Social Work
Director of Graduate Studies: Associate Dean Barry Ackerson
1207 West Oregon Street
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2261
E-mail: socialwork@illinois.edu
Major: Social Work
Degrees Offered: MSW, Ph.D.
Graduate Concentrations: Child Welfare (M.S.W. only), Health Care (M.S.W. only), Mental Health (M.S.W. only), School Social Work (M.S.W. only)
Joint Degree Program: Master of Social Work and Master of Science in Human and Community Development
Degrees Offered: M.S.W. and M.S.
Graduate Degree Programs
The School of Social Work offers programs leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW) and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. The MSW program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The MSW program offers courses on the Urbana campus and off-campus through its MSW Outreach program.
Admission
For the MSW program, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements: (1) a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad; (2) a grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate work; (3) 20 hours of completed coursework in a liberal arts core consisting of social and behavioral sciences, the humanities, and biological sciences (4) evidence of personal attributes that are suitable for the profession of social work; (5) a score of 580 or above on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (237 or above on the computer-based test) for any applicant whose native language is not English; and (6) provision of a written supplementary statement.
The Ph.D. program is open to students who demonstrate a potential for research and other scholarly work, who have aptitude for leadership in the field of social work and allied professions, and who have had education in social work or in related professions or disciplines. The admission requirements for the M.S.W. also apply.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Graduate Handbooks and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
| Required Courses: | School Social Work - Required Hours | Child Welfare - Required Hours | Mental Health - Required Hours | Health Care - Required Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methods (Based on Clinical or Administrative Focus) | ||||
| Policy | 8 | 8-12 | 12 | 8 |
| Research | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| HBSE | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Field Education | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Electives (Based on Clinical or Administrative Focus) | 8 | 4-8 | 4 | 4 |
| Total Hours | 56-72 | 56-72 | 56-72 | 56-72 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||||
| Students without a BSW or a BSW more than 7 years old must take 4 additional foundation courses (16 hrs) | 0-16 | 0-16 | 0-16 | 0-16 |
The master's degree provides specialized study for advanced social work practice. Students take foundation and advanced courses in social work methods, organization and services, research, human behavior and the social environment. A two-semester field placement/internship (minimum 900 hours) in a social service agency is required. A total of 56 to 72 hours of graduate coursework is required for the M.S.W. degree. The curriculum may be completed in 16 to 24 months of full-time study by students who do not have a recent (past 7 years) Bachelors in Social Work (BSW degree).
Students choose from one of the following concentrations: 1) child welfare, 2) health care, 3) mental health, or 4) school social work. With the exception of school social work, students may specialize in direct service or in policy, planning, and administration within their concentration. Students with a strong policy or administrative interest may specialize in a new focus area: advocacy, leadership and social change. Students specializing in School Social Work must also satisfy all certification requirements of the Council on Teacher Education and the Illinois State Board of Education.
Child Welfare, Health Care, Mental Health:
Fall: 4 advanced social work classes
Spring: 2 concentration classes, field internship 2 days/week, field seminar
Summer: field internship 4 days/week, field seminar
School Social Work:
Fall: 4 advanced social work classes
Spring: 2 concentration classes; 2 advanced social work classes
Fall: field internship 4 days/week, field seminar
Outreach Program
Designed for the working professional who cannot attend a graduate program on the University of Illinois campus, the MSW Outreach Program allows students to remain in their home community while pursuing a graduate degree. The Schooloffers a three-year program of study through its MSW Outreach Program. This program is offered on a rotating basis in various communities across the state. Classes meet in the evening and are taught in traditional as well as on-line/distance learning formats for the first two years. In their third year students come on campus for one semester to complete specialization courses and then complete their two-semester internship back in their home communities. Students complete the same course requirements as students in the on-campus MSW program (see above). Outreach students who qualify may also complete a shorter course of study under the Advanced Standing program (see above).
Certifications
The School offers a post-MSW certification program in School Social Work. Individuals with an MSW from an accredited School of Social Work are eligible to apply for the certification program. Individuals enrolled in the post-MSW certification program take two School Social Work courses and complete a one semester internship in a public school. Upon completion of the program they are eligible for a Type 73 certificate as a School Social Worker from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Joint Degree Program
The school offers joint masters degrees in Social Work and in Human and Community Development in collaboration with the Department of Human and Community Development. Students complete one year of study in Human Development and Family Studies prior to transferring to the School of Social Work where they complete all MSW program requirements. Upon graduation, students will have attained a Master of Social Work (MSW) and a Master of Science (MS) with a specialization in Marriage and Family Studies. With careful course selection they may also meet the standards of academic preparation, clinical training, and supervision of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
| Required Courses: | Thesis Option-Required Hours | Non-thesis Option-Required Hours |
|---|---|---|
| M.S.W. requirements (above) | 56 | 56 |
| Required courses in research methods, family theories, human development theories, family dynamics, and conflict management in HCD | 16 | 24 |
| Elective courses in HCD | 8 | 8 |
| Thesis Hours Required in HCD (min/max applied toward degree): | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 88-100 | 88-100 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
12 | 12 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Students without a BSW or a BSW more than 7 years old must take 4 additional foundation courses (16 hrs) | 0-16 | 0-16 |
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| SOCW 579, 585, 593 and 2nd Research in Social Work | 16 |
| Social Work Teaching Seminar | 4 |
| SOCW 594 (2 semesters of enrollment) | 8 |
| Hours outside social work (Focus Area) | 16 |
| 3 courses in statistics and research methodology, outside of Social Work | 12 |
| Thesis Hours Required (min applied toward degree): | 8 |
| Total Hours | 64 |
| Other Requirements:* | |
| Masters Degree Required for Admission to PhD? | Yes |
| Qualifying Exam Required | Yes |
| Preliminary Exam Required | Yes |
| Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required | Yes |
| Dissertation Deposit Required | Yes |
The Ph.D. program is typically a 64 graduate hour program for students who enter with an MSW or other master's degree. The program is interdisciplinary and has a strong research emphasis. The Ph.D. program is organized around five curricular components: (1) seminars in social welfare policy, social work practice theories, and research; (2) research methodology and statistics; (3) an interdisciplinary area of study; (4) qualifying examinations; and (5) the dissertation. While the curriculum focuses on issues of relevance to social work and social welfare policy, students select courses not just in the School of Social Work but also from the full range of graduate courses offered, notably those in educational psychology, human and community development, sociology, labor and industrial relations, and anthropology. Candidates prepare for leadership in teaching, research, policy analysis, development, and implementation.
Centers, Programs, and Institutes
The school operates the Children and Family Research Center (CFRC) which has offices on the Urbana campus and in Chicago. The CFRC is dedicated to supporting and conducting research that contributes to keeping children safe, assuring permanent homes for children, and supporting child and family well-being. The CFRC is an independent research center created in 1996 at the School of Social Work by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. The Center's mission is to:
- Study the needs of children and families in their social contexts
- Monitor the achievement of child welfare outcomes
- Evaluate service demonstrations and system reforms
- Audit programs to ensure service quality and efficiency
- Provide training and consultation to advance best practice
- Disseminate knowledge on research-based practice