Is Social Work a Liberal Arts Degree?

If you're interested in pursuing a social work degree, you may wonder what type of degree it is. Is social work a liberal arts degree or a specialized professional degree?

Social work is a social science, so it falls under the umbrella of liberal arts degrees. However, it also provides career-focused education for those hoping to pursue careers in various social services such as healthcare, criminal justice, education, human services, and more. As such, it can also be considered a professional degree.

Keep reading for more information.

What Is Social Work?

Social work relates to providing advocacy and social welfare services for disadvantaged populations. Those studying social work often become:

• social workers
• mental health counselors
• behavioral science professionals

Those pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) learn about social work policies, analysis, human behavior, and issues affecting the groups of people they may connect with in their profession. They may also gain hands-on experience by working in internships.

Many careers are available to those with BSW degrees; however, those hoping to pursue advanced or specialized social work careers must complete a master's degree. This degree program provides a more advanced social work education and further opportunities to gain clinical experience and research.

What Is a Liberal Arts Degree?

A liberal arts degree is any degree that provides foundational coursework in:

• mathematics
• humanities
• social sciences
• natural sciences

Some students major in liberal arts, while others pursue more specific majors with a solid liberal arts foundation. Common liberal arts degrees include:

• English
• political science
• foreign language

Liberal arts degrees combine theoretical concepts with more concrete, factual evidence. These degrees provide students with a fundamental education in many subjects and disciplines. These degrees help students develop soft skills, such as critical thinking and good communication, that can be applied across many disciplines.

Though liberal arts degrees are sometimes given a bad name because they don't prepare students for specific careers, they can be extremely beneficial. They teach students to be forward-thinking and flexible, which helps them adjust to numerous career opportunities.

Is Social Work Considered a Liberal Arts Major?

As noted, liberal arts encompasses several topics, including social sciences such as sociology and psychology. Because social work is considered a social science, it can also be a liberal arts major.

Social work degree programs typically involve a couple of years of diverse liberal arts classes before students begin taking more focused, degree-specific courses. These liberal arts classes help students develop problem-solving and other soft skills that will benefit their careers.

Finally, liberal arts degrees prepare students for copious career paths by preparing them to be flexible and innovative. There are many social work careers, and employees in other fields such as healthcare and education can also benefit from the skills they gain in a liberal arts social work program.

Why Social Work Isn't Considered a Liberal Arts Degree

A social degree may not be considered a liberal arts program. There are varying reasons for this generally revolving around the nature of the degree and the school where it is obtained.

A social work degree prepares students for a specific line of work. Just as many nursing students pursue a career in nursing, many social work students pursue a career in social work. Though it can be beneficial in other fields, it prepares you for one specific career path.

The school where you obtain your social work degree, and even the type of degree you pursue, can also affect whether or not it's considered a liberal arts degree. A technical school, for example, may provide more scientific or technologically focused coursework as part of your social work program instead of a broader liberal arts focus. A Bachelor of Science in social work may also be seen as less of a liberal arts degree than a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Social Work.

What Courses Will I Take as a Social Work Major?

In the average Bachelor of Social Work degree program, you will take various liberal arts courses in:

• English
• foreign languages
• mathematics
• political science
• history
• philosophy

You will also likely take an introductory social work course that will introduce you to the field of social work. More advanced major-specific courses include topics such as:

• ethics in social work
• human behavior
• policy and analysis
• the welfare state

Social work programs also typically include a practicum component. This is a hands-on experience where students gain real-world training and experience through internships. These programs enable students to practice what they learn in the classroom while gaining valuable connections in the field.

Are Social Sciences Considered Liberal Arts?

Social sciences are sciences relating to human thought, behavior, and motivation. These may include broad subjects such as psychology and sociology or more focused areas like social work and behavioral science.

These various branches of science are considered a facet of liberal arts. As noted above, the term liberal arts is applied to many subjects. In addition to social sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and humanities are also considered liberal arts.

Social sciences and other liberal arts subjects are often considered 'soft' subjects focusing more on theories and ideas than hard evidence. In reality, liberal arts courses aim to provide a well-rounded education combining theory and evidence. These courses help students learn to think for themselves and become adaptable to various industries.