Master of Social Work - Advanced Standing

Social work is a career and a calling. Working with the most vulnerable among us calls for compassion, cultural sensitivity, and a strong commitment to service. A career in social work requires a human-centered focus in working with individuals, families, groups, communities, and environmental systems as well as leadership, organizational skills, and the knowledge and persistence to influence legislation and advocate for systemic change.

Loyola's MSW degree is designed to develop professionals who have the confidence and skills to take on the challenge to improve individual and family welfare and empower people within our communities to promote social justice.

You will thrive in our program if you have a true passion for social justice issues and a determination to advocate and take action to help transform lives and communities. Success in the program will require emotional maturity and resiliency to manage complex issues and challenges, and excellent time management skills to balance coursework and practical internships.
Our holistic curriculum ensures that when you graduate, you are well-positioned to serve a variety of client communities, advocate for their needs, and can assume leadership and management roles in clinical and human services organizations, as well as in community outreach and development settings.

There are many types of social workers and a broad number of social work career paths. MSW graduates work in schools, government agencies, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, outpatient services, higher education, and rehabilitation centers, to name just a few.

A social worker can function in a variety of roles depending on the setting. In addition to working directly with individuals and families, graduates with an MSW degree develop and manage programs, advocate for community and population needs, and provide data for policy advocacy, research, program evaluation, and organizational development.

Application requirements for the Social Work MSW with Advanced Standing include:
Official Transcripts
2 References
3.0 Minimum GPA
Resume/CV
Statement of Purpose
The personal statement component of your application to the MSW Program at Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work will be used to assess your writing, critical thinking, and capacity for self-awareness in terms of readiness for graduate level work and supervised practice in the field.
Please submit (one) well-developed 1500 word, double spaced personal statement that shares your interest in the field of social work and motivation to pursue the MSW Program at Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work.
If you are a transfer student currently or previously enrolled in a MSW program elsewhere, in addition to addressing the questions above in your personal statement, please address you interest in transferring to Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work from your current or past institution.
Applicants must submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate work. To be eligible for admission, your transcript must show an earned bachelor's degree or a bachelor's degree in progress. Certified copies of transcripts are acceptable, faxed copies of transcripts are not considered official. If you attended Loyola University Chicago previously, you do not need to request transcripts, we have them on record. Copies of transcripts or transcripts not received in a sealed envelope from the university are considered unofficial. If you attended Loyola University Chicago previously, you do not need to request transcripts. We strongly encourage electronic submission of documents. Official transcripts should show a GPA of 3.0 or higher. In exceptional cases, applicants whose undergraduate GPA is below 3.0 may be admitted.
IELTS - 6.0
TOEFL (IBT) - 79