16 Best MSW Programs in Illinois (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Looking for a career path in Illinois that pays well and offers plenty of employment opportunities? Consider enrolling in one of the MSW programs in Illinois and becoming a licensed social worker. Once you graduate, you can anticipate earning $59,030 a year, and employment opportunities for licensed social workers in the Land of Lincoln are expected to increase by 6 percent over the next 10 years. MSW programs in Illinois aim to meet students’ needs by offering online curricula for working students and accelerated curricula for students with an undergraduate background in social work. The list below of the 16 best MSW programs in Illinois for 2025 will provide all the information you need to jump-start your career today.
WHAT ARE THE BEST MSW PROGRAMS IN ILLINOIS (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025?
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, the following are the 16 Best campus-based and online MSW Programs in Illinois.
1) University of Chicago - Chicago
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical and Social Administration
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Clinical and Social Administration
University of Chicago MSW Program Details: Like other accredited MSW programs in Illinois, the University of Chicago’s MSW curriculum is split between core MSW coursework and coursework pertaining to its clinical concentrations. Traditional MSW students complete this curriculum in two years.
The core MSW curriculum includes classes like “Social Intervention: Programs and Policies,” “Social Intervention: Direct Practice,” and “Social Intervention: Research and Evaluation.” Traditional MSW students will take seven courses in their first fall and winter quarters and begin their concentration system in the spring quarter. During their first year, traditional MSW students must complete 480 hours of fieldwork.
In their second year, traditional MSW students continue coursework in their required concentration and complete an additional 640 hours of fieldwork. Multiple specialties within concentrations allow students to customize their educational path even further to align more specifically with their unique career goals.
As a Clinical major, you can choose between coursework in Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches, Family Systems Approaches, and Psychodynamic Approaches. As a Social Administration major, you’ll have the opportunity to earn a Certificate in Health Administration and Policy or a Certificate in Health Administration and Policy with a Concentration in Global Health.
Advanced Standing MSW students jump right into concentration classes. The Advanced Standing MSW curriculum is designed to be completed in a single year.
The Crown School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice maintains relationships with more than 600 agencies and programs throughout the Chicago area, where students are assigned to fieldwork assignments.
University of Chicago MSW Admission Requirements: Applicants to the traditional MSW program must have a baccalaureate from an accredited college or university. You must have an undergraduate Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree for the Advanced Standing MSW.
Key Highlights For University of Chicago MSW Students
•The University of Chicago also offers a three-year Extended Evening program designed to meet the needs of working adults and a three-year traditional MSW program.• In 2021, the University of Chicago awarded 166 Master’s of Social Work degrees.
• U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Chicago’s MSW program the second best in the nation.
• This MSW school in Illinois offers three concurrent degrees with its MSW: a joint MSW/ Master’s of Public Policy (MPP) degree in conjunction with UChi’s the Harris School of Public Policy, a joint MSW/Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree in conjunction with the UChi’s Booth School of Business, and a joint MSW/Master’s of Divinity (MDiv) degree in conjunction with the University of Chicago’s Divinity School.
• The Crown School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice sponsors a Global Social Development Practice program that places students in international fieldwork assignments in locations like the U.K., Kosovo, Egypt, South Korea, and Singapore.
2) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Urbana
MSW Programs Offered: On-Campus MSW (Traditional MSW and Advanced Standing MSW) and iMSW (Traditional MSW (Online) and Advanced Standing MSW (Online))
On-Campus MSW Concentrations Offered: Leadership & Social Change and Advanced Clinical (Children, Youth, & Family Services; Health Care; Mental Health; and School Social Work)
iMSW Concentrations Offered: Leadership & Social Change and Advanced Clinical (Mental Health; Schools; Health Care; and Children, Youth, & Family Services)
The University of Illinois-Urbana-Champagne offers two specialties: an Advanced Clinical Practice concentration and a Leadership & Social Change (LSC) concentration.
University of Illinois at Urbana MSW Program Details: The 72-credit traditional MSW can be completed full-time in 16 to 18 months. This track requires 16 hours of foundation coursework, 32 hours of concentration-related coursework, and a two-semester field internship (24 credit hours). Foundational classes include “Generalist Social Work Practice Methods,” “Advanced Clinical Assessment & Interviewing,” and “Social Welfare Policies & Services.” As a traditional MSW student at UIUC, you’ll be required to complete a minimum of 900 hours of fieldwork.
The 24-credit Advanced Practice MSW consists of four generalist courses, eight concentration-related courses, and a two-semester fieldwork internship. Though the Leadership & Social Change concentration has no subspecialties, the Advanced Clinical concentration offers four focus areas: Children, Youth, and Family Services; Health Care; Mental Health Schools. You should be able to complete the Advanced Standing MSW track in a year. As an Advanced Standing student at UIUC, you’ll be required to complete 600 hours of fieldwork.
The iMSW distance-learning program offers the same study options as the campus tracks. It was set up to offer working students or students living in remote or rural areas the opportunity to pursue their graduate degree through online coursework and a field placement in their home community.
The University of Illinois-Urbana-Champagne uses the block model for fieldwork assignments. During your internship, you’ll spend all your hours in the field and none in the classroom. The University of Illinois-Urbana-Champagne maintains more than 300 partnerships with hospitals, behavioral health clinics, sheriff departments, residential and outpatient rehabs, and other social service organizations throughout Urbana and other parts of Champagne County and central and eastern Illinois.
University of Illinois at Urbana MSW Admission Requirements: For admission into UIUC’s traditional MSW program in Illinois, you’ll need a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and at least 20 social or biological sciences credits. Applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW program must have a BSW. Preference is given to applicants with significant volunteer or professional experience in social services.
Key Highlights For University of Illinois at Urbana MSW Students
• The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign gave out 155 MSW degrees in 2021.• In 2022, U.S. News & World Report rated UIUC’s MSW program the 21st best in the nation. (Tied with the University of Illinois-Chicago.)
• The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne partners with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to provide a $10,000 stipend to students who will commit to working in a private non-profit child welfare agency in Illinois after graduation.
• The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne partners with the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Education, Learning & Leadership (BHWELL) HRSA Scholars Program to provide a $10,000 stipend to students who want to learn methods for integrating health and mental health services in medically underserved areas of Illinois.
3) University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago
MSW Programs Offered: Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), Full Time MSW (On-Campus), and PM-Extended Study MSW (On-Campus)
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family, Mental Health, Organization & Community Practice, School Social Work, and Social Work within Justice Systems
Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family, Mental Health, Organization & Community Practice, School Social Work, and Social Work within Justice Systems
PM-Extended Study MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family, Mental Health, Organization & Community Practice, School Social Work, and Social Work within Justice Systems
This MSW school in Illinois offers three completion tracks at its campus near the famed Chicago Loop: a traditional MSW program, an Advanced Standing MSW program, and a PM-Extended Study MSW program.
University of Illinois Chicago MSW Program Details: Like other MSW programs in Illinois, UIC’s 62-credit traditional MSW track is split between foundational social work coursework and coursework pertaining to your chosen specialization. Foundational courses include “Generalist Practice with Individuals and Organizations,” “Policy I & II,” and “Practice I, II, & III.” This track is designed to be completed in two years. You’ll take foundational courses your first year and specialization courses your second year. You’ll also be required to complete a minimum of 450 hours of fieldwork in your first year and 630 hours in your second year for a total of 980 hours.
The curriculum of the PM-Extended Study MSW program is identical to that of the traditional MSW program, but the program is designed to be completed in three years. You’ll take courses two evenings a week. The total number of required fieldwork hours is the same as for traditional MSW students.
Advanced Standing MSW students at UIC are only responsible for completing coursework related to their specialization. They are required to complete 630 hours of fieldwork.
The Jane Addams College of Social Work partners on field placements with more than 300 social service agencies, hospitals, schools, and other human service organizations throughout the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. One of the college’s field liaisons will make your field assignment. Students enrolled in the PM-Extended Study MSW track can do their field placements during their two generalist years during the summer months.
University of Illinois Chicago MSW Admission Requirements: For admission into the traditional or PM-Extended Study MSW program, you must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. Applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW program must have an undergraduate degree in social work.
Key Highlights For University of Illinois Chicago MSW Students
• In 2021, 248 individuals earned their Master’s of Social Work degrees at the University of Illinois-Chicago.• According to U.S. News & World Report, the University of Illinois-Chicago’s MSW degree program is the 21st finest in the nation. ((Tied with the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champagne.)
• UIC offers a joint MSW/MPP degree.
• The Jane Addams College of Social Work offers a non-degree program called the Post-MSW Professional Educator License (PEL), School Social Worker Endorsement Program that will enable you to become a school social worker.
4) Loyola University Chicago - Chicago
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Online MSW (Online)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Micro Practice (Advanced Clinical Practice, Certified Alcohol & other Drugs Counselor training program (CADC), Migration Studies, and School Social Work/Professional Educator License (PEL)) and Leadership, Mezzo, & Macro Practice (LMMP) (Leadership, Community, Advocacy, & Policy (LCAP))
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Micro and Leadership, Mezzo, & Macro Practice (LMMP)
Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Micro Practice (Migration Studies and School Social Work) and Leadership, Mezzo & Macro Practice (LMMP) (Leadership, Community, Advocacy, & Policy (LCAP))
Loyola University Chicago MSW Program Details: The 49-credit traditional MSW program will take full-time students two years to complete and part-time students four years to complete. The first year consists of generalist coursework like “Lifespan Development, Human Behavior, Trauma, and Theory,” “Power, Oppression, Privilege, and Social Justice,” and “Assessment of Client Concerns in Context.” You’ll be required to complete a total of 1,000 hours of fieldwork in total: 400 hours working eight hours a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays during your generalist year and 600 hours working eight hours a day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during your specialization year.
Loyola University Chicago’s traditional MSW program in Illinois offers two concentrations: Micro Practice Specialization and Leadership, Mezzo & Macro Practice Specialization (LMMP.) Within the Micro Practice Specialization, you can pursue one of four subspecialty tracks: Advanced Clinical Practice, Certified Alcohol and Other Drugs Counselor training program (CADC), Migration Studies, or School Social Work/Professional Educator License (PEL.) Within the LMMP Specialization, you can choose to specialize further in Leadership, Community, Advocacy, and Policy (LCAP.)
The 23-credit Advanced Standing MSW can be completed in 10 months if you’re enrolled full-time or two years if you enroll part-time. This MSW track requires 600 hours of fieldwork, which you’ll participate in for eight hours a day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A limited number of summer fieldwork assignments with conventional business hours are also available.
The MSW Online track follows the traditional MSW program curriculum during the generalist year. The LMMP concentration with its LCAP specialization is fully available to online students, but only the Migration Studies subspecialty associated with the Micro Practice Specialization is available to online students or the School Social Work track for residents of Illinois. Online coursework is offered via synchronous and asynchronous formats. Students enrolled in the MSW Online must complete 1,000 hours of fieldwork, but they can do so in their own communities.
Students enrolled at Loyola University Chicago have the opportunity to work with a wide range of client populations and practice settings throughout their fieldwork, thanks to the more than 800 partnerships Loyola University Chicago maintains with human services agencies and organizations throughout the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area and other parts of the nation.
Loyola University Chicago MSW Admission Requirements: As with other social work master’s programs in Illinois, applicants to the traditional MSW program will need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, while applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW program will need a Bachelor’s of Social Work degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. You’ll need to submit a current curriculum vitae or resume and a statement of purpose with your application. Some of the specialty tracks have their own sets of admission requirements.
Key Highlights For Loyola University Chicago MSW Students
• Two hundred and forty-nine individuals graduated with MSW degrees from Loyola University Chicago in 2021.• In 2022, U.S. News & World Report rated Loyola University Chicago #28 among the nation’s top social work programs.
• Loyola University Chicago offers six dual degree programs for MSW students: an MSW/JD in conjunction with the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, an MSW/Master of Jurisprudence (MJ) in Child and Family Law in conjunction with the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, an MSW/MDiv in conjunction with the Loyola University Chicago Institute of Pastoral Studies, an MSW/Master of Arts in Social Justice(MA) in conjunction with the Loyola University Chicago Institute of Pastoral Studies, an MSW/MA in Women’s Studies in conjunction with Loyola University’s Graduate School, and an MSW/MPH.
• MSW students at Loyola University can pursue a Certificate in Advanced Psychotherapy.
5) Aurora University - Aurora
MSW Programs Offered: Traditional MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Online MSW (Online)
Traditional MSW Concentrations Offered: Addictions, Child Welfare, School Social Work, Forensics, Gerontology, Health Care, Leadership Administration, and Military & Veteran Social Work
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Addictions, Child Welfare, School Social Work, Forensics, Gerontology, Health Care, Leadership Administration, and Military & Veteran Social Work
Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Addictions, Child Welfare, Forensic Social Work, Gerontology, Health Care, Leadership Administration, Military & Veteran Social Work, and Professional Educator License in School Social Work (PEL)
Aurora University offers MSW students eight different specialty concentrations: Addictions, Child Welfare, School Social Work, Forensics, Gerontology, Health Care, Leadership Administration, and Military & Veteran Social Work. For Online MSW students, the School Social Work option has been modified to be preparation for a Professional Educator License (PEL) in School Social Work.
Aurora University MSW Program Details: The 60-credit traditional MSW track requires 1,050 hours of fieldwork. Like other accredited MSW programs in Illinois, Aurora’s traditional MSW is divided into core MSW classes and classes pertaining to specialty concentrations the school offers. Core MSW classes include “Social Welfare Policy and Institutions,” “Theories of Human Development I & II,” and “Social Work Practice With Individuals and Families.” As a full-time student, you can complete this MSW in Illinois in two years; as a part-time student, you can complete it in three.
The 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW option is only open to students who’ve completed an undergraduate degree in social work within the past five years. Its curriculum is identical to the second year of the two-year traditional MSW track and involves 600 hours of fieldwork. A full-time student should be able to complete this track in one year, and a part-time student should be able to complete it in two.
The Online MSW track offers the traditional MSW curriculum as a distance-learning option.
As with all master’s in social work programs in Illinois, fieldwork is an essential component of the social work education Aurora University offers. Aurora maintains partnerships with nearly 1,200 social service agencies and organizations throughout the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area and other parts of the U.S. As a full-time, traditional MSW student, you can expect to spend 15 hours a week at your fieldwork assignment. When you go on to your second specialty year, you can expect to spend 20 hours a week at your fieldwork assignment.
Aurora University MSW Admission Requirements: You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited liberal arts institution with a GPA of 3.0 or higher for admission into the traditional MSW program. Applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW program must have a bachelor's degree in social welfare. A resume, two professional references, and a personal statement must accompany your application.
Key Highlights For Aurora University MSW Students
• In 2021, Aurora University conferred 478 Master’s of Social Work degrees.• Aurora will allow you to use your current employer for your fieldwork experience.
• Aurora University offers two dual degree options: an MSW/MBA in conjunction with the George Williams School of Social Work and an MSW/Master’s of Public Administration (MPA.)
6) Northeastern Illinois University - Chicago
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Practice with Children, Youth, & Families and Leadership & Change
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Practice with Children, Youth, & Families and Leadership & Change
Northeastern Illinois University MSW Program Details: Like all MSW programs in Illinois, NEIU’s 60-credit traditional MSW track consists of foundation-level classes, specialty-related classes, and 1,080 hours of fieldwork. Foundation-level classes include “Oppression, Decolonization and Equity In Social Work,” “Human Behavior And The Social Environment I & II,” and “Social Welfare Policy.” It’s designed to be completed in two years by full-time students and in four years by part-time students. Classes begin in the fall semester.
Northeastern Illinois University offers two concentrations: Practice Within Vulnerable Populations, a micro concentration, and Leadership and Change, a macro concentration. Within the Practice Within Vulnerable Populations concentration, you can specialize further with the Practice with Children and Families focus, and within the Leadership and Change concentration, you can specialize further with the Advocacy and Change focus.
The 33-credit Advanced Standing MSW comprises the specialty-related portion of the traditional MSW program. Classes begin in the summer semester. If you enroll in the full-time Advanced Standing MSW program, you’ll graduate in one year.
Fieldwork is a vital part of the curriculum in all MSW schools in Illinois, and Northeastern Illinois University’s MSW program is no exception. Students are placed in a variety of social service settings throughout the Greater Metropolitan Chicago Region, including nursing homes, schools, homeless shelters, hospitals, mental health facilities, juvenile justice systems, domestic violence shelters, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Northeastern Illinois University MSW Admission Requirements: NIUC’s traditional MSW program is open to all applicants with a bachelor’s degree who’ve maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher. However, the university’s Advanced Standing MSW program is only open to applicants who’ve graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social work. You’ll need to submit three professional references and a statement of purpose with your application.
Key Highlights For Northeastern Illinois University MSW Students
• Sixty-one MSW degrees were awarded by Northeastern Illinois University in 2021.• Students in both concentrations are eligible to pursue the School Social Work specialization, which will qualify them to earn the Illinois State Board of Education’s Professional Educator License.
• Northeastern Illinois University maintains a low student/teacher ratio so that students have the opportunity to benefit from personalized attention.
• Northeastern Illinois University is a designated Hispanic-serving Institution.
7) Dominican University - River Forest & Grayslake
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Online MSW (Online)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Aging, Adulthood & Gerontology; Children, Youth & Family; Global Social Work Practice for Immigrants & Refugees; Health & Well-Being; Military; and School Social Work
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Aging, Adulthood & Gerontology; Children, Youth & Family; Global Social Work Practice for Immigrants & Refugees; Health & Well-Being; Military; and School Social Work
Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Aging, Adulthood & Gerontology; Children, Youth & Family; Global Social Work Practice for Immigrants & Refugees; Health & Well-Being; Military; and School Social Work
Dominican University MSW Program Details: The 60-credit traditional MSW program is split between core MSW coursework and coursework related to the concentration you’ll be focusing on when you become a practitioner. Foundational MSW coursework includes “Social Work Practice with Individuals & Families,” “Human Behavior in The Social Environment,” and “History of Social Work & Social Welfare.” DU offers six concentrations: Aging, Adulthood & Gerontology; Children, Youth & Family; Global Social Work Practice for Immigrants & Refugees; Health & Well-Being; Military; and School Social Work.
The Advanced Standing MSW program consists of the concentration-related year of traditional MSW coursework. DU also offers an Online MSW equivalent to the traditional MSW, except that it utilizes a distance-learning format and asynchronous technology.
As a full-time traditional or Online MSW student, you should be able to finish your degree in two years. Three-year and four-year completion options are also offered. The Advanced Standing MSW option can be completed in nine months by full-time students and in two years by part-time students. You can change your status from full-time to part-time if you need to.
Traditional MSW students will do a total of 1,080 hours of fieldwork at Dominican University’s partner social service agencies, while Advanced Standing MSW students will do 600. DU’s School of Social Work is affiliated with more than 300 human services organizations in Cook County, Lake County, and surrounding counties, as well as agencies in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
All MSW students at Dominican University, on-campus or online, must attend a weekend-long orientation on the Dominican University campus. (The only exceptions to this requirement are online students who reside in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, or Wisconsin and who will attend an online orientation.)
Dominican University MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll need to complete your application to Dominican University’s MSW online. Applicants to Dominican University’s traditional MSW in Illinois must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 2.75; applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW track must have a BSW. You must submit a resume, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement with your application.
Key Highlights For Dominican University MSW Students
• In 2021, Dominican University awarded 77 Master’s of Social Work degrees.• This MSW school in Illinois offers three MSW dual degree options: a concurrent MSW/MBA in conjunction with Dominican University’s Brennan School of Business, a concurrent MSW/Master’s of Library and Information Science (MLIS), and a concurrent MSW/Master’s of Arts in Mediation and Conflict Resolution (MMCR.)
• Dominican University sponsors several 10-week international field placements that will allow students to work in countries such as Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Ireland, Mexico, or South Africa.
• Dominican offers post-MSW certificates in Gerontology Aging Care and Social Work in Schools.
8) DePaul University - Chicago
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Community Practice and Forensic Social Work
DePaul University MSW Program Details: DePaul University’s traditional MSW program entails 88 quarter credits. Like other MSW programs in Illinois, DePaul University’s program is split between foundational coursework, specialization coursework, and fieldwork. Students complete 540 hours of fieldwork during their foundational year, which averages out to two days of fieldwork a week. Students complete 580 hours of fieldwork during their concentration year, which averages out to two and a half days a week.
If you enroll full-time in this MSW program in Illinois, you should be able to finish it in a single year. Part-time students have the option of completing it in either three years or four years.
Foundational classes include “Professional Writing and Development,” “Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II,” and “Social Welfare Policy.” De Paul offers two concentrations: Community Practice, which prepares students to manage human services agencies and organizations, and Forensic Social Service, which prepares students to deal with social and psychological factors that impact the legal and criminal justice systems. Concentration-related courses include “Program Evaluation,” “Fund Development Management,” and “Forensic Social Work I, II, & III.”
You’ll participate in academic classes and fieldwork assignments concurrently during the same semester. Fieldwork assignments are completed at human service agencies and organizations throughout the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area.
DePaul University MSW Admission Requirements: This MSW program is only open to baccalaureates from accredited colleges and universities with a minimum GPA of 2.75 or higher. You’ll need to submit two professional references, a statement of purpose, and a resume or CV.
Key Highlights For DePaul University MSW Students
• Seventeen students graduated from DePaul University in 2021 with MSW degrees.• DePaul’s part-time MSW program holds some classes on weekday evenings and weekend afternoons.
• This MSW school in Illinois offers concurrent Master’s degrees in Social Work and Women’s and Gender Studies (MSW/MA.)
9) Southern Illinois University Carbondale - Carbondale
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Online MSW (Online)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Health/Mental Health and Children, Youth & Families
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Health/Mental Health and Children, Youth & Families
Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Health/Mental Health and Children, Youth & Families
This MSW school in Illinois offers two concentrations: Health/Mental Health and Children, Youth & Families.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale MSW Program Details: Like other MSW programs in Illinois, SIUC’s curriculum is split into foundational MSW coursework, specialization coursework, and fieldwork. The 60-credit traditional MSW program includes both foundational and specialization coursework, while the 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW program only includes the specialization coursework. The Online MSW is a distance-learning equivalent to the traditional and Advanced Standing MSW options.
Foundational coursework includes classes like “Human Behavior and the Social Environment,” “Families, Groups, and Organizations in Social Work,” and “Ethnic Diversity in Social Work.;” full-time students enrolled in the traditional MSW track take these the first year and take specialization classes their second year. Advanced Standing MSW students will take a few transitional classes before embarking upon the specialization curriculum; they should be able to graduate in a single year.
Traditional MSW students must complete a minimum of 967 hours of fieldwork: 360 during their foundational year and 607 during their specialization year. Advanced Standing MSW students must complete a minimum of 607 hours of fieldwork.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale partners with community service agencies, schools, ministries, hospices, legal clinics, homeless shelters, Departments of Children and Family Services throughout various Southern Illinois locations, and other human services organizations on fieldwork assignments.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale MSW Admission Requirements: SIUC’s traditional and Online MSW programs are only open to applicants with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW program must have a BSW degree from an accredited social work program. You’ll need to apply separately to Southern Illinois University’s Graduate School and its Social Work program. Both applications can be accessed online.
Key Highlights For Southern Illinois University Carbondale MSW Students
• Forty-eight students graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale with master’s degrees in social work in 2021.• SIUC’s School of Human Sciences partners with the university’s law school on concurrent MSW/JD degrees.
• Southern Illinois University Carbondale participates in an interdisciplinary program whereby MSW students can earn a Certificate in Gerontology.
• Students enrolled in SIUC’s program can qualify for the PEL Endorsement in School Social Work by taking five additional courses and arranging to do their fieldwork assignments in a school setting.
10) Chicago State University - Chicago
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (Full-Time MSW (On-Campus), Part-Time MSW (On-Campus), Full-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Part-Time Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus))
MSW Concentrations Offered: Direct Practice, Program Planning & Administration, and School Social Work
Chicago State University MSW Program Details: The 60-credit traditional MSW program will take two years to complete if you enroll full-time. Part-time three-year and four-year completion tracks are also available. Like other accredited MSW programs in Illinois, CSU’s traditional MSW includes foundational classes, classes that prepare you for work in your chosen specialty, and fieldwork.
Foundational classes include “Social Welfare Policy I & II,” “Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II,” and “Family Support and Development.” Most traditional MSW students must complete 950 hours of fieldwork, but students enrolled in the School Social Work track must complete 1,000 hours. You’ll be required to spend approximately two days a week at your fieldwork assignment.
The Advanced Standing MSW track also has full-time and part-time completion tracks. Full-time students should be able to complete this MSW program in Illinois in one year, while part-time students should complete it in two. Most Advanced Standing MSW students must complete a minimum of 550 hours of fieldwork, but students pursuing the School Social Work track must complete at least 600.
Chicago State University maintains fieldwork partnerships with many different schools, trauma centers, social service agencies, battered women’s shelters, and other human service organizations throughout Chicago and surrounding communities.
Chicago State University MSW Admission Requirements: The traditional MSW program is only open to applicants who’ve earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW must have earned a BSW degree within four years of their application to CSU’s program.
Key Highlights For Chicago State University MSW Students
• Chicago State University awarded 24 MSW degrees in 2021.• Although Chicago State University is a historically Black school, individuals of all races may enroll in its Master’s of Social Work degree program.
• Students who graduate from the School Social Work concentration specialty are eligible to earn the Post-MSW Illinois Professional Educator License with School Social Work Endorsement.
11) Illinois State University - Normal
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Practice and School Social Work
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Child & Family Practice and School Social Work
Illinois State University MSW Program Details: Like other traditional MSW programs in Illinois, ISU-Normal’s curriculum consists of core MSW classes, specialty MSW classes, and field assignments. Traditional MSW students who enroll full-time take core MSW classes the first year and coursework related to the specialty they’ve chosen the second. During the first year, fieldwork classes are taken as a block during the summer semester; fieldwork classes and academic classes are taken concurrently during the second year. Core MSW classes include “Human Behavior,” “Generalist Social Work Practice I, 11, and III,” and “Social Welfare Policy & Services.” ISU-Normal’s traditional MSW program comprises 60 credits and a minimum of 1,100 hours of fieldwork.
Advanced Standing MSW students at Illinois State University-Normal forgo core MSW classes and begin their coursework with the specialty curriculum. ISU-Normal’s Advanced Standing MSW program consists of 30 credits (including elective coursework that your faculty advisor must approve) and a minimum of 700 hours of fieldwork. Full-time students will complete this track with the Child & Family Practice concentration in one year and the School Social Work concentration in two years. Advanced Standing MSW students pursuing the Child & Family Practice can also opt to finish their studies part-time in two years.
Fieldwork partners include child welfare centers, schools, child advocate agencies, adoption agencies, the Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois, counseling and family services, and other human services organizations throughout the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Area and nearby parts of central Illinois.
Illinois State University MSW Admission Requirements: You’ll need a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for admission into the traditional MSW program. Applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW program must have a baccalaureate in social work. Preference is given to applicants with paid or volunteer experience in human services.
Key Highlights For Illinois State University MSW Students
• Twenty-eight people graduated from Illinois State University-Normal with MSW degrees in 2021.• To pursue the School Social Work concentration, you must pass the Illinois social work content exam that qualifies you for a Professional Educator’s License with a School Social Work endorsement before the end of the fall semester of your specialty concentration year.
• Illinois State University-Normal’s School of Social Work also offers a post-master’s certificate for MSW program graduates who want to become school social workers.
12) Erikson Institute - Chicago
MSW Programs Offered: Full-Time MSW (On-Campus & Online), Part-Time MSW (On-Campus & Online), and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus & Online)
Full-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Children, Adolescents & Adults and Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health
Part-Time MSW Concentrations Offered: Children, Adolescents & Adults and Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Children, Adolescents & Adults and Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health
The Erikson Institute offers a traditional MSW program and an Advanced Standing MSW program with concentrations in Children, Adolescents, & Adults and Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health. These accredited MSW programs in Illinois are available both as online or classroom programs at the Erikson Institute’s campus in downtown Chicago.
Erikson Institute MSW Program Details: Like other MSW programs in Illinois, Erikson’s MSW programs contain foundational classes, concentration, and fieldwork components. The 60-credit traditional MSW program has start dates in the fall and spring semesters and takes two years to complete if you pursue it full-time and either three years or four years to complete if you pursue it part-time. Before moving on to your chosen concentration, you’ll take foundational classes first for groundwork in the field. Foundational courses include “Social and Emotional Development I & II” and “Clinical Practice with Individuals, Families, and Groups I & II.”
The Advanced Standing MSW track allows you to leverage your undergraduate bachelor’s degree in social work by bypassing up to 25 credits of foundational classes. At the Erikson Institute, the Advanced Standing MSW will take you two years to complete.
Traditional MSW students are required to complete 900 hours of fieldwork. Erikson has relationships with more than 100 of the top child services agencies in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. The school will work with online students to find the most rewarding fieldwork assignments close to where they work.
Erikson Institute MSW Admission Requirements: You must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 during your bachelor’s degree studies at an accredited institution of higher learning for admission into the traditional MSW program. Advanced Standing MSW applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in social work. You’ll need to submit a resume, two professional references, and two essays with your application.
Key Highlights For Erikson Institute MSW Students
• The Erikson Institute awarded 39 Master’s of Social Work degrees in 2021.• Erikson’s Center for Children and Families offers low-cost social and psychological services for children and caregivers throughout the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area.
• The Erikson Institute offers a dual MSW/Master of Science in Child Development (MS Child Dev) degree in conjunction with Loyola University.
13) Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - Edwardsville
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville offers a traditional MSW and an Advanced Standing MSW with one concentration: Advanced Generalist Practice. Both these MSW programs in Illinois are provided at SIUE’s campus in Edwardsville.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville MSW Program Details: The 60-credit traditional MSW is designed to be completed in two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study. As with every traditional MSW in Illinois, its curriculum is divided between core MSW classes, specialization MSW classes, and fieldwork. Core MSW classes include “Generalist Practice: Individuals and Families,” “Counseling Skills Development,” and “Human Behavior in the Social Environment.”
Students enrolled in the 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW aren’t required to take core MSW classes and begin specialization classes immediately. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is one of the few Advanced Standing social work master’s programs in Illinois that require students to participate in a capstone project before they can graduate.
Classes meet once per week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evenings, from 6:00 pm to 8:50 pm during the fall and spring semesters. Summer classes are offered in five-week terms; most courses meet three nights per week from 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm over a five-week term. Though classes are taught primarily on campus, many courses have an online element. Individual instructors choose whether they want distance learning content to be delivered in a synchronous or asynchronous format.
Traditional MSW students must complete 900 hours of fieldwork, while Advanced Standing MSW students must complete 450 hours. You’ll be performing your fieldwork assignments at agencies and organizations throughout southern Illinois and the Metro East suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, assisting with service provision for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, poverty, and mental health challenges.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville MSW Admission Requirements: The Successful completion of a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher is a requirement for enrollment in the traditional MSW program. You must have a BSW to be accepted into the Advanced Standing MSW program. Additionally, you must submit one academic reference and one professional reference with your application.
Key Highlights For Southern Illinois University Edwardsville MSW Students
• Twenty-four MSW degrees were awarded by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2021.• SIUE offers the School Social Work Post-Master's Certificate that will qualify you for the Illinois State Board of Education’s School Social Work Professional Educator License (PEL.)
• SIUE’s evening courses are designed to accommodate the needs of working students.
14) Governors State University - University Park
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Social Work Practice with Children, Adolescents, & Families and School Social Work Practice
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Social Work Practice with Children, Adolescents, & Families and School Social Work Practice
Governors State University MSW Program Details: You can complete the 60-credit traditional MSW in two years if you enroll full-time or in either three years or four years if you enroll part-time. The 32-credit Advanced Standing MSW program is only offered as a full-time, one-year option.
Like other accredited MSW programs in Illinois, GSU’s basic Master’s of Social Work degree curriculum has three components: core MSW classes, specialty-related MSW classes, and fieldwork. Traditional MSW students are responsible for completing all three. Core MSW classes include “The Social Work Profession in a Diverse Society,” “Human Behavior in the Social Environment I & II,” and “Social Welfare Policies and Provisions.” Traditional MSW students at GSU must complete 1,020 hours of fieldwork.
Advanced Standing MSW students at GSU must complete four credits of transitional coursework before proceeding to specialty-related classes. Advanced Standing MSW students are required to complete 600 hours of fieldwork. Fieldwork assignments are made to addiction programs, senior citizen services, hospices, children’s welfare agencies, local Departments of Children & Family Services, homeless shelters, schools, and other human services organizations in South Chicago, Joliet, and surrounding communities.
All MSW students at Governors State University are required to complete a final Master’s degree project as a condition of graduation. This project allows them to apply the relevance of theoretical perspectives they’ve learned in their academic classes to the real-life challenges they’ve encountered during their fieldwork.
Governors State University MSW Admission Requirements: For admission into Governors State University’s traditional MSW in Illinois, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicants to the Advanced Standing MSW program will need a social work baccalaureate with a minimum GPA of 3.0. You must also submit three professional references and essays with your application.
Key Highlights For Governors State University MSW Students
• Governor’s State University conferred 45 MSW degrees in 2021.• GSU offers a Post-MSW Certificate in School Social Work that qualifies students to sit for the Illinois Testing System’s school social worker content area exam.
• GSU’s MSW programs offer evening classes to accommodate the needs of working students.
15) University of St. Francis - Joliet
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus), Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus), and Online MSW (Online)
MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice and School Social Work
Advanced Standing MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice and School Social Work
Online MSW Concentrations Offered: Advanced Generalist Practice and School Social Work
University of St. Francis MSW Program Details: Like other MSW programs in Illinois, the one at the University of St. Francis is split into three components: foundational MSW classes, concentration-related coursework, and fieldwork. Foundational courses include “Human Behavior and the Social Environment I & II), “Social Policy I & II),” and “Women’s Policy and Feminist Issues.”
The 62-credit traditional Master’s of Social Work program will take full-time students four semesters (two years) to complete. Part-time completion options are also available. The 32-credit Advanced Standing MSW program should take full-time students one year to complete. USF’s Online MSW offers the same knowledge and skill sets as its two campus-based MSW programs in Illinois.
As with all the best MSW programs in Illinois, fieldwork is a very important part of the graduate MSW curriculum at the University of St. Francis. Traditional MSW students must complete 900 hours of fieldwork, while Advanced Standing MSW students must complete 600. Fieldwork sites include Allen County Juvenile Probation, Catholic Charities, the Department of Children Services, and other human resource agencies in the Greater Joliet Metropolitan Area.
University of St. Francis MSW Admission Requirements: Prospective students for the Advanced Standing MSW degree will need a BSW from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. Prospective students for the traditional MSW must have a baccalaureate degree. You must submit an essay and two letters of recommendation with your application.
Key Highlights For University of St. Francis MSW Students
• Twenty-two individuals graduated from the University of St. Francis in 2021 with MSW degrees.• This MSW school in Illinois offers a Professional Graduate Certificate in Gerontology to students with undergraduate degrees in social work or related disciplines.
• USF offers post-MSW certificates in Forensic Social Work and School Social Work.
16) Lewis University - Romeoville
MSW Programs Offered: MSW (On-Campus) and Advanced Standing MSW (On-Campus)
Lewis University MSW Program Details: Like every one of the best MSW schools in Illinois, Lewis University’s MSW program consists of three parts: core MSW coursework, advanced MSW coursework, and fieldwork. The 60-credit traditional MSW program includes all three: 30 hours of foundational MSW credits, 30 credits of advanced credits, and 1,080 hours of fieldwork. The traditional MSW program should take you two years to finish. Part-time completion options are also available.
The 30-credit Advanced Standing program consists only of the advanced MSW coursework, and you should be able to complete it in a single year if you enroll full-time. You can also enroll in this MSW track part-time if that suits your needs better. Students in the Advanced Standing MSW track are responsible for performing 600 hours of fieldwork. Fieldwork assignments are made to child welfare agencies, family and youth services, domestic violence shelters, schools, and other human services organizations in the South Chicago area.
Lewis University strives to offer the advantages of a campus-based education to working professionals. Thus, MSW classes are held in the evenings. Both MSW options culminate with a written capstone paper.
Foundational MSW classes include “Foundation Practice with Individuals and Families,” “Human Behavior in the Social Environment 1 & 2,” and “Social Justice and Empowerment: Oppression, Privilege, and Diversity.” Advanced Standing MSW classes include “Management/ Leadership/Supervision in Social Work Practice,” “Advanced Individual Practice,” and “Management/ Leadership/Supervision in Social Work Practice.”
Lewis University MSW Admission Requirements: To enroll in the MSW program at Lewis University, you must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Advanced Standing MSW students at Lewis must have a baccalaureate in social work. You’ll need to submit two letters of recommendation with your application.
Key Highlights For Lewis University MSW Students
• Lewis University conferred 26 Master’s of Social Work degrees in 2021.• This MSW in Illinois offers the coursework necessary to qualify you for the School Social Work Professional Educator’s License (PEL.)
• Lewis University received the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Grant (BHWET) that provides funding for prospective MSW students.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Are The Total Number Of Accredited MSW Programs In Illinois?
As per the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), currently, there are 17 accredited Master Of Social Work programs in Illinois.| Total MSW Programs in Illinois |
| 17 |
How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Hour In Illinois?
The average salary of an MSW graduate per hour in Illinois is $28.41.How Much Does An MSW Graduate Make Per Year In Illinois?
The average salary of an MSW graduate per year in Illinois is $59,090.
Pattie Trumble, MPP, MPH
Pattie Trumble is a nurse who worked in both California and New York for many years as an emergency room nurse. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Associate Degree in Nursing from the Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing. After 10 years of providing direct care, she went back to school and earned concurrent Master’s degrees in both public policy and public health from the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, she worked for various public health agencies in California at both the community and state levels providing economic and legislative analysis.
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