SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Master of Social Work at Illinois

CHOOSE YOUR OWN PATH

iMSW Program

Part-time fully Online MSW Program
Leadership and Social Change and
Advanced Clinical Concentration

MSW Campus-Based Program

Full or Part-time
Advanced Standing
Traditional Entry

PhD in Social Work

Prepare to be a leader
Hands-on education
Advanced academic training

On-Campus MSW Advanced Standing Students: Apply by May 1st for Fall 2023

A Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois is a CSWE-accredited program that prepares you for advanced social work practice and research in public and private agencies. With multiple enrollment options--including fully online, hybrid, or on-campus--you can tailor your education to meet your needs. Enter either the iMSW or MSW on-campus program as a traditional entry student or advanced standing student**. Choose from either a Leadership and Social Change Concentration or Advanced Clinical Concentration with either degree option.

** Advanced Standing status is only eligible to students who have a Bachelor's of Social Work degree from an accredited program with the Council on Social Work Education within the past 7 years.

#6 ranked by Center for World University Rankings, 3 enrollment options to choose from, 90%+ job placement rate for MSW graduates

MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

iMSW Program

Fully Online Part-Time MSW Program
Choose from Advanced Clinical Concentration (direct practice) or Leadership and Social Change Concentration (macro practice)
Focus areas include: Health Care, Mental Health, Schools, Children, and Youth & Family Services
Advanced Clinical Concentration students can choose from the following focus areas: Healthcare, Mental Health, Children, Youth and Family Services and Schools*
*Only Illinois Residents are able to choose the Schools focus area.

MSW Campus-Based Program

Enables you to pursue full- or part-time graduate coursework on the Urbana-Champaign campus
Students can enter the program as Advanced Standing or Traditional students
Choose from two primary concentrations: Leadership and Social Change or Advanced Clinical
Campus Traditional students application deadline for a June 2023 start will be January 15, 2023.
Campus Advanced Standing students application deadline for an August 2023 start will be January 15, 2023.

PhD in Social Work

Prepares students for leadership roles in social work research, social work education, social policy, planning, and administration
Equips students with tangible skills to use rigorous scientific method to develop and disseminate knowledge, teach the next generation of social workers, and help serve their communities.
Each doctoral student is assigned an advisor based on the focus interest of the student and those of the faculty member.
The application deadline is January 15, 2023.

Hear More from others

Brandie Bentley, PhD Candidate

“Across my entire time in the program, I’ve been able to gain a lot of insight into the research and programming that’s happening at the state level and also at the agency direct provider level, and I’ve had the experience of listening to parent interviews and understanding the parent perspective,” she says. “Gaining the perspectives of diverse stakeholders and being able to translate them across contexts is something I’m super grateful for, and something the School really motivates us to do. I have felt a really strong sense of care and nurturing and support at the School, academically, professionally, and personally.”

Bruna Cardoso Lopez, Social Work Field Placement Coordinator, MSW '17

"The School of Social Work prepared me to critically analyze policy and how it impacts practice. With the research experience from the graduate program and the professional knowledge gained ever since, I can see the connections and the effect it has on client’s access to housing, nourishment, medical care, employment, and retirement."

Tatiana Villarreal, MSW '20

"I fell in love with the social work courses, with the professors, with the atmosphere the School provided,” she says. “It really hit home on that people-first mentality. It was everything I wanted, encompassing social justice and trying to break down these disparaging gaps of wealth and costs and race."

Yolanda O'Connor, MSW Student

Yolanda is extremely close with her cohort. “We encourage and strengthen each other,” she says. She receives great support from her professors. “I wasn’t expecting the hands-on, ‘Hey, how are you doing this week’ from department heads,” she says. She finds herself in what she calls a family atmosphere. “It’s an incredible program with incredible people. No question is too silly to ask. I expected support, but what I’ve received is tenfold.”

Araceli Carbajal, BSW '20, MSW Student

"Before I knew that an MSW was required to become a School Social Worker, I knew I wanted to attend graduate school. In this program, I get the opportunity to learn how social workers benefit the lives of students, families, and communities, and that’s exactly who I want to be. Right now, I am most looking forward to completing my upcoming two-semester internship at a local school and I am ready to take this next step."