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Director of social work education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a director of social work. Directors of social work usually study social work, psychology, or sociology. 56% of directors of social work hold a bachelor's degree, and 36% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,901 real director of social work resumes to see exactly what director of social work education sections show.
The most common colleges for directors of social work are the Adelphi University and the Adelphi University.
There are also many online director of social work courses to help get the education required to be a director of social work.
There are certain director of social work certifications that you should consider. These director of social work certifications include Certification in Forensic Social Work (CFSW) and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC).
What education do you need to become a director of social work?
What degree do you need to be a director of social work?
- Bachelor's, 56%
- Master's, 36%
- Associate, 6%
- Doctorate, 1%
- Other Degrees, 1%
What should I major in to become a director of social work?
- Social Work, 55%
- Psychology, 14%
- Sociology, 6%
- Other Majors, 22%
Most common colleges for directors of social work
| Director of social work common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Adelphi University | 14.11% |
| New York University | 9.68% |
| Fordham University | 7.66% |
| Boston University | 6.05% |
| Wayne State University | 5.24% |
Best majors for directors of social work
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Work | 55.3% |
| 2 | Psychology | 14.0% |
| 3 | Sociology | 6.1% |
| 4 | Mental Health Counseling | 3.0% |
| 5 | Human Services | 2.7% |
Best colleges for directors of social work
The best colleges for directors of social work are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Harvard University.
A director of social work 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 work. 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 work.
1. University of Washington
Seattle, WA • Private
In-state tuition
$11,207
Enrollment
30,905
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
3. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
4. University of North Texas
Denton, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$10,852
Enrollment
31,375
5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
6. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
7. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
8. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Enrollment
13,871
9. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI • Private
In-state tuition
$7,621
Enrollment
10,749
10. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
20 best online courses for directors of social work
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...
3. The Communication Skills and Social Intelligence Masterclass
An essential guide to cultivating influential people skills, communication skills and street-smart social intelligence...
4. Crisis Intervention Seminar
The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...
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. 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...
7. Communication & Social Skills
Learn to become more confident and effective when speaking, listening, or writing...
8. Social Media Crisis Prevention
Get practical skills to protect your reputation and your organization against a social media meltdown...
9. 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...
10. Social Determinants of Health: Vulnerable Populations
This second of five courses focuses on how social determinants of health affects vulnerable populations. Focusing on four groups of vulnerable populations, students will examine how social determinants of health contribute to the poor health outcomes experienced by these populations. The topics of this course include: 1. Poverty 2. Women’s Health 3. Gender and LGBTQI+ Health 4. Family Health 5. Data Applications: t-test Analysis and Box Plot Visualization...
11. Social Media for Healthcare Providers
Social media and HIPPA compliance training for covered entities that transmit health information...
12. Social Media Ethics
Just because you can tweet it, doesn't mean you should. Learn to do the right thing on social media...
13. The Influence of Social Context on Health
Why are some groups healthier than others, and how do these differences emerge and persist over the life course? How do social policies (e.g., housing, transportation, employment) relate to health and health inequalities? Why are there health disparities even in countries that have free universal health care? This course will address conceptual models for understanding health disparities in the US and internationally, how population science identifies the main sources of these disparities, and...
14. Introduction to Social Determinants of Health
This first of five courses introduces students to the social determinants of health, and provides an overview of the definitions and theoretical perspectives that will form the foundation of this specialization. The topics of this course include: 1. Introduction to the Social Determinants of Health 2. Theoretical Perspectives and Knowledge Complexity 3. Data Driven Collective Impact 4. Minority Stress Theory 5. Data Applications: Frequency Analysis and Bar Chart Visualization...
15. Develop Amazing Social Skills & Connect With People
Develop Amazing Social Skills, Social Confidence, Communication Skills, Self Esteem, Charisma, Self confidence...
16. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
17. 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...
18. 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...
19. The Legal Implications of Social Media in the Workplace
Regulatory and Case Law Considerations for Employers' Social Media Policy Development...
20. Social Media Monitoring
Our new course on Social Media Monitoring in a post Google Reader World is coming soon...
Top 10 most affordable universities for directors of social work
The most affordable schools for directors of social work are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - fullerton, and baruch college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for directors of social work 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 work.
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 - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
3. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
4. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
7. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
8. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
9. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
10. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for directors of social work
The hardest universities for directors of social work to get into are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Harvard University.
Some great schools for directors of social work 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 work 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. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
6. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
8. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
9. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
10. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for directors of social work
The easiest schools for directors of social work to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur university, and university of north texas at dallas.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a director of social work 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 work.
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. University of North Texas at Dallas
Dallas, TX • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
992
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 Baltimore
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,020
8. Grand View University
Des Moines, IA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,060
9. Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA • Private
Admissions rate
95%
SAT average
980
10. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
Average director of social work salary by education level
| Director of social work education level | Director of social work salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $75,807 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $65,916 |
| Doctorate Degree | $80,277 |
Director of social work education FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025