Social, cultural, and economic contextual frame of India is diverse with high heterogeneity of culture, language, religion, and ethnic surroundings. Globalization has its connection and effects on individuals and their families, their various aspects of life and their various roles. An effect of globalization results in deterioration/changes of individual roles, discrimination against vulnerable groups, etc.  Professional social work practice involves logical application of its principles, values and skills so as to bring transformation in challenging situations of society and of individuals.

The present status of impact of “Pandemic of Corona Virus “also calls for social work intervention addressing the need of women, elderly, disabled, minority groups, under-privileged children, individuals in conflict with law, and the poor.

Social work continues to be one of the fastest growing contemporary professions today. In the year 2012, the college started the Post-Graduation in Social Work (MSW) with three specializations Community Development, Medical & Psychiatry, and Human Resource Management and the Bachelors of Social Work (BSW) in the year 2021. The objective of the course is to empower the student community by bridging them with the society and the societal problems. The course duration of MSW is 2 years and BSW 3 years.

One having qualities like- social and self-awareness, critical thinker, emotional concerned with society along with good communication skills can take up this course.  The students are thoroughly groomed in terms of mind-set, outlook and of course, knowledge. A stoic, assertive and transparent personality is what makes a complete and efficient social worker.

The field practicum is an integral part of the Social Work degree program and offers you an opportunity to apply, test, develop and integrate your accumulated knowledge and skills. Fieldwork practicum is a closely supervised educational internship in a social work setting that provides planned opportunities to apply theory taught in class-work to actual situations, which, in turn, enhances classroom learning. The students are exposed to and are provided hand on experience in working with individuals, groups and communities through, skill lab, rural camp, observation visits, summer placement, specialization cased internships, block placement, tribal camp, Social action projects etc. You will have the chance to choose from a range of organizations and will work under the guidance of a placement supervisor with additional direction provided by a faculty member.

There are many advantages that come with Nazareth Colleges location being situated in Tiruvallur District, Avadi provides many interesting possibilities for field work in diverse settings. Our students have had field work placements in a variety of organizations to name a few :

• TI Cycles
• Murugappa Group
• Ambattur Garments
• ICWO
• World Vision India
• The Banyan
• Mrytle Network
• Madras Medical Mission
• CRY
• YRG
• Arunodhaya
• Bala Vihar

By working with clients to resolve serious issues in their lives, social workers can have a positive impact not only on the individuals they serve but also on the community at large. This can provide a real sense of accomplishment and pride for those who dedicate their lives to this worthy cause. According to India Today Magazine “Social work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and well-being of the disadvantaged sections of the community”.

India Today Survey 2023 has ranked Department of Social work as 52nd among the TOP 64 colleges offering Social Work in India in the year and Emerging College in the 13^th place in India.

Social work professionals increasingly find themselves working with diverse client systems, which require advanced levels of multicultural awareness. “International field placements expose students to different cultures and allow them to consider how they may begin to practice within diverse cultures as opposed to simply reading about these cultures in a textbook.” The exposure enhances their own learning experience and helps them to understand and appreciate the culture and way of life of the host country, turning them into global citizens. Nazareth College follows the “International Placement Partnership Model- IPPM” for Global Exposure. The Social work department has signed MoU with the following International Universities mentioned below for IPPM:

• University of Bengkulu, Indonesia
• Social work Profession Council of Thailand (SWPCT)
• Philippine Association of Social Incorporated- Philippine
• Community Social Work Practice & Development Foundation, Bangladesh

Outbound Training is a training intervention method for enhancing individual, team and organizational performance through facilitation of adventure, outdoor and experiential learning activities.

Community Tool Box is a group of social initiatives of Nazareth Institution started to inculcate Social Responsibility among the students of Nazareth and more so to increase continuous field exposure to students from the department. The students learn about community assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, advocacy, and other aspects of community practice. All the students enroll in the department are permanent volunteers of the community tool box.

Community Tool Box Institutions:

1. Nazareth Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Foundation- NERF INDIA- https://www.facebook.com/nerfindia/
2. SDG@NAZARETH

The department of social work has 100 % placement opportunity at Nazareth. All the students enrolled into the course are placed by the end of the semester in their respective specializations. A few students also find place in our Community Box.

There are lot many chances in the Government sector such as

• Healthcare
• Human rights agencies
• Education
• Rural progress
• Women and tribal welfare

Other options for the MSW graduates are employment in child welfare and family service agencies. The candidates can pick the area they want to work based on the interest.

The career opportunities for graduates of MSW are quite high nowadays. All jobs in this field are related with social services or charity works. They can look for jobs in the government sector as there are many opportunities there. A few of the reputed organizations that work in the field of socio-economic support as well as welfare of the disadvantaged, orphans, people with disabilities are:

• CINI
• CRY
• Department of Rural Development
• Help Age India
• UNESCO
• UNICEF

It is also possible for graduates to work with educational institutions. After gaining enough familiarity in this field, aspirants can work as consultants in many well known organizations. The area of their work comprise of:

• Clinics
• Correction Cells
• Counseling Centers
• Disaster Management Department
• Education Sector
• Gender Issues Associations or Groups
• Health Industry
• Hospitals
• Human Rights Agencies
• Mental Hospitals
• Natural Resources Management Companies
• Old Age Homes
• Prisons

The Government of India carries out a variety of written test for the recruitment of suitable candidates for different posts in this sector. A graduate with a Masters degree can apply for diverse jobs in the government sector by writing these written tests. By appearing for the UPSC exam, candidates will be able to apply for jobs such as IPS, IAS and IFS of the civil services besides other central government services. The Staff Service Commission also carries out entrance exams for the recruitment of candidates. Some of the vacancies that ware available in diverse government organizations include:

• Assistant Director
• District Consultant
• Documentation and Communication Officer
• Humanitarian Values and PMER Officer
• Junior Research Fellow
• National Secretary Community Development Professor
• Programmer Coordinator
• Project Coordinator
• Senior Manager – Human Resource
• Sub Regional Training Coordinator

If one desires to join any of the educational institutions as lecturers, he must have a postgraduate degree in Social Work along with a SET or NET qualification. Once they get the job, they can write departmental level tests and get promoted to senior designations.

Postgraduates in Social Work also have job openings in the industrial and corporate division. The MSW holders can start old age home and other related clinics etc. In the academic field, the teachers can get chance in the private institutes.

All over the globe, the importance of counseling and healthcare areas are rising. They are looking for the right talents in the field of social work. Those who are eligible for analyzing the issues and taking decisions can get chances in abroad.

The MSW course will be a beneficial one, for those who have studied this. The requirement of the graduates of the course will not end. The demand for the MSW graduates is rising day by day as the course is applicable in the academic, healthcare, counseling and other needed areas.