COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Capital University has introduced a program in response to a nationwide shortage of social workers, as government and education institutions across the country work to address the issue.
The Bexley college launched a Master of Social Work degree, which offers a one-year track for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a two-year track for students with any other undergraduate degree. The first students in the program began classes in August.
Capital said the degree is one of the few in Ohio that allows graduates to practice in any field of social work. The program was designed for students seeking “flexible” education, offering evening and Saturday classes, according to a news release.
The school stated the degree was designed in response to a demand for social workers across the country, which has only intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With everything going on in the world today, the need for compassionate, highly trained social workers has never been greater, and it’s not a career AI will ever replace,” said Dr. Katie Gorman-Ezell, MSW Program Director.
Social workers help people of all ages cope with problems in their lives by providing counseling and advocacy, as well as connecting them with resources such as housing. The trained professionals often work with children, along with those facing mental health issues or homelessness. To become a social worker in Ohio, students must obtain at least a bachelor’s degree, while a master’s degree may be required for advanced roles.
In 2024, 41 out of 44 responding states reported a social worker shortage in a survey released by the behavioral health nonprofit NRI, Inc. The shortage is fueled primarily by burnout, partly due to the emotionally challenging nature of the job, and employees switching career fields, Colorado State University reported.
The COVID-19 pandemic enhanced the challenges social workers experience. Psychological and financial disruptions brought on by the pandemic led to an increased need for social work services, as professionals reported stress from the difficulty of serving clients in crisis while dealing with the effects of the pandemic in their personal lives. This led to an increase in social workers leaving the field in 2020 through 2023, according to a study published in Oxford University Press.
State mental health agencies across the country are attempting to combat the shortage with a variety of initiatives such as tuition reimbursement, salary increases and recruitment efforts. Several states have also partnered with local high schools and colleges, as they assist with curriculum development, informational sessions about workforce opportunities and more, according to NRI, Inc.
In July, Ohio launched a statewide initiative to combat shortages in the behavioral health workforce, which includes social workers. The program offered financial support to students in behavioral health fields and supplied grants to multiple programs focused on the recruitment and retention of related professionals.
Capital’s program provides students with up to 25 hours per week of real-world experience at institutions such as Nationwide Children’s Hospital and OhioHealth Riverside, along with policy-focused organizations like the National Association of Social Workers.
The university also launched a redesigned Master of Business Administration program this school year for individuals of all undergraduate majors, which allows students to complete the program in as little as one year. The new MBA also offers a hybrid structure that blends in-person classes with online coursework.
