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Social Work (Professional Program: MSW)
Mailing Address:
Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (MC 309)
Jane Addams College of Social Work
1040 West Harrison Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607-7134
Contact Information:
Campus Location: ETMSW, Room 4355
(312) 996-3218
jacswadm@uic.edu, jaddams-msw@uic.edu
socialwork.uic.edu
Administration:
Dean of the Jane Addams College of Social Work: Creasie Finney Hairston, PhD
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Services: Cassandra McKay-Jackson, PhD
Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid: Marybel Flores, MSW
Master of Social Work
The Master of Social Work degree program develops knowledge, values, and skills necessary for competent and effective social work practice.
Full-time students complete the degree in two years. A three-year master’s program, known as the PM-Extended Study Option, is also available. Under the PM-Extended Study Option, students extend the usual first year of full-time study over two years, with classroom courses scheduled in the late afternoon and evening. Students in the first year of the full-time program and for the first two years of the PM-Extended Study Option are assigned a class schedule by the Jane Addams College of Social Work. In their third year, PM-Extended Study students must register for full-time study. Students in their specialization year are not preassigned a class schedule; daytime or evening class sections are offered to all specialization-year students.
For applicants who have earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from a CSWE-accredited program the college offers admission with Advanced Standing. These students typically complete the Master of Social Work Program within two semesters.
The Master of Social Work at UIC is considered a professional program and is not administered by the Graduate College.
The college offers a curriculum for advanced social work practice in five areas of specialization:
1. Mental Health
2. Child and Family
3. Organization and Community Practice
4. School Social Work
5. Social Work within Justice Systems.
MSW/MPH Joint Degree Program
The MSW/MPH joint degree allows students interested in the field of public health social work to complete the degree in a shorter period of time than would be required if the program were taken separately and provides students opportunities to integrate the competencies and perspectives of the two disciplines in a deliberate and coordinated way.
For more information on the MSW/MPH Joint Degree Program, please consult the following website:
Interdepartmental Concentrations
Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in select concentrations after consulting with their graduate advisor and receiving permission from the concentration contact. Interdepartmental concentrations available for this degree include:
Completing a concentration is in addition to, not in lieu of, selecting one of the social work specializations.
Admission Requirements
- Prior Degrees Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university.
- Prerequisite Courses Liberal arts background consisting of credit received on the collegiate level in the following area: Social and Behavioral Sciences (20 semester/30 quarter hours). Statistics course passed with a minimum grade of C.
- Grade Point Average At least 2.75/4.00 for the final 60 semester/90 quarter hours of undergraduate study.
- Tests Required None.
- Minimum English Competency Test Score
- TOEFL 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Test); 60, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Writing 21 (revised Paper-Delivered Test), OR,
- IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores, OR,
- PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
- Resume Required.
- Personal Statement Applicants may enter up to 100 words per question. All questions on the application must be submitted.
- Academic Transcripts Applicants must upload and submit official academic transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate schools attended. UIC undergraduate students will not need to submit credentials for UIC course work. A UIC transcript will post to the application within a day or two of submission.
- Letters of Reference Three letters of reference required. The university will automatically contact the references' email to request an electronic letter of recommendation.
- Interviews Required for transfer applicants. All other interviews are at the discretion of the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid.
- Deadlines The minimum requirements and supporting documentation MUST be received by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid by June 30 WITHOUT EXCEPTIONS.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. The complete application is taken into consideration during the application review process. All complete applications submitted by the deadline are reviewed and given consideration.
Degree Requirements
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 62
- Course Work The program requires 28 semester hours of Generalist course work and 34 semester hours of Advanced Specialization course work.
Generalist Course Work
The Generalist portion of the MSW curriculum is completed in the first year for Full-Time students, and in the first and second year for PM-Extended students.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Practice I: Generalist Practice with Individuals and Organizations | ||
| Human Behavior and the Social Environment | ||
| Policy I: Social Welfare Policy and Services | ||
| Field Instruction I | ||
| Practice II: Generalist Practice with Families, Groups, and Communities | ||
| Critical Social Work in a Multicultural Society | ||
| Research I: Social Work Research | ||
| Field Instruction II | ||
Full-Time Students, Generalist Course Work Plan of Study
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester (14 semester hours) | ||
| Practice I: Generalist Practice with Individuals and Organizations | ||
| Human Behavior and the Social Environment | ||
| Policy I: Social Welfare Policy and Services | ||
| Field Instruction I | ||
| Spring Semester (14 Semester Hours) | ||
| Practice II: Generalist Practice with Families, Groups, and Communities | ||
| Critical Social Work in a Multicultural Society | ||
| Research I: Social Work Research | ||
| Field Instruction II | ||
PM-Extended Students, Generalist Course Work Plan of Study
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First Year, Fall Semester - 6 Hours | ||
| Human Behavior and the Social Environment | ||
| Policy I: Social Welfare Policy and Services | ||
| First Year, Spring Semester - 6 Hours | ||
| Critical Social Work in a Multicultural Society | ||
| Research I: Social Work Research | ||
| Second Year, Fall Semester - 11 Hours | ||
| Practice I: Generalist Practice with Individuals and Organizations | ||
| One of the following, depending on Field Instruction Option: a | ||
| Field Instruction I (for Option 1) | ||
Elective b | ||
| Second Year, Spring Semester - 11 Hours | ||
| Practice II: Generalist Practice with Families, Groups, and Communities | ||
| One of the following, depending on Field Instruction Option: a | ||
| Field Instruction II (for Option 1) | ||
| Field Instruction I (for Option 2) | ||
Elective b | ||
| Second Year, Summer Semester - 10 Hours | ||
| One of the following, depending on Field Instruction Option: a | ||
| Field Instruction II (for Option 2) | ||
| Field Instruction I and Field Instruction II (for Option 3) | ||
- a
PM-Extended Study Students have three options for completing the required Field Instruction courses. Option 1: Beginning SOCW 570 in the fall of the second year and SOCW 571 in the spring; Option 2: Beginning SOCW 570 in the spring of the second year and completing SOCW 571 in the summer term; Option 3: Registering for both SOCW 570 and SOCW 571 in the summer. Students must receive approval of their option from the director of field instruction.
- b
PM-Extended Study Option students needing additional credits to qualify for federal financial aid may take electives for which they have prerequisites.
Advanced Specialization Course Work
The Advanced Specialization portion of the MSW curriculum is completed in the second year for Full-Time students, and in the third, full-time year for PM-Extended students. Five advanced specializations are offered: Child and Family, Mental Health, Organization and Community Practice, School Social Work, and Social Work within Justice Systems.
Child and Family Specialization
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester - 17 Hours | ||
| Practice III: Practice with Children and Families | ||
| Policy II: Child and Family Policy | ||
Elective (if not taken prior) | ||
| Field Instruction III | ||
| Spring Semester - 17 Hours | ||
| Practice IV: Practice with Children and Families | ||
Elective (if not taken prior) | ||
| Program Evaluation | ||
or SOCW 565 | Research Seminars: Social Service Issues | |
or SOCW 567 | Research Project | |
| Field Instruction IV | ||
Mental Health Specialization
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester - 17 Hours | ||
| Practice III: Mental Health | ||
| Policy II: Mental Health Policy | ||
Elective (if not taken prior) | ||
| Field Instruction III | ||
| Spring Semester - 17 Hours | ||
| Practice IV: Mental Health | ||
| Program Evaluation | ||
or SOCW 565 | Research Seminars: Social Service Issues | |
or SOCW 567 | Research Project | |
Elective (if not taken prior) | ||
| Field Instruction IV | ||
Organization and Community Practice Specialization
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester - 17 Hours | ||
| Practice III: Organization and Community Practice | ||
| Policy II: Community Health and Urban Development | ||
Elective (if not taken prior) | ||
| Field Instruction III | ||
| Spring Semester - 17 Hours | ||
| Practice IV: Community Health and Urban Development | ||
| Program Evaluation | ||
or SOCW 565 | Research Seminars: Social Service Issues | |
or SOCW 567 | Research Project | |
Elective (if not taken prior) | ||
| Field Instruction IV | ||
School Social Work Specialization
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester - 17 Hours | ||
| Practice III: School Social Work | ||
| Policy II: School Social Work Policy | ||
| Exceptional Learners | ||
| Field Instruction III | ||
| Spring Semester - 17 Hours | ||
| Practice IV: School Social Work | ||
| Research Seminars: Social Service Issues | ||
Elective (if not taken prior) | ||
| Field Instruction IV | ||
Social Work within Justice Systems Specialization
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester - 17 Hours | ||
| Practice III: Social Work Micro Practice in the Justice Systems | ||
| Policy II: Juvenile and Criminal Justice Policy | ||
Elective (if not taken prior) | ||
| Field Instruction III | ||
| Spring Semester - 17 Hours | ||
| Practice IV: Social Work Macro Practice in the Justice Systems | ||
| Juvenile and Criminal Justice Research Methods | ||
Elective (if not taken prior) | ||
| Field Instruction IV | ||
Other Requirements
- GPA A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00/4.00 must be maintained.
- Residence A minimum of 9 semester hours must be earned at the University of Illinois Chicago in each of two consecutive terms.
- Transfer of Credit A maximum of 28 hours of credit may be transferred for work taken elsewhere. No course with a grade less than B can be transferred.
- Time Limit All requirements must be completed within six years, excluding military service.