Master’s in Social Work vs. Counseling: Which Should You Choose?

Deciding between a master’s in social work vs. counseling can depend on whether you enjoy working with individual clients, communities and groups, or in research and policymaking. Learn more about master’s in social work (MSW) and counseling master’s programs, career paths, and salaries.

While master’s programs in counseling and social work offer students some overlap in learning outcomes, the two degree types offer different coursework, specializations, and clinical experiences.

MSW programs typically require 60-65 credits that include core coursework, electives, and specialization topics. Advanced standing students with a bachelor of social work degree complete 35-45 credits. General social work classes typically cover the following topics:

Most master’s in counseling programs require 60 credits. Counseling master’s coursework covers professional counseling theories, techniques, and strategies for students seeking licensure as counselors or therapists. Non-licensure focused courses explore areas such as community mental health, counseling research, and social services. Common course topics for this counseling graduate program include:

MSW and counseling course topics can overlap, including those in client diagnostics and treatment, methods and strategies, and individuals or families in crisis.

An MSW allows students to focus on specializations and hone their skills in specific areas of social work or target populations.

MSW specializations include:

Master’s in counseling programs offer different tracks for students interested in serving specific client populations or mental health needs.

Counseling concentrations include:

MSW and counseling specializations share similarities, offering concentrations in clinical counseling or social work; patient conditions, such as substance use; or client types, such as families or K-12 students.

MSW programs include supervised practicums and clinical experiences in social services agencies and organizations, which prepare students to become licensed master social workers or licensed clinical social workers.

Similarly, the master’s in counseling curriculum includes practicums and internships supervised by licensed professional counselors. Field experiences take place in correctional facilities, hospitals, private practice, and rehabilitation centers.

During practicums, students typically observe social workers and counselors in their workplaces. Internships and clinical experiences are hands-on, allowing interns to work directly with clients under supervision.

Both MSW and counseling master’s programs maintain relationships with facilities that offer field training. Some schools assist with securing placements, while others require students to find their own opportunities. This is especially true for online students who complete their clinical training in their local communities.

When considering a master’s in social work vs. counseling, it’s important to understand the theories and frameworks of each degree. Both programs share similar focuses. For example, MSW programs include counselor training, and counseling students learn to refer clients to social services.

MSW and counseling master’s programs also diverge in key areas. Counseling focuses more narrowly on supporting mental health, while social work broadens its scope to include social systems, policy analysis, and community advocacy.

Professional counselor programs tend to offer licensure or non-licensure tracks. The MSW program framework typically breaks into micro, mezzo, and macro social work, which address different client populations and practice methods.

Counseling programs emphasize counseling theories, including psychoanalytic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral. MSW programs emphasize social learning theory, systems theory, and psychosocial development theory.

With many specializations available and high nationwide demand, graduates of counseling and social work master’s programs have various career pathways to choose from.

Counseling program graduates often pursue careers in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, or school and career counseling. MSW graduates with a clinical focus can also pursue careers as clinical social workers. Each of these social work and counseling careers requires state licensure.

Use the tables below to compare median salaries for social work and counseling careers tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).