Make a real impact

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program will prepare you for advanced social work, with attention to professional ethics, respect for human rights and recognition of the inherent dignity of all people. The curriculum is grounded equally in theory and practical application. Choose from one of two concentrations:

• The Community Practice concentration prepares you to lead human service organizations.
• The Forensic Social Work concentration prepares you for practice and advocacy in settings where human services and the legal system intersect.

You’ll be grouped in a small cohort, which enables you to get to know your colleagues and receive individualized attention from your professors.

DePaul’s MSW program is offered on the Loop Campus and can be completed on either a full-time (two years) or part-time (options for three years or four years) basis. Classes are held on weekday afternoons and evenings. Field placements will require daytime availability and are offered across the Chicago area.

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Immerse yourself in the field

Chicago is home to hundreds of social service agencies and nonprofits, and with our partnerships you’ll gain hands-on experience in an area that interests you. As part of the MSW degree program, you’ll complete two field experiences with agencies like Catholic Charities, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Friedman Place, and DePaul Family and Community Services.

Application Deadlines

For admission in the autumn quarter, the deadline for full-time applicants is April 1 (or until the cohort is filled), and the deadline for part-time applicants is July 15.

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, résumé/CV, personal statement, two letters of reference and official transcripts.

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Required Courses

You’ll take 11 foundation courses, nine courses in your concentration, including field placements, and two electives.

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91%

of Social Work graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

Passionate faculty driven to make a difference

Neil Vincent, PhD, associate professor of social work, is one of the founding voices for Chicago Survivors, an organization dedicated to serving families impacted by violences, and Sonya Crabtree-Nelson, PhD, LCSW, Associate Professor of Social Work, is facilitating student involvement with the Neighborhood Legal Assistance Program to provide triage case management and pro bono legal assistance to homeless and formerly homeless Chicagoans. These professors are examples of the passionate faculty you will have the opportunity to learn from during your graduate program at DePaul.

“The DePaul MSW program provided me with a well-rounded social work education. The MSW faculty encourage class discussions and participation that allows for consideration of diverse points of view. Learning from my classmates made me a more mindful and empathetic person. The faculty also used current social and political issues and pop culture in the classroom to demonstrate concepts and theories we learned in our books. This model of learning forces critical thinking and has made me more analytical of the world around me.”

Lyndsey (MSW ’10)

Director of Social Services, HCR ManorCare 

Alumni Network

Connect with MSW alumni working across the Chicago area at organizations and agencies like AmeriCorps, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. You’ll also be connected to the wider network of over 180,000 DePaul alumni.

Scholarships & Aid

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to you.

Admission to the MSW Program

????All applicants are advised to apply as early as possible as admission is limited and selective.  Applications are reviewed for Autumn quarter admission. MSW students may be able to register for classes in earlier quarters but since internships are completed during the regular academic year (starting early Autumn quarter and ending late Spring quarter) courses taken before Autumn quarter will not result in in early graduation.

For admission in the Autumn Quarter, the deadline for full-time (two-year) applicants is April 1, while the part-time (options for three years or four years) applicants should have applications submitted? by July 15.

The program's admission criteria center on assessing readiness for graduate education and readiness for the profession of social work.  The MSW program's admission eligibility requirements include the following:

• graduation from an accredited baccalaureate institution
• overall minimum of 2.7 GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
• potential for professional success as demonstrated by references and/or relevant paid or non-paid professional experience
• demonstrated commitment to the aims and goals of the profession of social work (as demonstrated by references, select academic study, experience, and/or special insight which can be demonstrated in the narrative portions of the admission application).

International Applicants

International students (those who were educated outside of the U.S. and/or require an F1 visa) must take additional steps to be considered for admission.  Please visit the International Admission page for exact information.

MSW Program Application Process

Applicants to the MSW Program begin by completing the DePaul online application.  Current required materials are:

• A non-refundable application processing fee of $40.00.?
• Two references (references may be submitted by letter,  email, or the online application's reference tool) from supervisors or instructors who have known you for at least a year. One reference should address your work or professional potential while the second reference should address your academic potential.  If you cannot provide the two types of references, please explain your circumstances in a cover letter attached to the application.
• Official Transcripts from each educational institution you have attended. While there are no specific course pre-requisites for admission, transcripts are reviewed for completion of baccalaureate-level course work in the areas of:
  • • Social and Behavioral Sciences
    • Mathematics and/or Statistics
    • Natural Sciences
    • Arts & Humanities
• An updated resume or C.V.
• ??Personal Statement.  Please address each of the following five areas. The admissions committee will use your responses to assess your readiness for graduate education and your potential for success in the social work profession. Please limit your responses to one single-spaced page per section using one-inch margins.
  • What motivates you to pursue a career in social work? More specifically, why are you choosing to pursue a Masters in Social Work at DePaul University?
  • What personal characteristics and strengths do you possess that will help you be successful in graduate studies and eventually becoming a social worker?
  • Identify and discuss a social issue that you feel passionate about addressing. What role do you imagine playing in addressing this social issue?
  • Reflect and discuss a challenging situation you have had with another person (i.e. supervisor, peer, colleague, or professor). How did you manage it and what did you learn from it that you believe will help you in the MSW program?
  • Describe how you would manage being a graduate student and successfully completing our MSW program. How would you balance the demands of graduate school, including coursework, internship (i.e. 16-20 hrs. per week), work, family, and finances, etc.?

?What application reviewer will assess when reviewing your personal statement…

 

• • Assess your preparedness for graduate studies.
  • Confirm you have adhered to the formatting instructions.
  • Appraise your grammar and spelling.
  • Assess your ability to write clear and well-organized responses.
  • Verify that all questions posed have been answered.
  • Expand beyond the desire to “help people".
  • Demonstrate critical self-reflection.
  • Show knowledge and understanding of the social work profession.

Writing tips:

• • Write a draft of your personal statement??, take a break, and come back to it later to work on editing and clarifying.
  • Do not rely solely on spelling and grammar checks.
  • Read your personal statement aloud for flow and accuracy.
  • Have others read your personal statement and give you feedback. 

 

All paper materials should be mailed to:

DePaul University
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Office of Graduate Admission
2400 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614.

Application materials can also be emailed to the Office of Graduate Admission at Gradtranscripts@depaul.edu (this includes colleges and universities that issue official electronic transcripts).

Please make sure your name is on all documents.

Learn more about Graduate Admission.

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements 

All candidates for the MSW degree enrolled in the 2-year or the 4-year program must complete 88 credit hours of course work, including 56 credit hours (14 courses) of course work detailed below:

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
MSW 401	PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND DEVELOPMENT	4
MSW 411	HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I	4
MSW 412	HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT II	4
MSW 421	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH	4
MSW 431	SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY I	4
MSW 432	ADVANCED SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY II	4
MSW 481	FOUNDATION PRACTICE I	4
MSW 491	FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION I	4
MSW 482	FOUNDATION PRACTICE II	4
MSW 492	FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION II	4
MSW 483	FOUNDATION PRACTICE III	4
MSW 493	FOUNDATION FIELD EDUCATION III	4
Select eight credit hours of graduate level study (400 and above) as electives 1		8

1	Special topics courses (MSW 450) are included as possible electives.

In addition to the requirements listed above, students must select and complete requirements for a concentration, detailed under the "Concentration Requirements" tab of this page.

MSW 499 is also available as an elective or substitution for some courses.

?Notice for Graduates of CSWE-Accredited Baccalaureate Programs

Every candidate for the MSW degree has to demonstrate competencies in the professional foundation of social work. For graduates of CSWE-accredited baccalaureate programs, up to 12 credit hours of eligible coursework can be waived if applicants received a grade of ‘B’ or better in corresponding undergraduate courses. These courses are limited to the following:

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
MSW 411	HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT I
MSW 421	INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH
MSW 431	SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY I

Applicants are assessed at the time of admission. The waivers will not count as graduate credits earned and all students granted course waivers status must meet all other requirements of the program, including a minimum of 76 earned graduate credit hours for degree completion.

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.