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Social work means action – Metro US

Social work means action

It takes more than social skills to do well in the social work Masters program at the University of British Columbia, and Becky Hynes can tell you this first-hand.

Hynes said she chose the discipline because it enables her the possibility of changing social injustices that occur on a daily basis.

“I decided on social work because it was the first thing I had learned about that I could really translate into action,” she said.

Hynes said it took her a few years to decide on a career. Previously, she enrolled in various courses such as anthropology, philosophy and art history before she learned about the social work program.
Upon completing a BA in Social Work from the University of Victoria, the 29-year-old decided to enrol in the Masters program at UBC.

“The great thing about social work is that we are always learning about theory in a way that translates into real life,” Hynes said.

Professor Edward Kruk said that the program deals with social problems revolving around individual distress and mental problems.

“It is assumed that individuals must adapt to sometimes oppressive social conditions,” he said.
“The social work targets the system for change because the system is the source of the problem.”
The course load, which includes practical and theory courses, also contains a field placement so students can apply their skills to real-life situations.

Kruk said the career outlook for social work is good.

“Social work is such an essential service, although some governments find it to be critical toward government policies,” he said.

Hynes offered some advice for future students: “Get political and challenge yourself,” she said.
“Don’t be afraid to do things differently.”