Social Work Master’s program at Illinois State University

The School Social Work specialization gives you the skills and experience to help students when they need it the most.

You will spend one academic year in a school setting practicum placement. This experience gives you the opportunity to work collaboratively with teachers and families. You will also provide counseling services for individuals, groups, and families. Sometimes students need resources outside of their school. In these situations, you will serve as an advocate for their needs.

The content exam must be passed by the end of the fall semester during your specialist practicum placement to be eligible to advance into the spring semester of your specialist practicum placement.

This is the credential required in Illinois to obtain employment as a school social worker.

For Advanced Standing students, School Social Work is only offered as a two year option.

The School of Social Work hosts the Social Work Day conference every year, giving students direct access to experts in the field.

Discover what life as an Illinois State graduate student is like.

Applicants for admission to the MSW program must Illinois State University Graduate School. A student applying to a master program must:.

Have earned a four-year bachelor degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so within one academic year.

The unofficial transcript should be easily readable and clearly indicate degree(s) awarded, courses and course grades for each term.

The School of Social Work is committed to a holistic admissions process. Each application will be evaluated on a combination of experiences, personal and professional attributes, and academic metrics that are applied equitably to each applicant. No single criteria will be used to determine the admission status of an applicant. Experiences may include, but are not limited to, academic, employment, practicum internship, volunteer, ministry, military, and lived experiences. Personal and professional attributes may include, but are not limited to, resilience, insight, leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, taking initiative, proactiveness, self-reflection, and resourcefulness. Academic metrics may include, but are not limited to, transcripts, GPA, writing skills, and research experience.

Applications will open on October 1st and will close on February 15th. Only in extraordinary circumstances will the deadline be extended. Those circumstances will be determined by the MSW admissions committee and may include the need to expand the applicant pool or to accommodate growth of a program. With all possible intent, all applications will be reviewed, recommendations will be made, and decisions will be sent out via the Slate admission system by March 15th.

Applicants for admission to the MSW program must Illinois State University Graduate School. Students submit their application and all required application materials electronically. Each applicant will be required to submit the same application materials, including transcripts from each institution previously attended, two academic or professional letters of recommendation, resume, written statement of interest, and video submission.

A student is eligible for Advanced Standing admission if you have completed a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program within 8 years. Students receiving degrees from international social work programs do not qualify for Advanced Standing admissions.

Advanced Standing for International Degrees in Social Work.

The applicant will need to follow the Application Instructions provided by ISWDRES, which includes submitting and paying for the screening and application. A determination letter from ISWDRES does not automatically guarantee the applicant admission to the MSW program.

Applicants interested in having their international degree evaluated by ISWDRES are encouraged to begin this process early, as it could take up to 45 days. To be considered for advanced standing admission, the process must be completed, and the decision received from ISWDRES prior to application submission to the MSW program.

An applicant with a social work degree from an international program may choose not to have their degree evaluated by ISWDRES. If an applicant with a social work degree from an international program declines to have their degree evaluated by ISWDRES, they will apply for admission to the full program, and will not be considered for advanced standing.

Illinois State University School of Social Work completes criminal background checks for all MSW candidates and reserves the right to deny admission based on application materials, previous academic record, and records of past conduct, including but not limited to the results of a criminal background check or registration of a sex offense.

All qualified candidates for the School of Social Work will be subject to a criminal background check prior to an offer of admission. The school may refuse or revoke admission for the following: misrepresentation of self, criminal behavior, results of the national background check, and or behavior that interferes with performing professional duties.

If admitted to the MSW program, any applicant or student with a criminal background may not be eligible for some field practicum placements. In addition, the applicant or student may not be eligible for licensure after completing the requirements for the MSW degree. Many agencies require criminal background checks as a condition for accepting a practicum placement in their program. It is the student responsibility to inquire with the Illinois Financial and Professional Regulation or other professional licensure boards to determine their licensure eligibility.

Once admitted to the MSW program, you must report any new information or criminal convictions and adhere to the professional standards of the University and the School of Social Work.

Two letters of Recommendation should be submitted by individuals who are familiar with the academic or professional potential and achievement of the applicant. Recommendation letters should address the following:.

Capabilities for graduate education and suitability for practice in the field of social work.

Characteristics that could either help or hinder the applicant development as an effective social worker.

Please choose one of the 6 values of the NASW Code of Ethics (service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, competence) and describe how you have incorporated this value into your personal, professional, or volunteer experiences.2. Share how you have observed or experienced oppression or privilege individually or in systems around you.

Explain why you have chosen to pursue a MSW at this time.

Describe an experience that has had a significant impact on your desire to pursue social work as a career path.

Entry into the social work program and profession is also based on legal requirements. The Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethicsoutline the laws around getting your license and practicing in the field.

The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of . They are intended as a way to facilitate a student progress to degree while providing important professional development.

See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.