About Master’s Program,
The School Social Work specialization gives you the skills and experience to help students when they need it the most.
You will spend one academic year in a school setting practicum placement. This experience gives you the opportunity to work collaboratively with teachers and families. Together, you will help create individualized education plans (IEPs) to address students’ needs. You will also provide counseling services for individuals, groups, and families. Sometimes students need resources outside of their school. In these situations, you will serve as an advocate for their needs.
Illinois State Board of Education requires all students pursuing the School Social Work specialization to pass the Illinois social work content exam to be eligible for the Professional Educator’s License with a School Social Work endorsement. The content exam must be passed by the end of the fall semester during your specialist practicum placement to be eligible to advance into the spring semester of your specialist practicum placement.
In addition to completing course work approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) student are required to pass School Social Work Content Exam 238 before obtaining their Professional Educator’s Licensure (PEL). Resources for this content exam can be found here.
Our program prepares you for completion of this content exam and eligibility for the Professional Educator’s License with a School Social Work endorsement. This is the credential required in Illinois to obtain employment as a school social worker.
For Advanced Standing Students, school Social work is only offered as a two-year option.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Applicants for admission to the MSW program must apply to the Illinois State University Graduate School. Students submit their application and all required application materials electronically. A student applying to this program should have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework or any previous work in a master’s program.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support. They are intended as a way to facilitate a student’s progress to degree while providing important professional development.
See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees. Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources. Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.
Application Requirement,
- A resume
- 2 academic or professional letters of recommendation
- Statement of interest
- Avideo response
- English Proficiency Score
Application Deadline,
Feb 01, 2025
Application Fee,
The $35 non-refundable screening form fee may be paid by credit card,
