Social Work
Director of Graduate Studies: Associate Dean Barry Ackerson
1010 W. Nevada St.
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2261
E-mail: socialwork@illinois.edu
Major: Social Work
Degrees Offered: M.S.W., Ph.D.
Graduate Concentrations: Advocacy, Leadership, and Social Change (M.S.W. only), Children, Youth and Family Services (M.S.W. only), Health Care (M.S.W. only), Mental Health (M.S.W. only), School Social Work (M.S.W. only)
Off-Campus Program: Social Work
Degree Offered: M.S.W.
Graduate Concentrations: Advocacy, Leadership, and Social Change (M.S.W. only), Children, Youth and Family Services (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.
Joint Degree Program: Master of Social Work and Ph.D. in Social Work
Degrees Offered: M.S.W. and Ph.D.
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) or greater 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.
For the Advanced Standing MSW program applicants must meet all the requirements above, and in addition have earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree from a CSWE accredited program in the past 7 years.
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. 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: | Advocacy, Leadership & Social Change– Required Hours | Children, Youth and Family Services– Required Hours | Health Care– Required Hours | Mental Health– Required Hours | School Social Work–Required Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methods (*Based on Clinical or Administrative Focus) | 20 | 12-16 | 12 | 16 | 12 |
| Policy | 0-4 | 8-12 | 8-12 | 8-12 | 8-12 |
| Research | 4-8 | 4-8 | 4-8 | 4-8 | 4-8 |
| HBSE | 4-8 | 4-8 | 8-12 | 8-12 | 4-8 |
| Field Education | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Electives (*Based on Clinical or Administrative Focus) | 8 | 4-8 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Total Hours | 64-72 | 64-72 | 64-72 | 64-72 | 64-72 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| Other Requirements:*A concentration is required. | |||||
| Type 73 certification requirements | |||||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
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 64-72 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.
Students choose from one of the following concentrations: 1) advocacy, leadership, and social change (ALSC), 2) children, youth and family services (CYFS), 3) health care, 4) mental health, or 5) school social work. Students in CYFS, health care, or mental health may specialize in direct practice or in macro practice (policy and administration) within their concentration. The ALSC concentration is focused exclusively on macro practice and is not for students interested in direct service. The school social work concentration only has a direct practice option and is not approved for macro practice. Students specializing in School Social Work must also satisfy Type 73 certification requirements of the Council on Teacher Education and the Illinois State Board of Education.
Advanced Standing MSW
Students with a Bachelors degree in Social Work (BSW) within the past seven years from a social work program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) are eligible for the advanced standing program. This is a three semester/44 hour program that may be completed in 12 months by most students. Students with a concentration in school social work participate in a one semester internship during their second Fall semester for a 3 semester/44 hour program completed in 16 months.
ALSC, CYFS, Health Care, Mental Health:
Fall: 4 advanced social work classes
Spring: 2 concentration classes, 2 advanced social work classes
Summer: field internship 5 days/week (35-36 hours/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 (30-32 hours/week), field seminar
Advanced Standing MSW
| Required Courses: | Advocacy, Leadership & Social Change– Required Hours | Children, Youth and Family Services– Required Hours | Health Care– Required Hours | Mental Health– Required Hours | School Social Work–Required Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methods | 16 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 8 |
| Policy (1 policy course may count towards methods requirements for ALSC | * | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Research | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| HBSE | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| Field Education | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 12 |
| Electives (*Based on Clinical or Administrative Focus) | 8 | ||||
| Total Hours | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 44 |
Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: |
40 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 36 |
| Other Requirements:*A concentration is required. | |||||
| Type 73 certification requirements | |||||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
MSW 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 School offers 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 concentration 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 complete a shorter two-year course of study under the Advanced Standing program (see above).
Post-MSW Certification Program
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–M.S.W./M.S.
The school offers joint master’s 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 completing MSW program requirements in the School of Social Work. 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. Advanced standing students should contact Social Work before applying to this program.
Joint Degree Program–M.S.W./Ph.D.
Admission to the Joint MSW– Ph.D. program is restricted to students who have a master's degree in a related field and who intend to complete a Ph.D. in our School of Social Work. Both degrees (MSW, Ph.D.) will be awarded upon completion of the program.
| M.S.W. Required Courses: | Advocacy, Leadership & Social Change | Children, Youth and Family Services–Required Hours | Health Care– Required Hours | Mental Health– Required Hours | School Social Work–Required Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Methods (*Based on Clinical or Administrative Focus) | 20 | 12-16 | 12 | 16 | 12 |
| Policy | 4 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Research *SOCW 593 & 595 – PhD research courses |
8* | 8* | 8* | 8* | 8* |
| HBSE | 8 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
| Field Education | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
Electives *One elective will be in Focus Area for the PhD |
8* | 4-8* | 4* | 4* | 8* |
| Total Hours | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| Minimum 500-level Hours Required Overall: | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| Ph.D. Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| SOCW 575, 579, 585, 593 and 595 (593 and 595 taken for credit toward MSW) | 12 |
| SOCW 594 (2 semesters of enrollment) | 8 |
| Focus Area (outside of social work) | 12 |
| 3 courses in statistics and research methodology, outside of Social Work | 12 |
| Thesis Hours Required (min applied toward degree): | 8 |
| Total Hours | 52 |
| 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 |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
| Required Courses: | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| SOCW 579, 585, 593 and 595 | 16 |
| Social Work Teaching Seminar | 4 |
| SOCW 594 (2 semesters of enrollment) | 8 |
| Focus Area (outside of social work) | 16 |
| 3 courses in statistics and research methodology, outside of Social Work | 12 |
| Thesis Hours Required – SOCW 599 (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 |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
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