Utah, a state known for its lakes and rugged layout, offers a lot to you as a social work student. Some of Utah’s 2.9 million residents live in its largest cities, which include Salt Lake City, West Valley City, and Provo. However, the majority of the population lives in rural or suburban areas of the state.
Sperling’s Best Places reports that the cost of living in Utah is slightly above the national average, so living here is reasonably affordable. You should be aware of the large Mormon population as you begin your social work career. Knowing their religion, their morals, and their values can help you provide services that respect their beliefs.
Studying in Utah gives you three schools that you can choose to attend, all of which are located in urban settings. Utah has a high average acceptance rate of 78%, so you may be able to avoid a strenuous admissions process. Utah is also known for having very affordable tuition rates, as the average tuition rate in Utah is $5,803. When you add in the average scholarship award of $5,143, it’s clear that you may be able to complete your degree with very little student debt.
Your MSW program, which consists of two years, is broken up into two parts: your first year, also known as your core year, and your second year, also known as your concentration year. In your core year, you explore the roots of social work, social policy, theoretical approaches, and societal influences. This provides the basis for your second year, in which you decide on a concentration and choose courses that reflect your learning interests.
In addition to concentrations, some schools offer extra certificate opportunities. The University of Utah has a Substance Use Disorder Treatment Training Certificate that you can get with your Master’s degree. This certificate can give you the qualifications you need to treat people with substance abuse issues.
Along with your core and concentration courses, you must complete a set number of field hours. Most schools in Utah require 900 or more hours. Your field hours may take you to hospitals, mental health clinics, or rehabilitation centers.
Utah has lots of employment opportunities for social workers. With a Master’s degree, you have the skills and knowledge to work in many different fields. This is particularly true if you have a clinical license. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare organizations and government agencies are the two largest employers of social workers.
In Utah, some of the largest social work employers are University of Utah Healthcare, South Davis Community Hospital, UnitedHealth Group, and Kindred Healthcare.
After receiving your clinical license, you have the choice to start a private practice and offer counseling services independently. This option often gives you the most freedom in where, how, and when you work.
Prior to beginning your career as a social worker in Utah, you have to get your license from the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. Passing the licensing exam earns you the title of Certified Social Worker (CSS).
Once you are a CSS, you can start working towards the Licensed Clinical Social Worker status. Utah requires you to complete 4,000 hours of clinical supervised work experience. Upon passing the clinical exam, you can get your advanced practice license.
With a Master’s degree, you can start in the social work field with a competitive salary. Salaries may increase with experience, a higher licensure level, and specialization in different fields.
In Utah, most social workers earn an average salary between $39,200 per year and $53,400 per year (O*Net, 2012). Social work graduates that take on clinical positions earn, on average, between $39,900 per year and $52,200 per year (O*Net, 2012).
The demand for social workers is high all over the country, particularly for social workers that can perform clinical duties. However, the demand for social workers is even higher in Utah. Social workers in various fields can expect to see job growth of 34% to 43% from 2010 to 2020 (O*Net, 2012). Substance abuse counselors can anticipate job growth of 34% in the same time frame (O*Net, 2012).
Schools in Utah Offering Masters in Social Work Programs
Brigham Young University-Provo
(Provo, UT)
- Masters in Family and Consumer Sciences
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $4,710 Tuition Cost
- $3,255 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
University of Utah
(Salt Lake City, UT)
- Masters in Family and Community Services
- Masters in Public Policy Analysis
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $6,201 Tuition Cost
- $6,467 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting
Utah State University
(Logan, UT)
- Masters in Family and Consumer Sciences
- Masters in Human Development and Family Studies
- Masters in Social Work (MSW)
- $4,676 Tuition Cost
- $5,708 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards
- Urban Campus Setting