The purpose of the Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree is to provide students with a solid multidisciplinary preparation in the Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences and the Arts, subsequently allowing them to pursue careers in education, business, government, and other such fields.

Occupational opportunities

Occupational opportunities include:

1. Banking or retail management trainee
2. Buyer trainee
3. Claims adjuster
4. Underwriter
5. College/university admission counselor
6. Convention/meeting planner
7. Development officer/fundraiser
8. Human resources professional
9. Insurance agent
10. Management
11. Public relations specialist
12. Sales representative
13. Teacher
14. Writer
15. Intelligence Officer/Analyst

A bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies can be used as preparation for several different careers, including:

1. Editor
2. Journalist
3. Publicist
4. Entry-level Management Personnel
5. Social Services Human Relations Officer
6. Para-Professional Librarian
7. Policy Analyst
8. Minister
9. Public Relations Personnel
10. Urban Planner/City Manager
11. Legislative Assistant
12. Lobbyist
13. Politician
14. Non-profit Organizational Director
15. College Recruiter
16. Customer Service Representative
17. Creative Writer
18. Copywriter
19. Advertising Account Executive
20. Grant Writer
21. Speech Writer
22. Anchorperson
23. Training Specialist
24. Medical Communications Trainer
25. Archivist
26. Museum Manager

A Liberal Studies degree may also be used to prepare for graduate study in these areas:

1. Elementary/Middle School Education
2. Business
3. English
4. History
5. Journalism
6. Library Science
7. Law
8. Medical and Health Science
9. Natural Science
10. Psychology
11. Sociology
12. Speech
13. Communication

Recent employers of our LIS graduates include:

1. University of Illinois
2. S. Bank
3. University of Illinois College of Medicine
4. Illinois State Board of Education
5. Girls Scouts of America
6. Northwestern University Police
7. Springfield Division of Waste & Recycling

 

What You Can Do With This Degree ?

A wide variety of careers are available to students who complete a Liberal Studies major. LIS graduates find entry into careers in business, government, and social service agencies like adult and family services, criminal justice, and health and welfare. Some Liberal Studies majors combine this study with teacher training programs at either the undergraduate or graduate level to become K-12 educators; others find this interdisciplinary major appropriate for graduate studies in law.

 

Social Work Career in India

Social work in today’s world has established itself as a significant full fledged profession at par with any other profession. As the world is fast becoming increasingly materialistic, devoid of human sentiments and emotions, with people growing more and more self-centred, yet another global trend is becoming distinctly evident-the urge of the young lot who want to do something for the welfare of the society.

 

Social Work Job Prospects

Social work is among those fields where Job opportunities differ with the kind of specialization that a social worker has chosen. As of now, a qualified social worker can work in the following domains:

1. Specialists in medical aid and psychiatric social work can make a career in hospitals, clinics, counseling centers, mental hospitals, old age homes and similar institutions.
2. Specialists SW professional in the specialized field of criminology can opt for a career in prisons, correction cells and similar institutions.
3. Those with specialized knowledge in labor welfare segment can work as labor welfare representatives in the private and corporate sector including MNCs and HR department of various labour-centric industries.
4. Job opportunities are also available with NGOs working for the development of rural health and sanitation facilities. Here, a SW professional can work as community welfare specialist.
5. Getting into academics and teaching to masses about the utility of SW is another option available to professionals associated with this field.

 

Social Work Institutes/Universities

1. The Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management (IISWBM)
2. Tata Institute of Social Sciences
3. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Institute of Social Sciences
4. University of Delhi
5. Loyola College
6. University of Rajasthan
7. Jamia Millia University
8. University of Mumbai
9. University of Calcutta
10. Guru Nanak Dev University

 

Careers in Social Work

The field of social work spans across multiple career options, depending on the type of social work degree you pursue and your personal career goals and interests.

Types of Social Work Careers

1. Micro Level Careers
2. Mezzo Level Careers
3. Macro Level Careers

 

Top 10 Reasons to Pursue a Career in Social Work

1. You like working with people. Social workers are almost always interested in helping people, either individually or on a big picture level.
2. You or a loved one have been helped by a social worker in the past, so you became interested in their work.
3. You or a loved one have experienced a hardship such as addiction or abuse and you would like to help others overcome similar challenges.
4. You have an interest in a field commonly addressed by social workers such as poverty, mental health, or community organizing.
5. You would like to work in a certain environment, such as a hospital or a school, but you are more interested in providing clinical or case management services than healthcare or education.
6. You have a strong interest in working with a certain population such as children, the mentally ill, or older adults.
7. You enjoy volunteer work and making a difference and are interested in extending your passion into a career in non-profit management, program development, or direct social services.
8. You enjoy working in a fast-paced environment addressing crisis situations while managing a large number of tasks.
9. You are interested in a flexible career in an ever-changing field allowing you to work in different settings, each with their own goals and challenges, but with a shared purpose of serving the common good.
10. You want to have a career focused on helping people and making the world a better place.

 

What Does a Social Worker Do?

There are so many potential career paths in social work that it can be challenging to answer the question: what does a social worker do? Many social workers provide clinical and case management services directly to individuals, couples, families, and groups. Social workers serve clients dealing with a range of challenges including poverty, physical and mental health issues, addiction, and family problems. They may provide clinical services, such as therapy or counseling, and connect people to resources in the community to help them overcome challenges. You can read more about this type of career in our micro social workers section below.

 

Social Worker Job Description

1. Identify people who need help, such as vulnerable children and older adults, those struggling with mental illness or addiction, and families living in poverty.
2. Assess clients’ needs, strengths, and goals, and develop a plan to support individuals and families as they work toward their goals.
3. Counsel people to manage challenges in their lives such as illness, loss, unemployment, and family problems, providing connections with community resources addressing such challenges.
4. Assist individuals and families in meeting basic needs by connecting them to food assistance resources, child care, and healthcare.
5. Help clients navigate government assistance and benefits programs such as Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance, and food assistance programs.
6. Respond to crisis situations such as mental health crises and spousal or child abuse reports.
7. Advocate for access to resources needed to improve people’s lives.

 

People They Serve

Common groups of people that social workers serve include:

1. Children
2. Older adults
3. People with disabilities
4. Patients with chronic, acute or terminal diagnoses
5. People coping with grief or loss
6. People with mental illnesses
7. People struggling with addiction

 

Where They Work

1. Hospitals, medical clinics, and nursing homes
2. Community mental health agencies and substance misuse clinics
3. State and local governments including child welfare agencies and departments of health and human services
4. Schools and other youth-serving organizations
5. Military bases and veterans affairs clinics
6. Correctional facilities
7. Private practices

 

Types of Social Workers

 

Micro Level Careers

1. Clinical Social Worker
2. Psychiatric Social Worker
3. Child and Family Social Worker
4. Social and Human Service Assistant
5. Healthcare Social Worker
6. Medical Social Worker
7. Geriatric Social Worker
8. Hospice Social Worker
9. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker

 

Mezzo Level Careers

1. School Social Worker
2. Community Social Worker
3. Community Health Workers and Administrators
4. Social and Community Service Manager
5. Group Social Worker
6. Health Educator

 

Macro Level Careers

1. Public Policy Social Worker
2. Administrative Social Worker
3. Research Social Worker
4. Research Assistant
5. Environmental Health Workers and Administrators
6. Healthcare Administrator
7. Public Health Administrator

 

Social Work Career Settings

Social workers could be employed by:

1. Child welfare organizations
2. Adoption agencies
3. Foster care agencies
4. Daycare providers
5. Government agencies
6. Schools
7. Hospitals
8. Nursing facilities
9. Health departments
10. Clinics
11. Hospices
12. Individual and family services agencies
13. Treatment facilities
14. Prisons
15. Private practices
16. Military hospitals
17. Veteran affairs hospitals and outpatient centers
18. Military base family services units
19. Military correctional facilities
20. Community and military base schools
21. Community mental health centers
22. Vocational rehabilitation centers
23. Community-based organizations
24. Social welfare providers
25. Government planning departments
26. Advocacy organizations
27. Political offices
28. Human resource departments
29. Universities
30. Corporations