A matter of degree: job skills for human service administrators

A small but important literature discusses which degrees and which skills are "best" for human service administrators. This research surveys current human service administrators to determine their views. The MSW administration degree, while seen as useful at the entry and middle levels of management, falls behind both the MBA and the MPA at top levels. Skills considered important are very similar at all levels of management, although managers of nonprofits had higher expectations for skill level in many areas than did managers at government agencies. Implications for schools of social work are discussed.