Master of Social Work - Social Work

Join Northeastern Illinois University's MSW program! Prepare for impactful careers in social work with evening classes and international student support. Apply now!

Program Description Northeastern Illinois University’s master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree prepares advanced social work practitioners to serve vulnerable populations and contribute to the functioning and well-being of underserved communities. A master’s degree in social work is a vital step toward licensure and allows social workers to hold clinical, supervisory, or program director roles in the field. Classes are offered during the late afternoon and evening hours to accommodate working professionals. Northeastern Illinois University's MSW program has achieved full accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation. The master’s in Social Work curriculum begins with the foundation-level courses and then moves into the advanced level. Students who hold a bachelor’s degree in Social Work can enter at the advanced level, skipping the foundation courses. However, students with bachelor’s degrees in other areas must start with the foundation curriculum. The MSW Foundation curriculum provides students with the knowledge, values, and skills of a generalist social worker, whereas the MSW Advanced curriculum provides students with concentrations in specialized areas of practice, determined by the needs and demands in the community in which the program is located. These concentrations are generally on the micro, mezzo, and/or macro level and are taken only after the student has completed the foundation curriculum (unless they enter with a bachelor’s in Social Work.). A master’s degree in Social Work leads to careers in areas such as mental health and substance abuse, medical and public health, child, family, and school social work, social work with rural and aging populations.