Resources

Comprehensive analysis of social work job market trends, growth projections, and strategies for building a recession-proof career in high-demand sectors.

Comprehensive guide to non-traditional social work careers offering superior compensation, including corporate, consulting, and leadership opportunities.

Before committing to a DSW, see the math. This guide breaks down when a doctorate genuinely pays off versus when certifications, specialized roles and leadership development deliver comparable career growth in a fraction of the time — plus a year-by-year framework for building your own advancement plan.

This article explains how social workers' protracted exposure to the trauma of others can result in compassion fatigue and overwhelming mental and physical exhaustion. Additionally, the article discusses the ways in which social workers can prevent and treat compassion fatigue.

Is an MSW worth the time and money? This guide breaks down real 2026 tuition, salary and LCSW-licensure data — plus a personalized ROI calculator — so you can weigh the cost of a Master of Social Work degree against your career goals before you apply.

An MSW, a CSW and an LCSW each play a different role in a Kentucky social work career. One is a degree, and the other two are licenses earned in sequence. Here's how they connect, and what it takes to move from graduate student to independent clinical practitioner.

Compassion fatigue and burnout end social work careers early. Discover self-care strategies that protect your MSW investment for decades.

From duty-to-warn conflicts to boundary issues, discover the ethical frameworks shaping modern social work—and how UK's online Doctor of Social Work program builds mastery.

After earning degrees in psychology and public administration, Mount Sterling, Kentucky native Glenn Means spent years working in government, healthcare, and nonprofit roles. Through his diverse professional experiences, he realized that a career serving those in need was his true calling leading him to the UK online MSW.

For Sanjuanita De Luna, a medical social worker and psychotherapist from Laredo, Texas, the path to earning her Doctorate in Social Work began with a childhood desire to help others. Despite facing obstacles early in life, her drive and perseverance led her to the UK Online DSW program, where she found new purpose and perspective.

Driven by her own lived experiences, DaShanna Johnson pursued UK’s online DSW to amplify her voice and create lasting change for vulnerable youth. Through flexible learning and unwavering support, she found the confidence and tools to lead boldly, build her nonprofit, and uplift the communities she loves.

The University of Kentucky’s online Master of Social Work program prepares students to work at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work. Through expert-led courses and practical experience, students gain the skills needed to support individuals, families, and communities and advance their social work careers.

Dr. Shericka Smith has dedicated her career to serving K-12 students in her hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. “I was born and raised here, and I moved away just for a brief moment to get my master’s degree in school social work,” she said. After returning, she joined Fayette County…

The online Master of Social Work program from the University of Kentucky prepares graduates to excel as social work professionals who know how to care for themselves to prevent burn out.

Social workers often serve as bridges between protected populations and the broader community, advocating policies for survivors to benefit the wider community. Learn more about social justice through social work through UK's online Master of Social Work program.

While some social work careers take professionals behind the scenes in office settings and others require face-to-face support with clients, the goals of social work are always the same in every industry: to provide effective human services to those who need them.

Human beings crave social interaction. Having a close network of family and friends often has significant benefits, as research shows that social relationships positively impact mental health, behavior, physical health, and mortality risk. However, people experiencing social isolation are at greater risk for many health…

In this article, Dr. Chris Flaherty, Director of the Military Behavioral Health Research Lab and an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky, writes about his 20-year career in the US Air Force, including his time as a Clinical Social Work Officer. He discusses the nature of life in the field of military social work as well as what he learned from the experience.

In this interview, Dr. Chris Flaherty, Director of the Military Behavioral Health Research Laboratory and Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, discusses the field of military social work, UK's Army MSW Program, and the various opportunities offered to students through the school and its partnership with the Army.

There's a unique set of challenges and issues relating to rural and urban social work throughout many rural communities throughout the US. Learn more.