns.

The field of social work encompasses a variety of subjects like sociology, psychology, education, criminology, industrial relations and personnel management and medical sciences and career opportunities would depend on an individual’s area of specialisation. There are job openings both in the government as well as non-governmental sectors. Openings in the governmental sector are mainly in the community development projects pertaining to health, rural development and tribal welfare etc. Work in the non-governmental sector i.e. in NGOs’ is more varied and can be specific to either urban or rural area. Postgraduates in Social Work (MSW) also have job opportunities in the industrial and corporate sector.

Educational Qualification:
It is true that many people have made a successful career in this field without any formal training, nevertheless, with social work gaining in status as a full fledged profession prospects for gaining entry into this field are better for those holding a degree in Social Work or an allied filed. Social Work as a discipline is available in many universities both at the graduate and postgraduate levels. Some of these universities also offer postdoctoral research facilities. Education qualification in some of the allied fields like criminology, anthropology, psychology, occupational therapy, sociology and health and hospital administration are also found equally suitable to work in this area.