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[Tushar]

Hello,

I have been debating whether to pursue a master's in counseling or a master's in social work with the hope of being able to land a counseling type position in career services, student affairs, or psychological services.

At the master's level, the M.S.W. seems to carry more weight, as far as scope and recognition are concerned. However I am afraid that with an M.S.W., I may not be academically qualified or eligible for jobs in higher education.

Can someone please shed some light on this for me?

Thanks,

Tushar

[MSW, Ph.D]

For the most part, I think that at a college level, a master's degree is a master's degree. It really depends on who is doing the interviewing as to which degree is valued. I have been on many interview panels, and how the applicant handled the interview was much more important to us than which master's degree the candidate held. That could vary from one agency to the next.

Much also depends on your state's licensing laws.  Both of the agencies I have worked for really valued a state clinical license, and we hired unlicensed people only when we could not hold out any longer and did not have a good candidate with a license. Then we hired someone on the condition that they work toward and obtain a license in two to three years. The M.S.W. is a very flexible degree, accepted in many areas of service.

I taught at a community college, before I got my doctorate, so the M.S.W. was no deterrent. It is easier to get a job with a master's degree than with a Ph.D, I can tell you that for sure! The Ph.D. in social work does not carry as much weight as a Ph.D. in counseling psychology (although I think it should). So if you plan to go on to do a doctorate, the counseling degree may be the way to go. The M.S.W. may be a somewhat better terminal degree, if you want to stop at the master's.