Why Dominican?
Dual Degree Opportunities
Build cross-functional skills that can elevate your career with our unique dual master’s degree programs.
Dual Degree Opportunities
Build cross-functional skills that can elevate your career with our unique dual master’s degree programs.
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.
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Curriculum Requirements
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.
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Placement Options
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 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. -
Renowned Faculty. Real-World Context.
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
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First Weekend Residency
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.
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Learning Outcomes
Social Work
- To develop social work practitioners who understand social work knowledge, values, and skills to enhance all levels of client systems.
- To prepare professional social work practitioners to engage in culturally sensitive practice that encourages active community participation in advancing social and economic justice.
- To prepare social work practitioners to integrate multidisciplinary bodies of knowledge and skills into their practice in order to empower clients.
- To develop social work practitioners who incorporate reflective practices to enhance understanding of self and others within their diverse context.
- Prepare social work practitioners who embrace core social work values and ethics in service of all people with particular attention to marginalized and disenfranchised persons and communities.
- To prepare social workers that are lifelong learners committed to the growth of their own professional knowledge base, ongoing professional development, and self-growth.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
- Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
- Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
- Engage diversity and difference in practice.
- Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
- Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
- Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
- Respond to contexts that shape practice.
- Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
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Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
Dominican University in compliance with Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 2008 Educational Policy Standards measures and reports student learning outcomes yearly. Students are assessed on their attainment of the ten core competencies. Each core competency is operationalized by measurable practice behaviors throughout the curriculum. Benchmarks were established for the attainment of each competency overall, as well as for the individual practice behaviors as measured from each data source. An assessment score at or above that benchmark is considered by the program to represent attainment of that particular competency.
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Student Learning Outcomes
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
High-Demand Positions
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:
Testimonial
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.”
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.