SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Social assistance professionals offer services for clients, communities and families. They operate in a wide variety of areas, including psychology, rehabilitation and social work. Professionals in this field work independently and as part of large and small organizations to advocate for and improve the lives of those they serve.

Academic Pursuits

The social assistance industry needs passionate professionals from all backgrounds who are dedicated to improving communities, families, and individuals. Through classroom instruction and exposure to a variety of Oshkosh-area social organizations, students graduate with a clear idea of who they want to be and how they want to make an impact.

Students who want to work in the social assistance field can meld their interests and talents into an incredibly meaningful career. UW Oshkosh alumni who currently work in the social assistance sector have studied:

Accounting
Advertising
Applied Computing
Communication Studies
Computer Science
Criminal Justice
Early Childhood Education
Environmental Health
Environmental Studies
Foreign Languages
Human Resource Management
Human Service Leadership
Information Systems
Interactive Web Management

International Studies
Leadership and Organizational Studies
Leadership and Organizational Development
Liberal Studies
Management
Marketing
Nursing
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Public Relations
Social Work
Sociology
Women’s and Gender Studies

Average Starting Salary

The average salary for UW Oshkosh graduates who are working in this field within the first year of graduating

UW Oshkosh also offers minors and certificates that can accompany any major and provide you with a specific additional focus.

African–American Studies
Anthropology
Asian Studies
Behavioral Science
Bilingual Education (Hmong or Spanish)
Business Administration
Civic Engagement
Coaching

Community Health Studies
Computer Science
English as a Second Language
Global Scholar
Health, Humanities and Society
Humanities
Indigenous Studies
Law and Policy

LGBTQ Studies
Operations Research
Organizational Communication
Professional Communication
Social Justice
Sustainability and Social Change
Sustainability Education
Teachers of English to Other Languages

Job Outlook

The employment outlook in the education sector varies greatly depending on the location. From 2020–2030, the following occupations are projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations:

%

Social Workers

%

Social and Human Service Assistants

%

Community Service Managers

TOP CAREER AREAS

SOCIAL SERVICE PRACTITIONERS

Case manager, family advocate, health and wellness coordinator, marriage and family counselor, mental health counselor, prevention coordinator, Peace Corps volunteer, rehabilitation counselor, school and career counselors and advisor, social and community service manager, translator, volunteer coordinator, youth and family program coordinator, youth counselor

ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT CAREERS

Accountant and finance administrator, human resources specialist, social media and marketing manager

IN-DEMAND SKILLS

Empathy
Organization
Self-care
Advocacy
Commitment
Collaboration
Active listening
Patience
Communication

Work in the Education Field

Our alumni who work in this field have worked with the following organizations.

Salary and employment statistics for UW Oshkosh graduates are self reported and given based on their experiences and opportunities they secured within 9 months after graduation. Data is pulled from the UW Oshkosh First Destination Survey and is an average of reported data from the previous three years.

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH
Career & Professional Development

(920) 424-2181
career@uwosh.edu

Student Success Center, Suite 125
750 Elmwood Ave.
Oshkosh, WI 54901

Oshkosh Campus

M–F: 7:45 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Fox Cities Campus Advisor Hours

Fox Cities Hours: Mondays (days will vary) in the Solution Center

Schedule appointments via Handshake

Services only offered when classes are in session during the fall and spring terms.