A master's degree in counseling helps students learn to offer therapeutic support to people. Many master's degree programs offer a specialization. For instance, master's degrees are available in: marriage and family counseling, child and school counseling, group counseling, vocational counseling and for working with people in prison or psychiatric settings. By contrast, clinical social work programs offer training in therapy, but also concentrate on how a person's environment affects him and focuses on social justice issues. They may not, however, offer as much specific training on psychological treatment as counseling programs.
Master's programs in counseling offer courses in areas such as human development, counseling techniques, assessment, group work, research and program evaluation and professional ethics.
Social work programs offer courses in cultural diversity, at-risk populations, social and economic justice work, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social work practice and social research.
Both degrees require supervised internships. For counseling programs, internship length and type vary, while MSW students are require to participate in at least 900 hours of supervised fieldwork.
Social work is often thought of as a broad field, and there is some legitimacy to the argument that an MSW offers the individual different career options. Social workers may work as mental health therapists, however, they may also work as medical and public health social workers, social work administrators, researchers, policy makers, case managers and community organizers. Master's degree counselors may work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, private practice, community health organizations and day treatment programs. However, the nature of the job is the same, in that counselors generally offer similar services focusing on therapeutic treatment, regardless of where they practice.
Individuals with an MSW or master's in counseling degree who wish to practice independently or to become a supervisor must obtain licensure after graduation. Licensure requirements vary by state for both degrees. However, for both counselors and social workers at least two years or 3,000 hours of clinical, supervised experience is required in order to qualify to take a licensure exam. Counselors who have specialized in a specific area, such as those who have a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, may face different licensing requirements.