Career Center

Each semester the Career Center offers a variety of workshops to assist students in planning for employment.  Topics include resume writing and effective interviewing.  In addition, the center sponsors a number of job fairs.  Students are encouraged to register with the Career Center for assistance with their job pursuits.

It is advisable to have career center papers prepared prior to the final semester.  Often, social service agencies contact the placement center for assistance in locating new employees.  The office will refer these employment opportunities to students with completed file in the center.

Merit Exams

Employment within State of Missouri agencies (i.e., Division of Family Services, Division of Aging, Division of Youth Services, Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and Department of Corrections) is subject to the Merit System.  The Career Center has information regarding the Missouri Merit System registration and examination process.  There are numerous positions in social work or closely related areas for which Bachelor of Social Work graduates qualify and that requires an examination.  Exams may be taken in Springfield or at various locations throughout Missouri.

Examinations are offered as scheduled by the Missouri Division of Personnel.  In addition, there are specific deadlines by which applications must be received in order to be eligible for examination.  Student applications cannot be submitted until the final semester, but students can begin to fill out the rather lengthy application form much earlier.  Applications, instructions and schedules are available at Missouri Workforce Development offices, generally located in county seats.

Social Work Licensure

If you plan on working in a state other than Missouri, you need to determine the requirements for licensure in that state.  Although Missouri does not require licensure for social workers, many states do.

Career Placement Surveys

The School makes an effort to assure employment opportunities are available to students upon graduation.  In some instances, faculty members may personally notify graduating seniors and recent graduates when they become aware of position vacancies.

The placement efforts for social work graduates have been successful.  Career placement surveys of alumni, conducted in 1980, 1983, 1987, 1991 and 1999 support this statement.  The vast majority of respondents felt very positive about their social work education at Missouri State University.  Even in a time of diminishing resources in the human services, people who are willing to relocate and accept positions in a broad range of fields of service can attain social work employment.

BSW students often plan for graduate social work education.  Missouri State University graduates have been successful in achieving admission to MSW programs at schools such as University of Missouri-Columbia, St. Louis University (St. Louis), Washington University (St. Louis), Florida State University (Tallahassee), University of Kansas (Lawrence), Columbia University (New York), University of Denver, and Case Western Reserve (Ohio) as well as the Missouri State MSW program.

Students who complete the Bachelor of Social Work at Missouri State University or any other program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education may be offered advanced standing by some social work graduate programs.  This sometimes means the student may complete a Master of Social Work in one year.

Graduate Records Exam and/or Miller Analogy Test

All students interested in attending graduate school should check the prospective school's website to determine specific entrance requirements.  If the school requires the Graduate Records Exam or Miller Analogy Test, it is advisable to complete these during the first semester of the senior year.