South Dakota MSW Programs Guide

The University of South Dakota provides a CSWE-accredited MSW program for those eligible for enrollment. The accreditation of this university can be a helpful tool for students considering future licensure within their field.

If you want to learn more about what might be required of you during the collegiate and licensure phases, you should review the expectations of the South Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners. This is the agency that you may be in contact with when applying for and being approved for licensure.

If You Do Not Yet Have a Bachelors: View BSW programs in South Dakota(includes online).

Why Consider a Social Work Degree?

There are groups of people all throughout the United States that may be in need of help from social work professionals. These professionals can serve individuals with varying issues and challenges, making them an important attribute to any supportive state system.

In South Dakota, professionals can train to become effective and helpful professionals through MSW degree programs. If you have already earned your Bachelors in Social Work or even a bachelors-level degree in another discipline, you could be eligible for enrollment in MSW programs in your state.

South Dakota Social Worker Careers with an MSW Degree

South Dakota can be an incredible place to pursue a career in Social Work. Popular career areas include those working with children and families, as well as those involved in the long-term care and treatment of people with medical or mental health issues.

• Child, Family, and School Social Workers: $43,800 median salary per year. Social Workers within this specialized area may be assigned a caseload of clients in need of service coordination, advocacy, and assessment. Your role in these positions can include consults with clients on needs and participating in meetings regarding client services.
• Healthcare Social Workers: $47,430 median salary per year. Healthcare Social Workers can work in hospitals, medical specialty clinics, and even for private organizations. Social Workers in this area can partner with clients in need of support during in-depth and complex medical procedures or those receiving long-term care for various illnesses.
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: $41,270 median salary per year. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers can participate in treatment team meetings, set environmental goals for clients, and assist clients with obtaining housing, membership in support groups, and even vocational resources.
• Social Workers, All Other: $78,640 median salary per year. Social Work professionals can be found in nearly all settings that provide services to the public. Clinical practice, the legal system, and most human service fields call on Social Workers to assist with the client base.

2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and employment figures for Child, Family, and School Social Workers; Healthcare Social Workers; Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers; Social Workers, All other, reflect national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2023. 

South Dakota Social Work Licensure

The South Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners requires that social work professionals hold licensure prior to providing services to the public.

With the MSW, applicants can pursue the Certified Social Worker (CSW) licensing option through application through the board and completion of the ASWB board examination. Clinical licensing options can also be pursued by individuals that have completed the required 2-3 year clinical supervision component.

Online MSW Programs in South Dakota

In today’s times, people seem to be driven by their desire for convenience. Technology has played a large part in making the American lifestyle more and more convenient each year. This may have made technology’s spill-over into the field of education a little less surprising. Students that are ready and willing to control their course scheduling and attendance can become a part of online MSW programs through the state of South Dakota. These flexible programs may be becoming some of the most popular options for upcoming college students.

From the outside looking in, online MSW programs may seem like a busy professional’s dream. These types of programs can allow students to exhibit more control over when they learn and how they learn. Some online MSW programs may even provide students with due dates up front so that they can plan their entire course from the very beginning. These programs may even come equipped with specialization options that can be great for those interested in influencing certain members of groups in society. Some common specializations for online MSW programs include Clinical Social Work, Family Social Work, and Healthcare Social Work.