Kentucky is a beautiful state to live, study, and work in. The state has an extensive river and lake network that offers lots of waterfront views. Kentucky has an array of large cities, suburban areas, and rural areas that can benefit from the services of skilled social workers. The 4.4 million people in Kentucky mostly live in rural areas, with just under one million residents living in larger cities like Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green.
Across the state, one of the largest problems facing residents is poverty. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 18.6% of the state lives below the poverty line, compared to just 14.9% of the entire country. Poverty can affect entire generations of families, which means that Kentucky needs social workers that know how poverty affects people.
Tuition and Curriculum Information for MSW Programs in Kentucky
Kentucky is home to six schools with MSW programs that can help you reach your goals. For the most part, these schools are centered around urban areas like Lexington, Bowling Green, and Louisville. The overall average cost of tuition in Kentucky is $15,879, which is on par with national averages for graduate degrees. There are a considerably amount of scholarship opportunities in Kentucky, leading to an average scholarship award of $8,199. Depending on which school you attend, you may be able to work as a teaching or research assistant to pay for school.
Curriculum
All schools in Kentucky have the same basic structure. You can complete an MSW in two years if you attend school full-time or four years if you attend part-time. Some schools have Advanced Standing options. This is for entering students that already have a Bachelor’s degree in social work. As an Advanced Standing student, you can complete your degree in one year.
Completing a concentration or extra certificate is an option offered at the University of Kentucky. As an MSW student, you can concentrate on clinical social work or community and social development. You can also choose to earn a certificate in school social work, gerontology, or developmental disabilities.
Field Work
The coursework in an MSW program is designed to give you the knowledge you need to work with people of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnic identities. You build on your classroom knowledge by completing roughly 250 hours of field work every semester.
MSW Salary and Job Outlook in Kentucky
Because of its unique blend of countryside, rural, and urban communities, Kentucky offers a wide selection of employment options for social workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the majority of social workers work for a government agency, healthcare organization, or social assistance program.
As you begin your career search, you’ll notice how many different places employ social workers. In Kentucky, some of the major social work employers include Humana, Richmond Place, Trilogy Health Service, and LHC Group.
There are also opportunities for social workers that want to enter private practice. After two years of working as a licensed social worker, you may be eligible to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). This distinction permits you to work independently and set up a private practice, which gives you a lot of freedom in where and when you work.
Social Worker Salary in Kentucky
The highest paid social workers in Kentucky are healthcare social workers, whom O*Net reports as earning an average salary of $44,300 per year. Family social workers earn an average annual salary of $37,000 per year (O*Net, 2012). Mental health social workers in Kentucky may be able to earn an average salary of $33,100 per year (O*Net, 2012).
Social Worker Job Outlook in Kentucky
The overall job outlook for social workers in Kentucky is very strong, much like in the rest of the country. As a social worker with a Master’s degree, you can perform clinical counseling duties more affordably than psychiatrists and psychologists.
The greatest demand in Kentucky is for healthcare social workers, for whom job openings are expected to increase by 34% (O*Net, 2012). Job growth for mental health social workers, at 30%, is only slightly slower (O*Net, 2012). The demand for family social workers is expected to increase by 10% through 2020 (O*Net, 2012).
Social Work Licensure in Kentucky
All social worker licensing in Kentucky goes through the Kentucky Board of Social Work. You can pursue licensure as a Clinical Social Worker after passing the required state exam. You must complete 30+ hours of supervised work per week over the course of two years to pursue Licensed Clinical Social Worker status. After completing these hours and sitting for an advanced exam, you can become an LCSW.
As a Clinical Social Worker, you may be able to earn more money than social workers that possess Bachelor’s degrees. Your earning potential may go up even more after you become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Masters in Social Work Degree Programs in Kentucky
Asbury University
(Wilmore, KY)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $25,140 Tuition Cost
- $9,837 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Campbellsville University
(Campbellsville, KY)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $21,100 Tuition Cost
- $10,769 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Rural Campus Setting
Spalding University
(Louisville, KY)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $20,550 Tuition Cost
- $7,988 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of Kentucky
(Lexington, KY)
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $8,610 Tuition Cost
- $5,992 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of Louisville
(Louisville, KY)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $9,466 Tuition Cost
- $8,550 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Western Kentucky University
(Bowling Green, KY)
- Masters in Social Development
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $8,472 Tuition Cost
- $6,056 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting