Social work lecturer
Also known as: university social work and social policy lecturer, higher education social work teacher, social work lector, social work professor, senior lecturer in social work, professor of social work and social policy
About this occupation
Social work lecturers are professionals who exercise dual roles, on one hand they practice the academic discipline that provides social services, such as counselling, therapy or advocacy, to individuals or groups of people and on the other hand they are part of the academic world providing professional education, engaging also in research and knowledge development, contributing to solutions concerning complex social problems and innovative approaches to ameliorate those problems. They teach social work knowledge, skills and values for preparing students to engage in culturally competent social work practice with diverse populations and communities.
A specialisation of higher education lecturer.
Essential skills and knowledge
- have computer literacy
- social justice
- apply intercultural teaching strategies
- prevent social problems
- make legislation transparent for users of social services
- legal requirements in the social sector
- prepare lesson content
- demonstrate when teaching
- adhere to organisational guidelines
- conduct interview in social service
- promote social change
- apply decision making within social work
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary (O*NET 25-1113.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, or handouts.
- Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
- Supervise students' laboratory and field work.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as family behavior, child and adolescent mental health, or social intervention evaluation.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Typical education (US)
- Doctoral Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Investigative, Artistic
Top skills: Instructing, Speaking, Learning Strategies, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing
US median pay: US$77,570 a year (2025), 12,610 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyVery important (4.5)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.1)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyVery important (4.1)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.6)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.6)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaImportant (3.3)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Doctoral Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
- Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
- Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
- School Psychologists
- Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
- Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
- Sociologists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.