Frequently Asked Questions
What specializations do you offer at the School of Social Work?
We offer specializations in child welfare; community mental health; health care; school social work; and advocacy, leadership, and social change. Students with an interest in an established area of social work not offered at the School may petition to create an Individual Plan of Study, similar to creating your own major. While most of your coursework will be in the School of Social Work, you may take elective courses in women's studies, special education, community health, and other areas with prior approval from your faculty adviser.
Do you offer any dual degree programs?
Yes. We offer a dual degree in social work and marriage and family services in coordination with the department of Human and Community Development. This program typically takes 2.5 to 3 years to complete.
I am unsure about what specialization I want to study. When do I need to decide?
You are not required to declare your specialization on your application materials. You can also change your specialization once you begin the program if you develop an interest in a different specialization area. You must decide on your specialization by the time you enroll in spring classes. You will receive individual academic advising with the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs along with the Director of Field Education to help you discover where your interests lie.
If I am accepted into the program, is an enrollment deposit required?
Yes. A $100 non-refundable enrollment deposit is required to secure your place in the incoming class. The enrollment deposit is applied to your student account once you register for classes.
How long will it take me to complete the MSW program?
You may complete the MSW program in as little as 16 months if you have a BSW from an accredited program, or in 18 months if you have an undergraduate degree in a field other than social work. How quickly you complete the program will depend on your specialization, course load, and your status on the prerequisite and foundation requirements. Students typically take three or four courses per semester.
What will it cost me to study at Illinois?
A semester of tuition for full-time graduate students in social work for the 2006-2007 academic year is $4,305 per semester for residents and $11,367 per semester for nonresidents. Fees average about $900 per semester, and in certain cases, some fees may be waived.
Am I qualified to apply?
If you meet the following criteria, then you are qualified to apply:
- A bachelor's degree or completion of bachelor's degree prior to the first semester of enrollment in the MSW program.
- Twenty hours of coursework in the social sciences (such as psychology, anthropology, sociology, women's studies, economics, political science, etc.).
- Grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better in last sixty (60) semester or ninety (90) quarter hours of undergraduate work.
- International applicants and those for whom English is not a first language must attain a minimum TOEFL score of 580 on the paper and pencil exam or 237 on the computer-based exam.
- An understanding of and interest in social work values as demonstrated through volunteer work, employment, or an internship.
- Additionally, MSW Outreach Program applicants should be currently or recently employed in a social service agency.
Do I have to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination)?
GRE scores are only required if you are applying for the dual degree program in marriage and family services.
My bachelor's degree is not in social work. Can I still apply to the program?
Absolutely. In fact, about 80% of our students have degrees other than in social work, including psychology, sociology, photography, English, music, philosophy, anthropology, and many others. You will just need to make sure that you have completed 20 hours of social sciences in your coursework.
When do I begin the program?
If you have a BSW from an accredited school of social work within the past seven years, you will begin the program in the fall. Students with a bachelor's degree in any other area must begin the program in the summer.
What courses are taught in the summer?
The summer courses at the beginning of the program are for students without a BSW. They are SOCW 400: Generalist Social Work Practice Methods and SOCW 410: Social Welfare Policy and Services. They are only offered during the summer and must be completed before taking advanced methods or policy courses.
I don't have a BSW. When do I need to take statistics, human behavior and the social environment (HBSE), and social work in research methods?
Statistics can be taken at any two- or four-year college or university, and should as soon as possible. If statistics has been taken in the past, the course must be no more than seven years old and you must have earned a B- or better in these courses to meet the requirement. Human Behavior and the Social Environment as well as Social Work Research Methods should be taken in the fall.
I have taken research methods in psychology/sociology as part of my undergraduate studies. Do I still need to take social work in research methods?
Yes. Due to accreditation guidelines, both human behavior in the social environment and research methods must be taken from an accredited school of social work. You may, however, attempt a proficiency exam in research methods if you have had a similar course. If you test out of this course, you are eligible to enroll in advanced research. However, there is no proficiency exam offered for human behavior in the social environment.
How large is the school, and what is the average class size?
Every year we enroll approximately 110 new students in our MSW Campus Program and 40 students in our MSW Outreach Program. Average class size is 25 students and the student/teacher ratio is 15:1, including courses taught by distinguished community practitioners.
What is the MSW Outreach Program?
This program is designed specifically for those working in social service agencies for whom attending a traditional on-campus MSW program is not feasible. The program is structured so that students take five to nine courses in or near their home communities and one semester of full-time work on campus, followed by the two-semester internship. The classes in the community are taught in the evening with some online courses as well. Applicants for this program should be currently or recently employed in a social service agency. Sites for the program are selected every fall based on interest and attendance at Informational Meetings.
Is financial aid available for MSW students? How are those decisions made?
The School of Social Work has a competitive financial aid program which results in several of our students receiving some type of aid that does not have to be repaid. Included in the possibilities are grants, assistantships, fellowships, stipends, tuition waivers, and endowed awards. Financial aid is available on the basis of academic merit and not financial need. Some awards are for first-year students exclusively, while other forms are reserved for students in field placement. Only full-time students on campus are eligible for financial aid. Approximately 75% of our students receive some sort of financial assistance from the School of Social Work.
What can you tell me about the faculty?
The professors of the School of Social Work are dedicated to teaching, research, and service and are distinguished in each of these areas. Our faculty ranks 9th in average number of publications per person among accredited programs in social work. They have advanced degrees in political science, social work, psychology, law, sociology, rehabilitation, and many others. We have 24 faculty members who teach, conduct research, and hold weekly office hours. Students rate the majority of our faculty as "excellent" teachers every year.
What is field education and what is distinct about Illinois' program?
All social work programs require students to complete an internship in their area of specialization. This requirement is referred to as field education, practicum, or internship. Our curriculum is distinct since students conduct their internship in a "block placement" that occurs during the last two semesters of the MSW program. Field placement lasts a minimum of 31 weeks; however, students in school social work must complete a placement lasting an entire academic year. Students work at their agency/school/organization Monday through Thursday and take a seminar course on campus that meets on Friday. This internship structure allows students to complete their field placement throughout urban, suburban, and rural Illinois, and there is the potential for out-of-state placements as well.
What are the advantages of an Illinois education?
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is recognized as one of the finest public universities in the country. In its 2007 rankings U.S. News and World Report rated Illinois the number 10 public university and the number 41 university overall in the nation. Illinois is also home to the 3rd largest Library system among universities in the U.S., after Harvard and Yale. The School of Social Work ranks among the top social work programs in the nation. You can take advantage of world-class teaching, research, and cultural resources and feel confident that your degree will be respected and recognized across the country and the world. In addition, 92% of our social work graduates are employed within six months of graduation.