Our Programs
Our Programs
Rigorous yet accessible; flexible yet tailored. Our programs ensure future social work leaders are a diverse corps of inclusive, community-focused advocates for justice.
By the Numbers
1st
And only Bilingual MSW Program in the U.S.
6
Dual Degree Options
5
MSW Specialization Tracks
49
Credit Hours Required for MSW
Maestría Bilingüe en Trabajo Social (Bilingual MSW Program)
In many places across the country, the integrated mental health needs of Latinx, immigrant, and refugee populations are going unmet. Our fully online bilingual (Spanish and English) MSW program—the first of its kind in the United States—helps fill this critical gap in the social work profession.
New MA in Public Service Leadership
We’re broadening the concept of “public service.” Beginning Fall 2022, we’ll offer a yearlong online program emphasizing leadership in governmental, non-profit, and human service organizations. The degree allows students to move between the disparate but overlapping health and social sectors, rather than gain expertise in only one.
Access to Education
We wanted more students to be able to pursue a social work education, so we recently spent two years overhauling our curriculum with the goal of making it simultaneously more accessible, rigorous and affordable. We reduced total credit hours for the MSW from 60 to 49, making the program more affordable, while expanding the focus on direct practice opportunities.
"The Loyola School of Social Work cultivated my curiosity and drive to understand, to serve, and to promote social justice through direct practice, research, and advocacy. The program was a true partner, supporting my interests in working with refugees and immigrants. It provided a foundation for my future as an applied researcher, clinician, and educator." Aimee Hilado, MSW '07, PhD '10
Mission in Action
Our students graduate confident in their skills and ready to change lives. Our 5-year average licensing exam first-time pass rates are well above the national average— 82% for LSW and 79% for LCSW. Graduates go on to work across the Chicagoland area, the country and even the world.
Recent employers of SSW graduates include:
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights
- Chicago Public Schools
- Heartland Alliance
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- The Salvation Army
- Cook County Circuit Court
- Catholic Charities
- Refugee One
Our Programs
Graduate
Our MSW program includes micro and mezzo/macro specializations.
Micro tracks include:
- Migration
- Alcohol and Drug (CADC)
- School Social Work
- Advanced Clinical Practice
Leadership Mezzo & Macro Practice
We also offer an MSW Advanced Standing Option, MSW Evening Program, Online Bilingual MSW, and our forthcoming Online Masters in Public Service Leadership. The specializations allow students to spend more time preparing for the kind of work they want to do, and our format options help more students obtain their degrees in a way that works for them.
Dual Degrees
Today's social workers aren't just clinicians, they're interdisciplinary problem-solvers. We partner with the exceptional schools and colleges across Loyola University Chicago to offer six dual degrees:
- MSW/JD
- MSW/MJ in Child and Family Law
- MSW/MDiv (Master of Divinity)
- MSW/MA in Social Justice
- MSW/MA in Women's Studies
- MSW/MPH (Master of Public Health)
Certificate Programs
We offer specialized certificate programs for practitioners looking to advance their careers and students and professionals looking to learn more about social work. Offerings include:
- Certificate in Advanced Psychotherapy
- Post-MSW PEL: School Social Worker Endorsement
- School Mental Health Advanced Practice Program
- Certificate in Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling (CADC)
- Certificate in Empowering Women: South Asian Women & Girls
Undergraduate
Options for undergraduates include a BSW, a five-year BSW/MSW program and a minor in Social Work.
PhD
Our PhD in Social Work prepares students for leadership roles in practice and in academia.
Meeting Today’s Needs and Tomorrow’s
Increasing access to a world-class education creates waves of positive change that ripple outward. The world needs forward-thinking programs to close gaps in the profession, better serve the next generation of social workers and empower the communities we serve.