If you want to pursue a career in a helping profession, you may be considering a master’s in social work vs. counseling in your search for the perfect degree program.

Each of these degrees opens doors for distinct career path options—but which one is right for you?

In this guide, we will break down everything you need to know about the difference between a master’s in social work vs. counseling. If you are not sure which degree track will help you reach your career goals, read on: We’re here to help you start your advanced degree on the right foot.

What is a Master of Social Work (MSW)?

Let us start with the master of social work (MSW): a graduate degree track designed to prepare future social workers for advanced roles in the field.¹

MSW programs typically take around two years to complete, and curricula cover advanced topics and approaches in social work. During an MSW program, you will likely take courses related to:

• Clinical practice – Since MSW graduates are eligible to take the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam, programs cover clinical approaches in-depth.
• Community advocacy – MSW graduates often pursue leadership roles in social work; as leaders, they need a clear understanding of what advocacy looks like at the community level.
• Policy work – Many MSW graduates pursue careers related to policymaking and roles that can shape the future of social work (and the future of communities as a whole).

In addition, MSW students can specialize in:

• Clinical social work
• School social work
• Social work in healthcare

What is a Master of Counseling?

A master of clinical counseling (often called a “master’s in counseling”) is a separate advanced degree track for prospective mental health professionals. While many LCSW licensees work in mental health roles, master’s in counseling graduates are uniquely prepared for careers in mental health.

Master’s in counseling programs emphasize the following topics in their curricula:²

• Psychotherapy – Since master’s in counseling students often pursue careers as mental health professionals, students need a strong grasp of psychotherapy techniques, clinical approaches, and diagnostics.
• Mental health treatment – From crisis counseling to mental health maintenance care, master’s in counseling students learn how to administer a variety of mental health treatments tailored to patients’ unique needs.
• Client-centered counseling practices – Master’s in counseling students learn to connect with patients, center them in clinical approaches, and tailor treatment plans to meet their individual goals and clinical milestones.

Counselors can specialize, too. Depending on your experience, existing skills, or passion, you can look into:

• Marriage and family therapy
• Addiction counseling
• Mental health counseling
• Trauma recovery

Core Differences Between MSW and Counseling Degrees

Let us dive into the differences between a master’s degree in counseling vs. social work—their distinct scopes of work, practices, and roles in the mental health and social services spaces.

Focus of Practice

In terms of scope of practice, MSW programs could be considered broader than master’s in counseling tracks:

• MSW programs focus on social work policy, community development, general clinical approaches, and leadership skills. These diverse topics help prospective social workers prepare to connect clients with resources and improve their quality of life.
• Master’s in counseling degrees require students to zoom in on direct therapeutic techniques and patient care. While LCSWs can engage in clinical practice, counseling degrees are typically more firmly rooted in clinical approaches than MSW programs.

Let’s consider a hypothetical patient and how they might engage with a social work graduate and a counseling program graduate:

• June is struggling with substance abuse, and she recently lost her home due to financial distress and the consequences of addiction.
• In an effort to help, a family friend directs June to her city’s social services organization. Here, she’s matched with a social worker: a professional who can connect her with housing resources and substance abuse treatment.
• The social worker refers June to a licensed counselor with a specialty in addiction treatment. The counselor helps June explore recovery options (supervised detox, inpatient treatment, or fellowship groups) and offers one-on-one counseling to improve her overall mental health.

While social workers are trained to connect patients and clients with resources, counselors help patients leverage these resources to increase their quality of life.

Licensing and Clinical Practice

Both master of social work and master of counseling graduates are eligible for licensure:

• MSW graduates can take the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam; this license opens the door to leadership positions and clinical roles.
• Master’s in counseling graduates could qualify for a number of professional licenses including Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). These generally lead licensees to careers in the clinical space.

LCSWs can engage in a number of careers after passing the licensure exam:

• Mental health
• Social services administration and leadership
• Client, patient, or community advocacy
• Social work education

LPCs and LMHCs, on the other hand, typically fulfill direct counseling roles—either for individual patients or as leaders in counseling organizations.

Career Trajectories

What can you do with a master’s in social work? While we touched on the career options available for licensed social workers above, there are countless opportunities for MSW graduates in fields like:

• Housing access and advocacy
• Addiction recovery and counseling
• Child welfare
• Elder care and advocacy
• Social policymaking

On the other hand, master’s of counseling graduates typically pursue roles as therapists and counselors: professionals who help individuals and families reach their mental health goals, improve their daily functioning, and improve their lives as a whole.

That said, both degrees can lead to careers in:

• Mental health organizations
• Leadership
• Community Advocacy
• Education
• Administration

Put simply, both degree tracks have the potential to open numerous doors for future professionals in helping careers.

Choosing Between an MSW and a Counseling Degree

With a clearer picture of the master’s in social work vs. counseling conversation, how do you decide which one is right for you?

Ultimately, you need to assess which degree aligns with both your professional ambitions and personal interests.

Consider your interest in clinical work vs. advocacy work. While clinically trained mental health professionals typically pursue counseling degrees, would-be advocates and social services experts generally choose a social work curriculum.

Plus, depending on your background and personal interests, you may be passionate about helping a specific group of people:

• If you are interested in helping marginalized people overcome prejudice and use available resources, a social work degree will give you the knowledge base you need to connect clients with life-changing opportunities.
• If you are more interested in mental health-focused support for people living in specific circumstances (patients recovering from trauma, married couples, or people in addiction recovery, for instance), a counseling degree will help you build the clinical skills you need to help patients reach their goals.

Your goals should lie at the heart of your decision-making when it comes to choosing a graduate degree program.

Educational Pathways for MSW and Counseling Degrees

What do these degree tracks look like exactly? Let’s zoom in on what to expect from each one.

MSW Degree Programs

Not sure how to get a master’s in social work? After enrolling, you will need to:

• Complete coursework – Your social work program will require you to take classes related to social welfare, social resources, advocacy methods, and more.
• Complete fieldwork – Many MSW programs require prospective graduates to complete internships, hands-on courses, and other real-world learning experiences.
• Complete a graduate project – While every master’s program is different, most require students to complete a significant project to demonstrate mastery over the curricula and social work approaches. This could include a master’s thesis, a supervised clinical placement, or a research project.

Counseling Degree Programs

Counseling degree programs aren’t entirely different in terms of requirements:

• Coursework – Counseling master’s students complete core coursework in psychotherapy, clinical approaches, and other topics to gain mastery of professional counseling techniques.
• Practical learning – Like MSW programs, master’s in counseling programs require students to complete practicum courses: hands-on learning experiences where students get to explore clinical options with real patients (under supervision from an instructor or licensed professional).
• Internships – Before they graduate and apply for licensure, counseling graduates typically complete an internship in the mental health space—in many cases, they get to explore opportunities in their desired specialty.

The Importance of Accreditation in MSW and Counseling Programs

Whether you choose to pursue a master of social work or counseling, narrow your search to accredited degree programs. When it comes to choosing a program, accreditation is key.

Which organizations accredit each type of program?

• MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE works to “ensure a well-educated social work profession equipped to promote health, well-being, and justice for all people in a diverse society.”³
• Master’s in counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP “is committed to the development of standards and procedures that reflect the needs of a dynamic, diverse, and complex society.”⁴

In short, accreditation organizations ensure that educational programs adequately prepare students for successful, impactful careers.

Explore More Career Opportunities at Alliant International University 

While master’s in social work programs prepare students for careers in the social work field, master’s in clinical counseling degree tracks offer the skills students need to enter the clinical mental health space.

To learn more about each of these advanced degrees, request information from Alliant International University: an institution dedicated to developing the next generation of professionals in helping careers.

With flexible programs, curricula developed by licensed professionals, and highly experienced faculty, our CSWE-accredited social work and CACREP-accredited clinical counseling programs offer plenty of opportunities for dedicated students.

When you are ready to earn a master’s degree and prepare for the next step in your career, apply online.

Sources: 

1. “Types of Social Work Degrees.” National Association of Social Workers. 2024. https://www.socialworkers.org/Careers/Career-Center/Explore-Social-Work/Types-of-Social-Work-Degrees. Accessed December 12, 2024. 
2. Feeney, Ann. “How to Become a Licensed Counselor.” Psychology.org. October 10, 2024. https://www.psychology.org/careers/counseling/. Accessed December 12, 2024. 
3. “About CSWE.” Council of Social Work Education. 2024. https://www.cswe.org/about-cswe/. Accessed December 12, 2024. 
4. “About CACREP.” Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. 2024. https://www.cacrep.org/about-cacrep/#vision-mission-and-core-values. Accessed December 12, 2024. 

The content of this page is only for informational purposes and is not intended, expressly or by implication, as a guarantee of employment or salary, which vary based on many factors including but not limited to education, credentials, and experience. Alliant International University explicitly makes no representations or guarantees about the accuracy of the information provided by any prospective employer or any other website. Salary information available on the internet may not reflect the typical experience of Alliant graduates. Alliant does not guarantee that any graduate will be placed with a particular employer or in any specific employment position.