Social Work
Changing the World Starts Here
Social workers are committed to care-centered practice, community building and social justice. Our programs give you the knowledge and skills to promote these values in an array of settings.
Attend an Information Session
Our faculty host online information sessions regularly to talk with you about our MSW program, the application process, and answer any questions you have.
Possible Careers in Social Work
Social workers examine individual thoughts, feelings, actions as well as the social environment for opportunities for growth and change.
Possible Careers
- Addiction counseling
- Behavioral health
- Child welfare
- Community organizing
- Criminal justice
- Crisis intervention
- Family-focused practice
- Hospital Social Work
- Policymaking
- Therapist
- Refugee services
- School social work
- Social administration
- Veterans' services
- Nonprofit Program Director or Executive Director
More About Our MSW Program
Whether you want to advance your career in human services or pivot to a care-centered career, our accredited master's degree program will provide you with the skills necessary to become an advanced generalist social worker.
Mission
We prepare competent, advanced generalist social work practitioners to meet the needs of multicultural populations in a dynamic midwestern metropolis. We prepare you to be culturally proficient, ethical leaders and service providers engaged in interprofessional, multi-systemic community-based practice who advocate for social and economic justice, enhance human well-being and support an individual’s capacity to address their own needs.
Curriculum
Our advanced generalist curriculum is based on core professional competencies.
- Practice theory and intervention
- Diversity and human rights
- Organizations and leadership
- Community-building and social action
- Research and evaluation
- Professional development
Schedule
Many classes are scheduled for late afternoons, evenings or weekends to accommodate working professionals.
Tracks
Depending on your bachelor's degree, there are two tracks to choose between in the program.
- Traditional MSW — A 60-credit-hour curriculum, combining classroom and field practicum.
- Advanced standing MSW (for students who already have an accredited BSW) — A 36-credit-hour curriculum taken during the Summer Session and one full-time year of coursework with field practicum.
Either track can be completed on a part-time schedule.
How to apply
An undergraduate degree in social work is not required for entry into the MSW program. However, only students who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work can apply for the advanced standing program.
Application deadlines
- Traditional MSW — March 1
- Advanced standing MSW (requires BSW) — March 1
- Flexible Enrollment — June 1 for Fall Semester start and November 1 for Spring Semester start
- Flexible enrollment provides options in program length by allowing students to begin out-of-cycle and complete electives at the beginning of their program. Students in this program cannot complete a field practicum until the Fall semester of the academic year following acceptance.
- Students with a BSW from a CSWE accredited program can begin in the Fall or Spring Semester and complete electives only within their first semesters. They continue into the advanced standing program in the Summer Session.
- Students with a bachelor's degree in social, behavioral or psychological sciences, as well as other related disciplines, who begin in the Fall Semester may complete the three-year program track if space is available in required course offerings. If space is not available, they may complete electives only in their first year.
- Students with a bachelor's degree in social, behavioral or psychological sciences, as well as other related disciplines, can begin in the Spring or Summer Semester and complete electives only in their first semesters, then continue into the three-year program track in the Fall Semester.