Make a difference in the lives of people around the world through international social work! Using skills gained through Pacific’s Â鶹ӰÊÓ social work program, you can begin a rewarding, lifelong career at home and abroad.
Secure your spot in a Â鶹ӰÊÓ social work program with Pacific’s Guaranteed Graduate School Admission! Apply and be accepted to social work school as early as your first year on campus.
The is high.
Matching the , qualified social workers are finding new opportunities internationally where they can put their passion for supporting others into practice.
An international social work career begins with a strong foundation at the Â鶹ӰÊÓ level, empowering students to take what they learn and apply it to the settings that are meaningful to them.
This can mean everything from working abroad in regions experiencing a shortage in social services to helping international populations in your own backyard.
The path to becoming an international social worker allows you to make an impact in the communities that matter most to you. Let’s see how and take a deep dive.
What is International Social Work?
Like their domestic counterparts, international social workers help people around the world find access to essential social services and resources.
The needs of these populations will vary from region to region, so international social workers combine an advanced generalist practice with localized expertise.
Because of their frequent placement in developing nations, international social workers often partner with global non-profits and non-government organizations (NGOs), such as Oxfam, Save the Children, Doctors without Borders and more.
These organizations allow social workers to work across borders to support community development and intervene during crises, such as disaster relief and human trafficking.
An international career in social work can provide endless possibilities for specialization, but some of the most common include:
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Public health. From reproductive medicine to nutrition to the spread of infectious disease, international social workers help provide resources and educate people about how to create and sustain healthy communities.
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Child rights. One of the most vulnerable international populations, children experience unique challenges that can be addressed by international social workers specializing in child development, education and healthcare.
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Assisting displaced people. Whether as a result of conflict, human rights abuses or natural disaster, international social workers can help people acclimate to new surroundings and begin to rebuild what was lost and taken from them.
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Gender equity. Helping communities integrate gender equity, international social workers advocate for not only women, but also gender diverse individuals experiencing discrimination and oppression.
The scope of how international social workers make an impact depends largely on whether they practice micro, mezzo or macro social work (though many social workers engage and collaborate at all levels of practice).
What is the Difference Between Micro, Mezzo and Macro Social Work?
The versatile nature of a degree in social work means that you can work at home or abroad at various levels, supporting communities you care about in different ways.
Like their domestic counterparts, international social work careers can be split into three interconnected categories.
What is micro social work? The profession at its most intimate, micro social work involves direct interaction with people in a one-on-one or small group setting and frequently addresses individual problems.
What is mezzo social work? Community-minded, mezzo social work features social workers working to enact social change within larger systems, such as neighborhoods, schools and other organizations.
What is macro social work? Working to steer policy and combat systemic injustice, macro social work enables social workers to influence nation-wide programs geared toward social justice.
Throughout your international social work career it is possible to move between these three levels, changing focus depending on who you want to help and how.
Where Can You Do International Social Work?
Social work training can be put into practice globally, but your ability to work abroad depends on local licensure requirements, as there is no universal standard.
Many social workers pursue licensure in the region where they trained, but faculty can help explore international opportunities.
At Pacific, our expert faculty assist with preparing for both national and international social work careers, with expertise in places like Uganda and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Regardless of where you want to make an impact, Pacific’s MSW faculty will assist you in researching what it takes to start a career in the international setting of your choice.
So whether you want to support those in Brazil, Vietnam, Poland or anywhere between, your faculty can help you begin your international career in social work.
For those who want to pursue international social work opportunities while maintaining a local license, non-profit and non-government organizations often employ social workers to work around the world on a contract basis.
Social workers can also put an international emphasis to use when helping immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees in their own country, pointing them toward essential resources and services.
What Training Do You Need to Become an International Social Worker?
International social workers require the same advanced generalist training frequently taught in MSW programs, including topics such as human behavior, mental health diagnosis, policy analysis, research and social justice.
However, those interested in beginning a career in international social work can set themselves up for success with complementary coursework in either their underÂ鶹ӰÊÓ or Â鶹ӰÊÓ degree.
These courses include training in:
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Foreign language. The ability to communicate effectively with those you wish to help is invaluable and can offer a lifeline to those searching for essential services.
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Public health. Helping others understand and get access to healthcare is one of the largest ways international social workers can make an impact.
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Anthropology. Understanding the culture that you want to work within can not only empower you to make better decisions, but also find resources within that culture.
Pacific’s Master of Social Work program includes special coursework in Latino family and culture, enabling you to practice in a variety of local and international communities throughout Latin America. -
Psychology. Most MSW programs include a psychology component, but additional specialized training can help focus your social work practice and better serve specific international communities.
In addition to courses that help facilitate social work careers abroad, MSW programs allow for specialization through elective classes and research, meaning that you can Â鶹ӰÊÓ prepared to work in areas meaningful to you.
What Countries Need Social Workers Right Now?
Demand for social workers in a variety of settings is high in the United States at the moment, but domestic social work isn’t the only option for those interested in the field.
Whether through international NGOs or region-specific social work initiatives, many countries around the world are currently looking for expanded access to social workers.
Many African nations are facing both disease epidemics (namely HIV/AIDs and recent Ebola outbreaks) and human rights injustices toward LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Social work in Africa is especially suited to help with these issues, counseling those who need access to essential services and mental healthcare.
The number of asylum seekers entering Europe from regions experiencing extreme poverty, famine, conflict and governmental abuses has risen dramatically in recent years.
As a social worker in Europe, you have the opportunity to help these communities not only adapt to life in a new place, but find resources to help those they may have left behind.
Nations in the Caribbean and Latin America are in need of social workers to help address long-standing poverty and healthcare access.
Social work in Latin America and the Caribbean can consist of helping communities overcome the impacts of political adversity as well as expand education and economic literacy.
There is no region in the world that wouldn’t benefit from a growing presence of international social workers, meaning that you can find organizations or local opportunities that align with your goals and passions.
Browse application requirements, prerequisite courses and admissions deadlines and begin your journey towards a lifelong career in social work today!