What can you do with a Social Work degree from The University of Memphis?

First, some facts. Of the Social Work graduates from The University of Memphis we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Significantly above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 87%, Social Work graduates from The University of Memphis have a much higher likelihood (+20%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 87%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, only 30% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests a Bachelors degree is enough for most Social Work graduates, and it's normal to look for work straight after graduation.

See the details:

View a random Social Work graduate from The University of Memphis and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

We think this person has gone into a career highly relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2019 from The University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Arts - BA in Social Work. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Domestic Violence Intern at Shelby County Crime Victims & Rape Crisis Center
Shelby County Gover
Jan 2019 - May 2019
The Domestic Violence Intern position directly involves advocacy and support for victims of violence, utilizing specific knowledge and skills from the Social Work degree.

Clinical Intern, Employee Assistance Network
Metropolitan Family Services
Aug 2019 - Apr 2020
The Clinical Intern role requires the application of social work methods and theories in a clinical setting, aligning closely with the knowledge gained from the Bachelor's degree in Social Work.

Victim Advocate, Knox County Court
YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley
Dec 2020 - Jul 2021
As a Victim Advocate, the role directly applies the skills and knowledge from social work to support and empower victims in the judicial system, making it highly relevant to the degree.

Justice for Families Program Coordinator
YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley
Jul 2021 - Jan 2022
The Program Coordinator position involves developing and coordinating family justice programs, directly utilizing social work principles and practices learned during the Bachelor's degree.

School-Based Behavioral Health Liaison
Allied Behavioral Health Solutions
Jan 2022 - May 2023
The School-Based Behavioral Health Liaison directly applies social work skills in supporting students' mental health, aligning very closely with the educational content of a Social Work degree.

Outpatient Clinical Therapist
Allied Behavioral Health Solutions
May 2023 - Oct 2023
As an Outpatient Clinical Therapist, the role requires extensive use of therapeutic techniques and interventions taught in the Social Work program, making it fully relevant.

Knox County School-Based Therapist
Helen Ross McNabb Center
Oct 2023 - Present
The Knox County School-Based Therapist position utilizes social work methods to assess and address students' behavioral and emotional needs, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Social Work.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master's degree
Loyola University Chicago
2019 - 2020
ABOUT

I am a licensed master social worker currently working in community mental health in a school-based setting. I have completed my clinical supervision hours and have been approved to sit for the LCSW exam this summer. I am focusing my future practice specifically on working with adolescents, adults, and families impacted by medical trauma, fertility issues, pre-and postpartum mental health issues, and coping with chronic illness. These issues are seriously lacking understanding and treatment in the mental health space currently . It is my mission and passion to provide services to individuals impacted by medical issues and trauma, and to also educate medical and mental health professionals on the impact medical trauma has on individuals and families.

What jobs can you get with a Social Work degree from The University of Memphis?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


From analyzing the job profiles of graduates with a Social Work degree from The University of Memphis, it's clear that the most common types of jobs are in direct service roles, especially in mental health, crisis intervention, family support, and community resources. Positions such as Social Worker, Mental Health Specialist, and various roles at organizations like Health Advocate and Youth Villages showcase a strong alignment with the core competencies of social work, focusing on advocacy, support, and counseling within the community. Internships and entry-level positions also tend to mirror this trend, often serving as stepping stones into more involved social work roles.

However, not every job listed is directly relevant to social work. Some roles, like Customer Service Representative or positions focused on educational support without a social work context (like teaching English as a second language), may not fully utilize the skills or training associated with a social work degree. Overall, while many graduates have successfully pursued careers closely related to social work, there are instances where individuals found themselves in positions that, while requiring some interpersonal skills, did not draw heavily from their specialized training. So, in a nutshell, if you’re interested in pursuing social work, there are definitely plenty of related career options out there, but you might run into a few that don’t utilize all that good stuff you learned in school!

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Social Work graduates (this is across all Social Work graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to The University of Memphis):

What kind of career trajectories do Social Work graduates from The University of Memphis have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Graduates from The University of Memphis with a degree in Social Work seem to be following a pretty solid career pathway over the years, starting with various entry-level roles that are relevant to the field. For many of them, the first jobs after graduation often involve internships or assistant roles, like Program Assistants or Family Advocates, which build on their practical experience while allowing them to gain valuable insights into the social work sector. This early stage often sets the tone for their future careers, as many go on to take on more specialized roles like Mental Health Specialists or Community Information Specialists within a few years.

Looking further down the line, like 5 to 10 years after graduation, a lot of these graduates have carved out successful careers in roles that directly relate to social work. Positions as crisis counselors, health educators, or even outpatient clinical therapists highlight a strong commitment to the field. While there are some who might venture into related areas, like teaching or customer service, the majority seem to stay connected to social work in some capacity. Overall, it appears that a degree from The University of Memphis is opening doors for graduates, leading many to fulfilling careers that reflect their training and passion for helping others.

How hard is a Social Work degree from The University of Memphis?

Getting a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at The University of Memphis, like most social work programs, strikes a balance between being challenging and rewarding. You'll be diving into a mix of theoretical concepts and practical applications, which can mean quite a bit of reading, writing, and some intense discussions. But it’s also really hands-on, so if you enjoy working with people and making a difference, it feels worthwhile. Overall, I’d say it’s about average in terms of difficulty—definitely requires commitment and effort, but it's not insurmountable if you're passionate and stay organized. So, if you're ready to put in the work, you’ll likely find it manageable!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 4 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Social Work.

Do Social Work graduates from The University of Memphis tend to make good money?

Looking at the job history of these Social Work grads from The University of Memphis, it seems like most of them haven’t really hit the jackpot in terms of salary, which is pretty common in this field. A lot of their early roles are entry-level positions or internships that likely didn’t pay much, and even some of the later jobs aren’t known for high salaries—like working as a social worker or a counselor. They may be doing important work and making a difference in their communities, but it’s a struggle when it comes to financial rewards in social work. So, if you're thinking about this career path, just know that while it's super rewarding in other ways, it might not always stack up in terms of big bucks.

What buzzwords do Social Work graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Social Work (this is across all Social Work graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to The University of Memphis). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Social Work?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Social Work (ordered by the average relevance score of their Social Work graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
Temple University 95 13
University of North Texas 93 12
Eastern Michigan University 93 21
Wayne State University 92 18
Northeastern Illinois University 92 22
City University of New York-Herbert H. Lehman College 91 11
Bridgewater State University 90 13
Liberty University 89 10
Ferris State University 89 12
University of Maryland Baltimore County 89 15
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania 89 10
Virginia Commonwealth University 88 18
University of Arkansas 88 10
Illinois State University 87 11
University of North Carolina at Greensboro 87 12
The University of Memphis 87 10
North Carolina Central University 87 13
Aurora University 87 19
Florida State University 86 22
Colorado State University 86 14
California State University-Sacramento 86 22
University of Houston-Downtown 86 10
Saginaw Valley State University 86 12
State University of New York College at Brockport 85 11
Texas State University 83 18
James Madison University 83 11
Florida Atlantic University 83 19
University of North Carolina at Charlotte 83 10
University of North Carolina at Wilmington 83 10
Western Illinois University 82 10
Millersville University of Pennsylvania 82 12
Winona State University 82 15
Indiana University Bloomington 81 11
Western Michigan University 80 13
Oakland University 80 15
Florida International University 79 11
North Carolina State University 79 13
University of Cincinnati 79 11
East Carolina University 79 13
Morgan State University 79 10
The Ohio State University 78 16
Grand Valley State University 78 14
Metropolitan State University of Denver 78 11
University of West Florida 78 10
Georgia State University 77 10
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 77 16
University of Washington 76 10
The University of Texas at Arlington 75 29
Southern Connecticut State University 75 13
University of South Florida 74 14
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 74 14
Minnesota State University, Mankato 74 10
Saint Leo University 73 10
Cleveland State University 72 15
University of Central Florida 70 14
University of Tennessee, Knoxville 70 10
Texas A&M University-Commerce 69 11
Michigan State University 67 10
Arizona State University 64 26
Appalachian State University 64 10