A Dual-Degree Program Built For Your Goals

The social work and business fields are converging in exciting ways. For social workers, a business degree from Dominican allows you to become skilled in the business roles—such as human resources management and budgeting—that you’ll need for leadership and consultancy positions. For business professionals, a social work degree equips you to advance your company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives, launch your own social enterprise and much more.

With strong values-centered approaches in both disciplines, Dominican is uniquely prepared to offer a dual MBA/MSW degree program that will expand your career opportunities and prepare you to make a difference.


Program Highlights

  • Choose from online, evening and daytime classes to suit your schedule; online option for the social work courses is available to residents of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin
  • Finish in three years as a full-time student (including summers), or two years if you already have a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree in social work
  • Benefit from a reduced number of hours required for each degree with coursework alternating between the two subjects each year, so you can focus on one area at a time
  • Get personal attention in small classes of about 16 students
  • Graduate from a respected CSWE- and AACSB-accredited program (AACSB accreditation is achieved by only 5% of business schools worldwide)
  • Focus your program with in-demand concentrations in both disciplines

Needed

Top 6%
Our AACSB Accreditation is a Distinction Earned by Less Than Six Percent of Schools Worldwide
#1
Best Value in Midwest (U.S. News & World Report)
30,000+
Connections through Dominican's Robust Alumni Network

Dominican’s MSW Plus MBA Degree at a Glance 

Dominican University recognizes that if you possess the skills and knowledge of both a social worker and a business professional you will be exceptionally well-prepared to lead organizations of all types in the public and private sectors. Social service organizations need supervisors and leaders with business knowledge. And in the business world, companies of all sorts are seeking professionals with an ability to drive social and community engagement efforts, liaise with government and nonprofit agencies, and avoid decisions that can harm communities.

  • Time to complete: Three years as a full-time student (including summers), or two years if you already have a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s degree in social work
  • Coursework alternates between the business and social work schools each year, so you can focus on one area at a time
  • Reduced number of hours required for each degree
  • CSWE- and AACSB-accredited

Along with taking foundational MBA courses, you’ll be able to customize your business and social work degree experience toward a specific field that fits your career goals. Choose from Dominican’s MBA program concentrations (requiring 9 credit hours) in topics like accounting, data analytics, finance, healthcare administration, international business administration, leadership or marketing. Looking to earn a standalone MBA? Learn about our MBA program

We will connect you with our 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. We also offer placement options abroad for those interested in international social work.

Dominican’s School of Social Work

Rewarding work that is both globally and family-focused, with a wide range of organizations

What to Expect as You Earn Your MSW/MBA Degree

The Dominican University experience is one that embraces unique viewpoints, values hands-on learning and fosters collaborative relationships—among faculty, students and the communities that we hope to influence through our values-centered degree programs. 

When you study for your MSW/MBA degree here, you’ll get the benefit of modern learning designed for working professionals, as well as a relationship-focused atmosphere that will help you become a stronger leader in your field.

Dominican University’s School of Social Work challenges you to change the world by helping you gain the skills to make a difference. Our programs prepare professional social workers for globally focused, family-centered practice. Our mission guides us to advocate for human rights and social and economic justice and to promote human and community well-being. See what sets us apart

Dominican’s Brennan School of Business is recognized for providing high-value, rigorous, relevant business education in a supportive, small-classroom setting. We welcome you to email Dave Aron to learn more about the MBA degree and certificate programs at Brennan. See what sets us apart

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.

Brennan School of Business

Learn more about our challenging, values-based environment from students who've experienced it

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

An MSW/MBA degree might seem like an unusual combination but, like any field, social work is in need of leadership. Combining your MSW with a top-ranked business education will prepare you to take on supervisory and executive leadership positions in settings ranging from social welfare organizations and hospitals to philanthropic foundations, government agencies and corporate human resources departments. An MBA also gives you the skills to pursue consultancy work. 

Increasingly, too, professionals in the business world are recognizing the need to develop the skills social workers bring to the job. For example, small and large companies alike now look for leaders to take on specialized roles in maintaining strong community relationships, partnering with nonprofit organizations, and ensuring that decisions don’t negatively impact communities or the environment. Many corporations now have entire departments dedicated to corporate social responsibility, or CSR, initiatives.

In order to apply, you will need the following materials:

  • Optional GMAT or GRE exam score
  • Official transcripts from universities showing all degrees earned
  • Two recommendations (one academic and one professional)
  • Personal statement
  • If eligible for MSW advanced standing, please complete advanced standing application 

Ready to take the next step? Apply now online

Along with opportunities for financial aid through loans and grants, the Brennan School of Business 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. A 20% tuition discount is also available to Dominican University alumnae/i. Contact our Office of Financial Aid to learn more. 

We can be reached at (708) 524-6809 or finaid@dom.edu.

Accreditation

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. 

The Brennan School of Business is AACSB-accredited, a distinction earned by less than six percent of business schools worldwide. AACSB schools are evaluated on a number of factors, including intellectual contributions and impact, student progression and career development and teaching effectiveness. Accreditation is a mark of a strong return on your investment with higher-caliber academics. See what sets us apart

For more information,
please contact:

Office of Graduate Admission
Enrollment Management
gradinfo@dom.edu

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