MSW Programs in Nevada

Nevada, which means “snowfall” in Spanish, has more mountain ranges than any other state, with the highest point at 13,145 feet on the Boundary Peak. Most of Nevada is desert, but for half the year both the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the Ruby Mountains have snow on them.

This state is known for its silver and gold, with Nevada being the largest gold producing state in the country and second in the world after South Africa. Of course, Nevada is home of the bright, flashy Las Vegas, the gambling center of the country, known for its lavish hotels and spectacular entertainment.

Rapid Growth, Rapid Changes

Nevada is experiencing rapid population growth, as it has ever since 1950. Between the years 2000 and 2010, the population grew by 35 percent, and the growth rate does not appear to be slowing down (1). The high growth rate in the state appears to be primarily from the increase in Latino births and immigration, since the number of non-Latino white population has shrunk in all Nevada counties except three (2) (3).

As of 2013, the United States Census Bureau reported that Nevada is 27.3 percent Latino, which is significantly higher than the national average of 16.9 percent (4). The Latino population lags behind the rest of Nevada’s population when it come to income and employment. Thirty percent of Nevada’s Latino children (17 and under) live in poverty and 20 percent of Nevada’s Latino adults also live in poverty. In comparison, only 14 percent of Non-Latino white children live in poverty, and only 11 percent of Non-Latino white adults (5).

About 8.9 percent of the population is African American (6). Thirty-six percent of African-American children and 23 percent of African-American adults living in Nevada are living in poverty (7).

Since this is a significant portion of the population (and this demographic is increasing), Nevada is a great place to work if you are interested in working with minorities and people making wages that are under the national poverty level.

Education That Changes Along With the Needs of the Population

If you’re thinking of getting your master’s degree in social work in Nevada, you’ll be pleased to hear that the 2014 US News & World Report school rankings places two Nevada graduate social work programs in the top 150 in the nation. The University of Nevada (Las Vegas) School of Social Work ranks 130th and the University of Nevada (Reno) School of Social Work ranks 148th in the nation (8).

Nevada is still struggling to recover from the economic downturn of 2007-2008. As of 2013, the state had the second highest unemployment rate in the country of eight percent (9). It also has one of the highest crime rates in the country (10). Because of these two factors, social workers willing to work with the criminal justice system are in demand. If you are interested in criminal justice social work, you might want to check out the University of Nevada (Las Vegas) and their dual Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work program, a program tailored for exactly this type of work (11).

Before you take a job in social work, you’ll want to look into loan forgiveness programs such as the National Health Service Corps loan forgiveness program (NHSC). If you choose to work in a qualifying social work position in a “Health Professional Shortage Area” (HPSA), you may be forgiven up to $40,000 of your student loan debt (via loan forgiveness). You might also want to check out the Nevada Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program (NHSC). Both of these programs offer significant relief of student loan debt.

Great Pay and Plenty of Opportunity for Social Workers

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, social workers in Nevada make more than the national average across the board. In particular demand are healthcare social workers, which make a median wage of $60,200 ($10,600 more than the national average). The job growth rate is anticipated at a rate of 19 percent (12).

Substance abuse and mental health social workers make a median wage of $49,400 ($8,400 more than the national average) and can expect a job growth rate of 16 percent (13). Child, family and school social workers also make fair wages in Nevada. The median salary is $44,800 (about $3,000 more than the national average), but job growth is expected to be slow for this type of social worker position (14).

Licensure and Professional Development Resources

• Social Work License Requirements in Nevada
• National Association of Social Workers, Nevada Chapter
• State of Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers –

Universities in Nevada offering MSW Programs

• University of Nevada-Las Vegas (MSW Program)
• University of Nevada-Reno (MSW Program, Online MSW Program)

Sources Cited

1. Nevada Population, 2014. World Population Review. http://worldpopulationreview.com/states/nevada-population/
2. “As Nevada Grows, the Population Becomes Less White,” 2013. RGJ.com. http://archive.rgj.com/article/20130617/NEWS/306170018/As-Nevada-grows-population-becomes-less-white
3. Hispanic Population Trends, 2013. Pew Research Foundation. http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/02/15/hispanic-population-trends/ph_13-01-23_ss_hispanics9/
4. State and County Facts: Nevada, 2013. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32000.html
5. Demographic of Hispanics in Nevada, 2011. Pew Research Center. http://www.pewhispanic.org/states/state/nv/
6. State and County Facts: Nevada, 2013. United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/32000.html
7. Demographic of Hispanics in Nevada, 2011. Pew Research Center. http://www.pewhispanic.org/states/state/nv/
8. Graduate School Social Work Programs: Nevada, 2013. US News & World Report. http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/search?spp=10&program=top-social-work-schools&name=&zip=nevada&program_rank=Any&sort=&sortdir=
9. State Unemployment Rates, May 2014. National Conference of State Legislatures. http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-unemployment-update.aspx
10. Fact Sheet: Nevada Crime and Corrections, 2012. Legislative Counsel Bureau. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/Research/Publications/Factsheets/CrimeRankings.pdf
11. Dual Degree: Jurisdoctor and Master of Social Work. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. http://www.unlv.edu/degree/dual-degree-jd-msw
12. Occupation Profile: Healthcare Social Worker: Nevada, 2013. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211022&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=32&search=Go
13. Occupation Profile: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker: Nevada, 2013. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211023&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=32&search=Go
14. Occupation Profile: Child, Family, and School Social Worker: Nevada, 2013. Career One Stop. http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=211021&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=32&search=Go