I want to do social work in future. I am presently pursuing my final year of BJMC. What should I do?

As someone who has been in the Social Work field for about 6 years, I can answer your question Puneet.

While a relevant College may help you with networking and exposure, Social work doesn't necessarily need a degree or a specific College. It's more about having the compassion and then pursuing the field with relentless perseverance. A lot of people will applaud those who do social work but won't necessarily support, also you'll have a lot of people telling you "Pehle backup lelo, phir karna yeh saara kaam". Therefore you shall need that perseverance all the more.

So if you choose to take the non-College route, begin interning with an NGO working on a cause you relate to and then the road ahead shall begin getting clearer as you go along. If you wish to take a College route, then TISS in Mumbai and Delhi School of Social Work in DU are known Colleges that may help you.

TISS has the following relevant specializations:

• Master of Arts in Social Work (Children & Families)
• Master of Arts in Social Work (Community Organisation & Development Practice)
• Master of Arts in Social Work (Criminology & Justice)
• Master of Arts in Social Work (Dalit & Tribal Studies and Action)
• Master of Arts in Social Work (Disability Studies & Action)
• Master of Arts in Social Work (Livelihoods and Social Entrepreneurship)
• Master of Arts in Social Work (Mental Health)
• Master of Arts in Social Work (Public Health)
• Master of Arts in Social Work (Women-Centred Practice)

Moreover, from your question I assume "BJMC" means Bachelors in Journalism and Mass Communication? You may find it interesting to know that until a couple of decades ago, Journalism used to be considered a form of activism. There are still a few journalists who use the power of the media to bring important social issues to the fore and uncover dark truths that need urgent redressal. So even continuing in the same larger field, you can devote your life to socially relevant causes.

There you go, you have 3 options:

1. Stay in Journalism and explore socially relevant journalism

2. Move to Social work straight by working

3. Move to Social work by studying MSW first and then working

All the best Puneet! :-)

Puneet,

For your state of confusion, the answer given is a path of least resistance for you to fulfil your passion.

Now just to add on to the course options, you can also check,

Good Luck!