Known for its relaxed culture and friendly people, Tennessee can be a great state for you as a social work student. The cost of living is 10% lower than the national average, which can make it easy to survive on a student budget. Whether you want to live in a large city like Memphis or Nashville, live in a suburban area, or set up shop in the rural countryside, Tennessee has something for you.
There are two parts of Tennessee’s makeup that may influence your social work practice. First, the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the African-American population in Tennessee is higher than average. As a result, you should be prepared to learn the ins and outs of culturally competent care. Additionally, a higher than average percentage of Tennessee residents live below the poverty line. Poverty can significantly affect your clients and what their needs are.
Tennessee is home to 10 different MSW programs, most of which are located in urban areas. The average cost of tuition is $14,448. However, there are many different scholarship opportunities in the state, leading to an average scholarship award of $9,440.
No matter which school you attend, almost all MSW programs have similar learning outcomes. MSW programs aim to teach you about different theoretical perspectives, offer ways to treat different demographic groups, and educate you on social work policy. You meet these goals by taking foundation classes in your first year and then taking concentration courses in your second year.
Throughout the entirety of your MSW program, you are expected to complete over 900 clinical hours. In your first year, you will likely complete your hours in a variety of locations. In your second year, once you have narrowed your focus and decided on a concentration, your practicum sites will likely reflect your concentration.
Choosing a concentration is an essential step in your MSW program. Some schools do not offer concentrations at all; you create your own concentration by carefully choosing electives that help you meet your career goals. Some schools offer concentrations in fields like family care, child therapy, substance abuse, and mental health.
One of the main benefits of earning an MSW degree is the fact that you can use it in just about any field or industry. While most industries use social workers in some way, the Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that most social workers are employed by healthcare organizations or government agencies. In Tennessee, some of the largest social work employers are Fresenius Medical Care, CHS Avalon, Alive Hospice, and Humana.
After earning a clinical social work license, you also have the opportunity to go into private practice as an independent practitioner. This option gives you the most freedom and flexibility.
The Tennessee Board of Social Workers is the governing agency of social workers in Tennessee. Their licensure process is fairly straightforward. After paying an application fee of $75 and a licensing fee of $75, you can sit for the Master’s-level exam and get your license.
To practice clinically as a social worker, you have to get 3,000 hours of supervised work experience. Once you meet this requirement, you can apply to take the advanced licensing exam and get your clinical license.
As a new social worker, your salary is dependent on many different factors. You earn more money for higher levels of experience, higher licensure levels, and more specialized areas of concentration.
Average salaries for social workers in different specializations range from $34,800 per year to $43,700 per year (O*Net, 2012). Substance abuse counselors earn an average salary of $33,600 per year, according to O*Net.
Social workers are in high demand in Tennessee, particularly those who are working towards clinical licensure. With this license, you can perform many of the same duties as a psychiatrist or psychologist at a fraction of the cost. In general, job demand for social workers is expected to increase by 12% to 30% through 2020 (O*Net, 2012).
Schools in Tennessee Offering Masters in Social Work Programs
Austin Peay State University
(Clarksville, TN)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $5,424 Tuition Cost
- $5,308 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
East Tennessee State University
(Johnson City, TN)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $5,640 Tuition Cost
- $7,345 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Middle Tennessee State University
(Murfreesboro, TN)
- Masters in Family and Consumer Sciences
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $5,616 Tuition Cost
- $3,538 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Oxford Graduate School
(Dayton, TN)
- Masters in Family and Community Services
- Rural Campus Setting
Southern Adventist University
(Collegedale, TN)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $18,324 Tuition Cost
- $5,914 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Suburban Campus Setting
Tennessee State University
(Nashville, TN)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $5,496 Tuition Cost
- $6,486 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
The University of Tennessee
(Knoxville, TN)
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $7,802 Tuition Cost
- $3,361 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
The University of Tennessee-Martin
(Martin, TN)
- Masters in Family and Consumer Sciences
- $5,978 Tuition Cost
- $2,467 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Rural Campus Setting
Union University
(Jackson, TN)
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $24,940 Tuition Cost
- $12,930 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Vanderbilt University
(Nashville, TN)
- Masters in Community and Social Psychology
- Masters in Education Policy Analysis
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $41,088 Tuition Cost
- $37,615 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting