If you are really interested in getting a social work degree then it is high time that you prepare yourself. You will need to have an understanding of the different degrees available that you can get. It is extremely important that you know exactly what you want to do with your degree, so that you may accordingly choose to go for a bachelor's or a master's degree.

Each degree will require different levels of hard work, dedication and time. Make sure you fully prepare yourself for the type of degree you need.

A bachelor degree is the first stage that requires 4 years of dedication and hard work. This degree will act as a base requirement, when you look for a job in the social work field. This degree will be based on the curriculum of basic family support, child abuse, casework planning and dealing with broken families. It is essential that you have at least 200 hours of field experience. You can be qualified either to work as a case consultant, special advocate or may even work to protect child abuse by working as a child life specialist.

Once you get your bachelor degree, you can then pursue your career, working on the lower levels of social work. Once you have earned your bachelors degree, you can move on to a master's degree. A master's in social work can be very rewarding, and can get you an established position.

This program will require 2 years. If you work part time, then it may take as long as 4 years to finish. It is becoming a standard requirement for every social worker to have a master degree to achieve a specialized position. It will become mandatory that you have at least 900 hours as either an intern or in field instruction. You may choose to specialize in fields that include gerontology, social service and family studies. A master's degree holder can work as a clinical social worker, psychiatric social worker or as an AIDS service counselor.

Once you have your Master's Degree in social work, you can then continue on towards your doctorate. This would take around 2 to 4 years to complete. In this program, you will be focusing more on the different aspects of research techniques. An individual, with this degree will be allowed to work as a policy advocate or an adviser.