Changed Lives Start with Yours

In our nationally recognized MSW program, you’ll master the fundamentals and focus your studies by choosing one of six tracks in your professional interest. Gain valuable supervised practice and internship experience as you earn a CSWE-accredited MSW in a format that fits your life, so you're prepared to launch or advance your career. Take the next step by connecting with an admission counselor who can answer your questions. 


Admission and Application Information 

Applying to Dominican University's School of Social Work is simple and our application is free. No GRE or GMAT is required. Please submit an online application for Dominican’s School of Social Work along with the required materials, which can be found on our How to Apply page by the application deadline. Students applying for advanced standing (bachelor's in social work required) must complete the advanced standing application. Learn more.

  • Summer II Term: Priority deadline April 11 (full-time students)
  • Fall Term: Priority deadline April 11 (full-time and part-time students)
  • Full-time application deadline: May 12

Advance your career with a program customized to your career goals

350+
Field Placement Sites
100%
Graduates Employed Within 9 Months of Graduation
2
Years to Complete When Studying Full-time

MSW Program Overview

  • Option to study 100% online, with a first-weekend residency in-person at Dominican or online to launch your graduate experience; available to residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin
  • Convenient campus locations  in the Chicago area (River Forest and Grayslake)
  • Earn your MSW in two years of full-time study, or in three years on a highly flexible part-time track
  • Small classes  that allow you to get to know your professors and your fellow students, even online
  • Complete 1,080 hours of supervised practice and fieldwork experience in partnering social service agencies
  • Explore once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to practice social work in Ecuador, India, Ireland, Mexico and South Africa through optional 10-week international practicum placements
  • See if you're eligible to complete the Advanced Standing option to finish in as little as nine months
  • Social work scholarships  that help make earning your MSW more affordable
  • No GRE required 

Why Dominican?

350+ Field Placements

Gain real world experience in Dominican's network of field placements in the Chicago area.

Flexible Format

Designed with working adults in mind, Dominican offers a flexible format to meet your needs.

Customized to Your Interests

In our global track, you’ll prepare to work with immigrant, refugee and indigenous populations.

Choose from Six In-Demand Tracks

Focus your studies and build your career in the area that matters most to you. Already have your MSW? We also offer a non-degree certificate program in  school social work  for professionals looking to expand their knowledge and skills and advance in their careers. 

Aging, Adulthood and Gerontology

Children, Youth and Family

Immigrants and Refugees

Health and Well-Being

Military

School Social Work

Curriculum

Our forward-thinking MSW program prepares you for the culturally responsive practice of relationship-centered, globally focused social work. You’ll master the fundamentals—human behavior, community analysis, social welfare, and the nature and dynamics of family systems—and take electives on topics of professional interest, choosing a track in child welfare, gerontology, military social work, school social work, health and well-being, or working with immigrants and refugees. Dominican’s program sets the standard for integrating global issues into the curriculum and for extending the social work discipline to communities around the world. You’ll be fully prepared to advance the well-being of individuals and communities in a wide range of professional settings.

Dual Degree Opportunities

Build cross-functional skills that can elevate your career with our unique dual master’s degree programs. 

MSW/Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Dual Degree Opportunities

Build cross-functional skills that can elevate your career with our unique dual master’s degree programs. 

MSW/Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)

Dual Degree Opportunities

Build cross-functional skills that can elevate your career with our unique dual master’s degree programs. 

MSW/Master of Arts in Mediation and Conflict Resolution (MMCR)

What to Expect as You Earn Your MSW at Dominican

The foundation of any social work practice is relationships. That is why we emphasize collaboration in our MSW programs—both online and on campus.

Whether you’re studying remotely or are meeting with your cohort in person, you’ll experience real-time lectures and discussions that connect you to your classmates. You’ll work on a synchronous schedule with peers, participate in active learning sessions and enjoy engaging discussions that will elevate your skills.
 

In this program, you’ll complete 60 credit hours of coursework. This includes 1,080 hours of fieldwork and related field practicum courses. Learn more about the degree requirements and curriculum.

We offer an expansive network of 350 agencies in the Chicago area that offer hands-on research and clinical opportunities. And, if you’re studying remotely, we’ll guide you through the process of securing field placements local to you. You’ll complete 1,080 hours of supervised practice and internship experience in our partnering social service agencies.

Our optional 10-week international practicum placements also offers you once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to practice social work in Ecuador, India, Ireland, Mexico and South Africa. Learn more about our placement options abroad for those interested in international social work.

Our  School of Social Work faculty  offer a breadth of life and career experience. You’ll learn from experts who have real-world experience in a wide range of social work settings:

  • Schools
  • Child welfare services
  • Developmental disabilities programs
  • Domestic violence-prevention services
  • Health/mental health settings
  • Human trafficking prevention services
  • Substance abuse facilities
  • Private practice
  • International community development

As an MSW student (either on campus or online) you’ll meet with your cohort in person at Dominican University during your first weekend in the program. There are now online options for the orientation that don't require students to come on campus; available to residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin. This sets the stage for a close-knit graduate experience that helps build critical career connections with your peers. They, and our 850 alums, all will become key members of your professional network—helping you lead social change with organizations in Chicago and beyond.

Financing your Dominican MSW

At Dominican, keeping tuition affordable is another example of how we live out our mission. Along with opportunities for financial aid through loans and grants, the School of Social Work offers a variety of  departmental scholarships  for outstanding academic achievement and graduate assistantships for those who wish to work with faculty while pursuing their degree. Contact our Office of Financial Aid to learn more. We can be reached at (708) 524-6809 or finaid@dom.edu.

Advance in a Rapidly Growing Career Field

At Dominican University, you’ll be prepared to not only join the field, but to lead social change in Chicago and beyond.  

Continued Growth

Demand for social workers is expected to grow 7% from 2023 to 2033—much faster than average.

High-Demand Positions

Projections indicate about 67,300 job openings for social workers each year over the decade.

What Can I Do with a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree?

Social workers provide care that impacts individuals, families and communities on a very personal level. As health care and related industries continue to tackle a breadth of challenges, this profession is growing in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job outlook for social workers is expected to grow 16% from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than average.

By earning your Master in Social Work, you can not only enter the field, but also prepare to lead. You will find Dominican graduates working in an array of social-work specializations. Among them:

  • Aging care specialists
  • Licensed social workers
  • Medical social workers
  • Mental health social workers
  • Military social workers
  • School social workers
  • Therapists
  • Child welfare social workers

My experience at Dominican was very positive. As an older student, I felt very comfortable in this learning environment and have received a lot of support from the faculty, administration and other students.”  

Sheila Hanford
School of Social Work Graduate

Accreditation

CSWE accreditation logo

The Master of Social Work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation. 

Accreditation of a baccalaureate or master’s social work program by the Council on Social Work Education’s Board of Accreditation indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of program quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited program has sufficient resources to meet its mission and goals and the Board of Accreditation has verified that it demonstrates compliance with all sections of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. 

Accreditation applies to all program sites and program delivery methods of an accredited program. Accreditation provides reasonable assurance about the quality of the program and the competence of students graduating from the program. 

For more information,
please contact:

Office of Graduate Admission
Enrollment Management
gradinfo@dom.edu

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