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Social Work
Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø’s undergraduate Social Work program prepares you to make a lasting impact by upholding core values like service, social justice, and the dignity and worth of every person. With a strong foundation in critical thinking, ethical practice, and scientific inquiry, you’ll develop the skills to support diverse populations across multiple systems—individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, this Bachelor’s program offers hands-on learning through field placements, research opportunities, and community engagement. Whether pursuing licensure in Illinois or an accelerated Master of Social Work (MSW), you’ll graduate ready to lead in social work settings, from healthcare and education to policy and nonprofit leadership.
Experiential Learning
Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø’s undergraduate Social Work program blends classroom learning with real-world experience to prepare you for impactful careers and accelerated paths to a Master of Social Work (MSW) and professional licensure. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, the Bachelor’s program emphasizes service, social justice, human rights, and scientific inquiry, ensuring you graduate ready to make a difference. Hands-on opportunities include:
- Community-Based Projects – Participate in initiatives like the Gimme Shelter program, which raises awareness about housing insecurity.
- Field Placements – Gain professional experience in schools, hospitals, child welfare organizations, and community agencies.
- Research & Conferences – Collaborate with faculty on peer-reviewed publications and present at professional conferences.
- Group & Leadership Training – Engage in strategic planning, lead support groups, and work with local social service agencies.
Program Details
Career Opportunities
A social work degree opens doors to meaningful careers, including:
- School social worker
- Clinical social worker
- Case manager
- Child welfare specialist
- Mental health or behavioral health professional
- Policy advocate
- Grant writer or fundraiser
Graduates work in a variety of settings, such as:
- Schools and child welfare organizations (e.g., DCFS)
- Community-based agencies and hospitals
- Managed care companies and healthcare systems
- Government agencies, including prisons
- Nonprofits and advocacy organizations
Minors
Learn more about this discipline’s history, its research methods, and topics of interest. Open to all students, the minor pairs well with majors in business, the health sciences, criminal justice studies, political science or pre-law, social work, psychology, or marketing.
Ready to see how parts of the criminal justice system interact? This minor will help you understand factors for crime and how different parts of the justice system address issues. The minor, which is open to all students, works well with sociology, psychology, computer information systems and political science majors.
Explore the scientific study of human activities. This minor introduces you to cross-cultural variations in values, worldviews and ways of life.
You’ll be exposed to topics such as religion, art, kinship, gender roles, communication styles and body modifications. The minor, which is open to all students, often is paired with biology, history, psychology and sociology.