There are over 9.8 million people living in the small eastern state of North Carolina, all of whom are your potential clients as a social worker. Many of them live in North Carolina’s largest cities, which include Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that North Carolina has a population density that is significantly higher than the national average.
Overall, the cost of living in North Carolina is about 4% lower than the national average. However, the amount of people living below the poverty line is also higher than the national average. As a social worker, you must be knowledgeable about and sensitive to the effects of poverty on people.
There are 13 MSW programs in North Carolina, located in a variety of rural, suburban, and urban settings. The overall average acceptance rate is 53%, which gives you a good chance of getting into your selected program if you have a strong application. In general, North Carolina schools are very affordable; they have an average tuition rate of $8,816.
Online MSW programs in North Carolina have several goals: prepare you for clinical and non-clinical work with a variety of patients, give you a strong understanding of social work policy and analysis, and help you understand societal influences that negatively impact people’s lives. To achieve this goal, you start with one year of core classes that cover these topics in a general sense. In your second year, you get to the heart of the issues in each subject and decide where you want to focus your energy.
Some schools in North Carolina do not have any concentration options, while schools like Fayetteville State University let you choose between children & family or mental health concentrations. If you do not choose a concentration, it is important to select electives that will help you reach your overall career goals.
In addition to your courses each semester, you’ll be expected to complete about 250 clinical hours. This results in the completion of 1000 clinical hours. Supervised by a site instructor, you’ll see patients in hospitals, mental health clinics, and government agencies.
Because of the many different job titles you can take on as a social worker, you have lots of employment options to consider. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social workers can work in nursing homes, private practice, schools, and substance abuse clinics. Most social workers choose to work for healthcare companies or government organizations.
In North Carolina, some of the most prominent social work employers are the Arora Group, RHA Behavioral Health Services, and CareSouth Homecare Professionals. If you attain a clinical license, you can also choose to go into private practice and work independently.
In North Carolina, all licenses go through the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board. With a Master’s degree, you can apply to become a Licensed Master Social Worker. This process involves taking the state-required exam and earning your license.
To become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, you have to complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical work. You can then take the advanced licensing exam.
The salary you earn as a social worker is dependent on myriad factors, including experience, education level, and licensure level. Overall, mental health, family, and healthcare social workers earn average salaries of $42,800 per year to $45,100 per year (O*Net, 2012). If you enter clinical work, you may be able to earn between $43,000 per year and $47,400 per year as a substance abuse or family counselor (O*Net, 2012).
The general outlook for social workers is excellent in North Carolina. The fields of family, healthcare, and mental health social work can expect to see job growth of 13% to 18% between 2010 2020 (O*Net, 2012). Substance abuse counselors may see a 10% increase in job openings, while job growth of 21% is expected for family and marriage therapists.
Schools in North Carolina Offering Masters in Social Work Programs
Appalachian State University
(Boone, NC)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $3,542 Tuition Cost
- $2,873 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Duke University
(Durham, NC)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- $42,308 Tuition Cost
- $36,284 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
East Carolina University
(Greenville, NC)
- Masters in Family and Community Services
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $3,758 Tuition Cost
- $3,477 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Fayetteville State University
(Fayetteville, NC)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $2,585 Tuition Cost
- $1,364 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
North Carolina A & T State University
(Greensboro, NC)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $3,070 Tuition Cost
- $2,461 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
North Carolina Central University
(Durham, NC)
- Masters in Family and Consumer Sciences
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $3,244 Tuition Cost
- $2,478 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
(Raleigh, NC)
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $5,748 Tuition Cost
- $6,148 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
(Chapel Hill, NC)
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $5,823 Tuition Cost
- $9,902 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
(Charlotte, NC)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $3,453 Tuition Cost
- $1,782 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
(Greensboro, NC)
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $3,779 Tuition Cost
- $2,314 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
(Pembroke, NC)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $3,012 Tuition Cost
- $3,289 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
University of North Carolina Wilmington
(Wilmington, NC)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $3,743 Tuition Cost
- $2,374 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Western Carolina University
(Cullowhee, NC)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $3,397 Tuition Cost
- $1,651 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting