Social Work Graduate Programs – MSW & PhD
Gain the expertise to lead, inspire, and drive change across diverse fields such as clinical practice, healthcare, education, advocacy, and organizational leadership. Whether you’re providing mental health support, shaping policies, or advancing research, our programs are tailored to help you achieve your goals and make a difference.
MSW graduatesU.S. News
Choose from Two Primary Concentrations
Immersive Opportunities
The Advanced Clinical concentration prepares social work students to further their careers by developing advanced skills in direct practice. Students can choose from four focus areas: mental health, schools, healthcare, and children, youth and family services.
The Leadership and Social Change concentration prepares social work students to further their careers by developing advanced skills in macro practice.
Experience the World Through Social Work
Our International Internship and Service Learning programs offer hands-on experiences addressing global social challenges. Students have worked in South Africa, Greece, Japan and more on issues like health disparities, mental health, human rights, and child welfare. These opportunities deepen your understanding of global social issues, equip you to drive change locally and internationally, and shape your career and life.
Part-Time Online MSW Program
- Designed for individuals that cannot relocate to Urbana-Champaign but wish to earn their MSW degree from anywhere in the nation.
- While being a fully online program, students come together weekly via Zoom for class sessions.
- Students can choose to do a full-time or part-time internship.
- Only Illinois residents are able to choose the school’s focus area.
- Apply by November 15, 2025 for Spring 2026 or January 15, 2026 for Summer 2026.
On Campus MSW Program
- Enables you to pursue full- or part-time graduate coursework on the Urbana-Champaign campus.
- Traditional students can complete the program in 18 months, while advanced standing students can complete the program in 12 months.
- Block Field Placement – Students will complete all core coursework before entering their internship. This allows students to complete the internship anywhere throughout the state of Illinois or even nationally.
- Only Illinois residents can choose the school’s focus area.
- Apply by January 15, 2026, for Summer 2026 or Fall 2026.
Joint MSW/PhD Program
- Designed for those interested in PhD study who have a master’s degree in a related field but who haven’t earned an MSW.
- Allows completion of both degrees in a slightly expedited time frame than currently required to earn each degree separately
- Both degrees (MSW and PhD) are awarded upon completion of the program.
PhD in Social Work
- Prepares students for leadership roles in social work research, social work education, social policy, planning, and administration.
- Equips students with tangible skills to use rigorous scientific methods to develop and disseminate knowledge, teach the next generation of social workers, and help serve their communities.
- Each doctoral student is assigned an advisor based on the focus interest of the student and those of the faculty member.
- Admitted PhD students are guaranteed 4 years of funding as a research assistant or teaching assistant.
- Apply by January 15, 2026, for Fall 2026.
Hear More from others
Jerald Kimble, MSW, 2025
Online MSW Student
“The iMSW program was absolutely the perfect fit for me, given my current season of life … At
first I was intimidated by a lot of things – younger cohort members, all the required reading,
navigating electronically (when the last paper I’d completed for college was on a typewriter!),
and the thoughts of how to navigate an internship and a full-time job during Year Three. But the
teachers, staff, and fellow cohort members were great in putting my mind at ease and assuring
me that we would get through this program together. And we did!”
Taetreonia Kimshae Smith
MSW alumna
“The MSW program at the University of Illinois has truly shaped the way I support families and show up in the field. As someone working full-time in child welfare, this program helped me strengthen my leadership skills while staying grounded in the work that matters. I highly recommend this program for anyone pursuing their MSW. It’s a supportive, challenging, and meaningful experience that will push you to grow both personally and professionally.”
Xavier Ramirez
PhD Candidate
“The School’s curriculum requires students to take methodological and theoretical courses outside of Social Work. This intentional design is significant as it exposes students to potential interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to address complex social issues. Additionally, it creates opportunities for Social Work students to interact with and be mentored by other internationally recognized faculty members on campus. This design enabled me to complete graduate minors in Latina/o Studies and Gender & Women’s Studies, which has significantly impacted my dissertation and research goals.”
Argentina Coy
PhD Candidate
“As a first-generation immigrant student, pursuing a PhD program at an R1 university has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. I couldn’t have asked for a better advisor who has supported me from Day One. The professors and program staff have been instrumental in helping me navigate the rigorous demands, allowing me to grow as a social worker, researcher and educator. I eagerly anticipate the day I proudly earn the title Dr. Coy from the (University of Illinois) School of Social Work, and I hope to inspire others like me to embark on this journey.”
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