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Director of social services education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a director of social services. Directors of social services usually study social work, psychology, or sociology. 63% of directors of social services hold a bachelor's degree, and 27% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 12,128 real director of social services resumes to see exactly what director of social services education sections show.
The most common colleges for directors of social services are the University of Phoenix and the University of Phoenix.
There are also many online director of social services courses to help get the education required to be a director of social services.
There are certain director of social services certifications that you should consider. These director of social services certifications include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Activity Director Certified (ADC).
What education do you need to become a director of social services?
What degree do you need to be a director of social services?
- Bachelor's, 63%
- Master's, 27%
- Associate, 7%
- High School Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 2%
What should I major in to become a director of social services?
- Social Work, 46%
- Psychology, 16%
- Sociology, 7%
- Business, 4%
- Other Majors, 27%
Most common colleges for directors of social services
| Director of social services common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | 12.36% |
| New York University | 6.23% |
| Fordham University | 5.92% |
| Ohio State University | 5.82% |
| Florida State University | 5.30% |
Best majors for directors of social services
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Work | 46.4% |
| 2 | Psychology | 16.2% |
| 3 | Sociology | 6.8% |
| 4 | Business | 4.3% |
| 5 | Human Services | 4.1% |
Best colleges for directors of social services
The best colleges for directors of social services are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
A director of social services with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for directors of social services. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become directors of social services.
1. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
3. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
5. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
6. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
7. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
8. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
9. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Enrollment
13,871
10. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Enrollment
31,321
20 best online courses for directors of social services
Advertising disclosure
1. Social Policy for Social Services & Health Practitioners
In the U.S., social policy accounts for two-thirds of government spending. Knowing how policies are constructed, what values underlie them, and how they succeed or fail makes everyone more effective at work or in their civic role. This specialization includes an HONORS track in which learners will complete a professional social policy analysis.\n\nTeachers, health care workers, police, and social workers interact with policy daily, but all of us should care about the impact and effectiveness of...
2. Social Determinants of Health
This is an introductory course on social determinants of population health with a focus on the United States. The course will introduce you to, or reinforce your knowledge of, issues related to health that consider behavioral, psychological and structural factors in population health beyond the healthcare system. We will examine social, economic, and political factors that contribute to health inequalities and suggest innovative ways to reduce disparities in health when the goal is to achieve...
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4. Social Media for Healthcare Providers
Social media and HIPPA compliance training for covered entities that transmit health information...
5. The Business of Social
In a 2014 study of CEOs and CMOs, IBM found 63% wanted social strategies which generate business metrics while only 20% of businesses worldwide actually have them. This means strategies which not only grow your company’s social footprint but link to your sales and marketing systems. With this critical linkage, your social and mobile strategies will provide you with the ability to engage consumers at a 1-to-1 level and measure your social investments in terms of costs, revenues, profits and ROI...
6. Social Determinants of Health: Data to Action
This five course specialization explores dimensions of applied knowledge related to the social determinants of health. This specialization will utilize the Data-to-Action Hourglass Model to support thinking about multiple perspectives as a way to filter, frame, and focus data-driven action related to social determinants of health.\n\nCourse 1: Introduction to the Social Determinants of Health, provides an overview of definitions and theoretical perspectives that will form the foundation of this...
7. The Communication Skills and Social Intelligence Masterclass
An essential guide to cultivating influential people skills, communication skills and street-smart social intelligence...
8. Social Media Monitoring
Our new course on Social Media Monitoring in a post Google Reader World is coming soon...
9. The Influence of Social Determinants on Health
Why are some groups healthier than others, and how do these differences emerge and persist over a lifetime? How do social policies on housing, transportation, and employment relate to health and health inequalities?\n\nThis specialization will examine social, behavioral, economic, political, and structural factors that contribute to health inequalities, and suggest innovative ways to reduce disparities in health to achieve health equity.You will learn,\n\n-Use conceptual models to understand...
10. Social Computing
People are social creatures and the modern Internet reflects that. Technology has made collaboration at a distance possible in new ways that present their own set of challenges. This course will introduce you to the major challenges and opportunities for creating online communities. What does the future hold? Learn how social computing can create collaboration experiences that go beyond what’s possible face to face...
11. Communication & Social Skills
Learn to become more confident and effective when speaking, listening, or writing...
12. Social Media Crisis Prevention
Get practical skills to protect your reputation and your organization against a social media meltdown...
13. Social Science Approaches to the Study of Chinese Society Part 1
This course seeks to turn learners into informed consumers of social science research. It introduces concepts, standards, and principles of social science research to the interested non-expert. Learners who complete the course will be able to assess evidence and critically evaluate claims about important social phenomena. It reviews the origins and development of social science, describes the process of discovery in contemporary social science research, and explains how contemporary social...
14. US Social Services: Where did they come from?
The course probes the formation of social policy in the United States from its very first cultural and religious roots. Starting with the transition from hunter-gatherer groups to agrarian villages, the course will examine the passage of the Poor Laws that shaped social policy through the colonial period until the beginnings of the 20th century, when the challenge of making the industrial city livable gave rise to the development of the welfare state. As part of this transformation, the...
15. Social Media Ethics
Just because you can tweet it, doesn't mean you should. Learn to do the right thing on social media...
16. Develop Amazing Social Skills & Connect With People
Develop Amazing Social Skills, Social Confidence, Communication Skills, Self Esteem, Charisma, Self confidence...
17. Learn Social Psychology
Understand How People Think, Feel, and Behave in this Complete Introduction to Social Psychology...
18. Social Media Monitoring and Privacy Law
Learn to monitor social networks without violating privacy rights in this course on lawful social media surveillance...
19. Become A Freelance Social Media Manager - Home Business
Start a home based business as a freelance social media manager. Find clients, deliver services and build your brand...
20. Double Your Social Skills and Instantly Connect With People
Develop Powerful Social Skills: Social Success Secrets. Inner & Social Confidence. Communication Skills. Networking...
Top 10 most affordable universities for directors of social services
The most affordable schools for directors of social services are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and california state university - fullerton.
If the best universities for directors of social services are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for directors of social services.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
4. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
5. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
6. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
9. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
10. USF Sarasota-Manatee
Sarasota, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,587
Cost of attendance
13,043
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for directors of social services
The hardest universities for directors of social services to get into are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
Some great schools for directors of social services are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for directors of social services based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
4. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
5. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
6. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
7. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
8. Washington University in St Louis
Saint Louis, MO • Private
Admissions rate
15%
SAT average
1,506
9. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for directors of social services
The easiest schools for directors of social services to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur university, and bluefield college.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a director of social services without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for directors of social services.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
3. Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
980
4. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
5. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
6. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
7. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
8. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
9. University of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
10. Life University
Marietta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
94%
SAT average
979
Average director of social services salary by education level
| Director of social services education level | Director of social services salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $65,753 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $57,550 |
| Doctorate Degree | $69,443 |
Director of social services education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025