What can you do with a Social Work degree from University of Houston-Downtown?

First, some facts. Of the Social Work graduates from University of Houston-Downtown 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 86%, Social Work graduates from University of Houston-Downtown have a much higher likelihood (+19%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 86%
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, 70% 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 you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Social Work graduate.

See the details:

View a random Social Work graduate from University of Houston-Downtown and our analysis:


Relevance score: 100%

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

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2016 from University of Houston-Downtown with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. Also pursued further education since (see below).

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
LMSW Case Manager|Therapist
Abundant Life Theraputic Services
Aug 2018 - Aug 2019
As a case manager/therapist, this position utilizes skills and knowledge from the Bachelor's degree in Social Work on a daily basis, making it directly relevant.

LMSW/ Therapist
Kingwood Pines Hospital, LLC
Jul 2019 - Nov 2019
The role of LMSW/Therapist at Kingwood Pines Hospital requires substantial application of social work principles and knowledge, directly correlating with the degree obtained.

Licensed Master Social Worker
Maxim Healthcare Group ( King County IQ-site)
Apr 2020 - Oct 2020
Working as a Licensed Master Social Worker at Maxim Healthcare Group entails using social work expertise and skills, which are core qualifications derived from the Bachelor's degree in Social Work.

Licensed Master Social Worker
Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital
Jul 2020 - Jul 2021
In this position as a Licensed Master Social Worker at Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital, the individual applies foundational social work knowledge and practices regularly, making it highly relevant to their degree.

Licensed Master Social Worker
Maxim Healthcare Group (Swedish ER- Contract)
Jul 2021 - Present
The role as a Licensed Master Social Worker at Maxim Healthcare Group (Swedish ER- Contract) involves utilizing social work education and competencies extensively, affirming strong relevance to the Bachelor's degree in Social Work.

FURTHER DEGREES DONE SINCE GRADUATING
Master of Social Work
Stephen F. Austin State University
2016 - 2017
ABOUT

Healthcare Industry Versatile leader and experienced social worker with 20+ years excelling in the healthcare industry. Scholar-practitioner specializing in contemporary social work theories and putting those theories into practice. Leadership: Administration and Budgets Data-driven Improvement Pre- and Post-Employment Process Improvement Program Development Organizational Development Strategic Planning Team BuildingSocial Work: Assessment Counseling Clinical Judgment Compliance: Federal, State, Local Crisis Management Medical Terminology Needs Identification

What jobs can you get with a Social Work degree from University of Houston-Downtown?

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


When looking at the jobs held by graduates from the University of Houston-Downtown with a degree in Social Work, most of them have landed roles that either directly utilize their social work skills or are tangentially related. A significant number of these roles are in case management, counseling, and various positions focused on community assistance, which often require strong social work foundations. For example, positions like Employment Counselor, Case Manager, and Program Coordinator are prominently featured and indicate a strong reliance on skills learned during their studies. Many of these jobs involve direct interaction with clients, advocacy, and resource management—core components of the social work practice.

However, not every position aligns perfectly with the social work field. There are roles like Greeter or Senior Secretary that, while possibly involving some social work principles, mostly revolve around administrative tasks or customer service, which aren't as grounded in the professional practice of social work. Overall, it seems like the majority of these graduates are applying their social work knowledge in meaningful ways, especially in positions that require direct client support and advocacy for vulnerable populations, proving that their education is both relevant and valuable in the workforce.

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 University of Houston-Downtown):

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

Based on what I've seen from graduates of the University of Houston-Downtown with degrees in Social Work, it looks like most of them are finding themselves in pretty solid career paths, especially in the social services sector. For many, their first jobs after graduating tend to be entry-level positions in organizations dedicated to helping people, like case management or counseling roles. You can see graduates starting out as case managers, employment counselors, or even interns in various organizations. This makes sense since those roles help them get practical experience and become more knowledgeable in the field right off the bat.

As time goes on, the trend shows that many of these graduates advance quite a bit in their careers, often staying within the same organizations but moving up to higher positions like coordinators, managers, and eventually directors. For example, someone who started as a case manager at an organization eventually became a director of employment services. However, there are a few cases, like the recent graduate who’s working as a secretary at a cancer center, that suggest sometimes graduates might not find roles directly within social work. Still, overall, it seems like a number of these alumni are doing well, making valuable contributions in fields that are relevant to their training. It's encouraging to see that they are able to build meaningful careers in the social work landscape!

How hard is a Social Work degree from University of Houston-Downtown?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) at the University of Houston-Downtown is pretty challenging but manageable if you’re dedicated and passionate about the subject. You’ll dive deep into topics like human behavior, social justice, and community resources, and there’s a good amount of coursework and fieldwork involved. It's not a walk in the park, but if you enjoy helping people and are willing to put in the effort, you'll find it rewarding. Compared to degrees in more technical fields, it’s often seen as a bit easier since it leans heavily on critical thinking and communication rather than hard sciences, but that doesn’t mean it’s a cakewalk either. Just be prepared to keep up with readings, assignments, and sometimes emotional work, since you'll be learning about real-life issues that can be pretty heavy.

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 3 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Social Work.

Do Social Work graduates from University of Houston-Downtown tend to make good money?

Looking at the job histories of these Social Work grads from the University of Houston-Downtown, it seems like their earnings vary quite a bit. Some have steadily climbed the career ladder, especially those who moved up to director or managerial roles, which usually come with decent paychecks—like the Director of Employment Services at MAM who has been promoted a couple of times. However, others are still in entry-level or support roles, like the Greeter at Neighborhood Centers Inc. or the Senior Secretary at MD Anderson, which might not offer a high salary, especially given the cost of living these days. Overall, it looks like while some are doing pretty well financially, others might still be working their way up and not making a ton just yet. It’s definitely a mixed bag!

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 University of Houston-Downtown). 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