Dual Degree in Social Work and Marriage and Family Services (MSW/MS)
Through the Dual Degree Program of the School of Social Work and the Department of Human and Community Development, students gain theoretical knowledge and research competency related to family development, family systems, and family problems, as well as practice skills in counseling troubled families. Once enrolled in the School of Social Work, students must choose a specialization. Exact courses taken depend on a student's specialization. Upon graduation, students will have attained a master of social work (MSW) and a master of science in human and community development (MS). 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) and the Council on Social Work Education. Those graduates are eligible for associate membership in AAMFT.
MSW Dual Degree Content:
- Requirements
- Specializations
- Field Education
- Sample Timeline
- Admission Requirements & Application Materials
Requirements
Since a student in the dual degree program will obtain two degrees at the completion of the program, there are eight courses required through the Department of Human and Community Development, and seven to nine courses plus a two-semester internship required through the School of Social Work. Each class is worth four hours of graduate credit. If you have earned a bachelor of social work (BSW) from an accredited social work program within the past seven years, you are considered to have met the foundation coursework requirements and, therefore, have seven courses to complete in the School of Social Work. The two-semester internship occurs near the end of the program and must be completed in your area of specialization. All students must also complete a college-level statistics course from a four-year institution. The Dual Degree Program can be completed in 2.5 to 3 years, depending on the area of specialization and undergraduate major.
Specializations
Once enrolled in the School of Social Work, students must choose from one of our five specializations:
Advocacy, Leadership and Social Change
The purpose of this specialization is to prepare students for social work careers that emphasize social change both within organizations and through public advocacy. The social work profession has a long tradition of working toward improving the lives of disadvantaged citizens through advocacy efforts with political officials and others. The profession likewise has worked to improve the provision of human services through the more effective management of agencies, and by advocating for changes within those agencies. In addition, as U.S. social services have increasingly devolved to state and local geographic units, new demands have been placed on social workers to assume leadership positions in nonprofit community agencies and in local political bodies. This specialization is intended to provide students with advanced training useful in pursuing careers in any of these areas of macro-level practice.
Child Welfare
This specialization is designed to help students develop knowledge and skills for effectively delivering social services to children and their families. They advocate on behalf of children, which includes providing case management services, developing community resources, and influencing legislative and agency policy. Students who complete this specialization will have preparation in all aspects of child welfare, including investigations, follow-up services, working with intact families, and prevention.
Community Mental Health
Social workers in the field of community mental health work with individuals, families, and groups in dealing with internal, interpersonal, and environmental problem situations that affect mental health and social functioning. They also plan, administer, and evaluate community mental health service systems. The emphasis in the curriculum is preparing students to provide, coordinate, and administer community-based services for people who encounter emotional stress. Also included are services for substance abusers and for mentally disabled people. Social workers provide more than half of the mental health services in the country.
Health Care
Social workers in the health care field collaborate with other health professionals in providing patient care and serve to mobilize family, friends, and other supportive networks on the patient’s behalf. They act as a link between health agencies and other community services. Social workers in this specialization work in hospitals and clinics, as well as in federal, state, and local public health centers, with physicians in private or group medical practices, on home health care teams, and/or with nursing home health planning agencies. Health care social workers are on the faculty of medical schools across the country.
School Social Work
The public school system offers expanding and challenging opportunities for social work practice and innovation. The two-year school social work specialization emphasizes social work services in schools as a process in school-community-pupil relations that focuses on planned system change, consultation, and interdisciplinary teaming. The specialization prepares social workers for practice in Illinois public schools and includes knowledge and skills to address the most pressing needs of public school children and their families—for social work practice in educational settings, for understanding of the impact of racism, and for appreciation of the diverse needs of special populations and how to address those needs.
Field Education
A unique feature of our MSW program is our internship structure, also called “block placement.” Rather than interning while also taking classes, you will begin your internship during the last two semesters of the MSW program (once your foundation, advanced, and specialization courses are complete). Due to this distinctive structure, the two-semester internship can be completed at a social service agency anywhere in Illinois, and at times, outside the state.
Another benefit of our internship structure is our full-time faculty members who are specifically devoted to field education. This means you receive individualized attention from field faculty – often with expertise in your area of interest – to assist you in preparing for your internship.
You have significant input into the planning process of your internship. You choose the type of agency, your preferred geographic location, and what kind of learning experience you seek. You do not find an internship on your own—we do that for you, keeping in mind your learning goals and assuring quality MSW supervision. You will have the opportunity to interview at several agencies before settling on one. Once you have started your internship, our field faculty will meet with you at your site to review your progress, discuss any concerns, and provide support.
Sample Timeline for the Dual Degree Program
| YEAR | SEMESTER | COURSEWORK |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 in HCD | Fall | 4 classes |
| Spring | 4 classes | |
| Year 2 in SSW | Summer | 2 classes |
| Fall | 4 classes | |
| Spring | 3 classes | |
| Year 3 in SSW | Summer | Internship begins Advocacy, Leadership, and Social Change; Child Welfare; Community Mental Health; and Health Care specializations |
| Fall | Internship ends Advocacy, Leadership, and Social Change; Child Welfare; Community Mental Health; and Health Care specializations Internship begins School Social Work |
|
| Spring | Internship ends School Social Work Specialization |
Admission Requirements & Application Materials
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
- Evidence of personal attributes that are suitable for the profession of social work
- A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better for the last sixty (60) semester hours or ninety (90) quarter hours of coursework
- Experience in human services (paid, volunteer, research and/or internship)
- Twenty (20) hours of completed coursework in social and behavioral sciences
- Successful completion of college-level statistics
- GRE score of 500 or better
International applicants must also include:
- TOEFL score of 580 on the paper-and-pencil exam or 237 on the computer-based exam
- Financial certification
NOTE: Meeting these requirements does not guarantee admission.