Bachelor of Social Work degree programs (BSW) from accredited Illinois universities prepare future social workers for graduate programs, professional licensing, and ethical social work practice as established by the National Association of Social Workers and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
According to the Council on Social Work Education (CWSE), baccalaureate programs in the United States had an average enrollment of 121 students in the 2021–2022 academic year. Data from the CSWE’s Annual Survey of Social Work Programs, a census of social work programs in the United States and its territories, showed that 83% of the 43,040 BSW students were enrolled full time.
Key Facts:
- 86.4% of enrolled BSW students were female.
- 43.2% were aged 22 or younger.
- BSW program enrollment has increased in the last five years.
- BSW programs conferred 16,780 degrees in 2020–2021.
- Of the 51,951 students in fully online BSW programs, 3.3% resided in Illinois.
- The Great Lakes Region accounted for 25.6% of BSW students.
What Can I Do With a BSW Degree in Illinois?
A bachelor of social work degree is essential for an entry-level social work position in Illinois, but as the first step on the path to a career as a licensed social worker (LSW) or licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), a social work bachelor’s degree is the key to becoming a clinical social worker or other specialized social work practitioner.
To be admitted to an advanced standing social work master’s program (MSW) in Illinois, applicants need a BSW degree. Advanced standing master’s programs are 1-year MSW programs that fast-track students to their chosen careers.
Thus, a BSW degree opens doors to a variety of social work careers at the micro, macro, and mezzo levels, including:
- Addictions treatment counselor
- Financial social worker
- Housing specialist
- Immigration social worker
- Behavioral management aide
- Child, family, and school social worker
- Clinical social worker
- Medical social worker
- Mental health and substance abuse social worker
- Nonprofit leadership
- Policy advocate
- Rehabilitation caseworker
- Social justice advocate
- Corrections and criminal justice social worker
These are only a sample of the roles for which you could be qualified after completing a BSW program, with or without licensure.
From BSW to Licensed Social Work Practitioner
If you choose to pursue a graduate degree or certificate after you complete your bachelor’s program, you’ll find several CSWE-accredited MSW programs that offer advanced standing enrollment for traditional and online master’s degrees.
BSW Programs and Main Campus Locations
Aurora University – Aurora
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Multiple cohorts per year, Weekends/Evening
- Certification: Addictions, Child Welfare
- Online: Yes
Bradley University – Peoria
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
Governors State University – University Park (Chicago’s Southland)
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: Child Welfare
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: On-campus classes with web enhancement
Greenville University – Greenville
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Education, Theology or Divinity, Psychology
- Online: Yes
Illinois State University – Normal
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
Lewis University – Romeoville
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: Child Welfare
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
Loyola University – Chicago
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
Methodist College – Peoria (Conditional Accreditation)
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Weekends/Evening
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
National Louis University – Chicago
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: Child Welfare
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
Northeastern Illinois University – Chicago
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: Yes
Olivet Nazarene University – Bourbonnais
(Pending Accreditation)
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Multiple cohorts per year
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Advanced Standing
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
St. Augustine College – Chicago
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: Addictions
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
Trinity Christian College – Palos Heights
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Multiple cohorts per year
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
University of Illinois at Springfield
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign – Urbana
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time, Weekends/Evening
- Certification: Child Welfare, Gerontology
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
The University of St. Francis – Joliet
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: Child Welfare
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
Western Illinois University – Maycomb
- Plan of Study: Full-Time, Part-Time
- Certification: No
- Dual Degrees: No
- Online: No
Choosing a BSW Program
Most Illinois BSW programs require 120 credit hours, including general education courses and social work major courses.
Career assistance and student support programs such as Loyola University’s:
- Academic advising
- Career development
- Center for student assistance and advocacy
- Internships
- Licensure
- Student organizations
- Study abroad
- Volunteer opportunities
Because students who have earned a bachelor of social work degree in Illinois can practice without licensure, you’ll want to consider your career path after graduation.
A BSW degree alone will equip you with the skills to practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, and certain programs will prepare you for work in settings such as child welfare agencies, senior care facilities, Alzheimer’s treatment centers, and addiction clinics.
Knowing your career goals and the requirements to reach them — whether in Illinois or in another state — can position you for success.
For example, although Illinois doesn’t have license reciprocity for social workers, meaning social workers can’t practice with an Illinois license in a different state, a bachelor’s degree from a CSWE-accredited program makes you eligible for advanced standing MSW programs throughout the country.
Therefore, if you know you want a master’s degree in social work, but you don’t yet know where you will ultimately live and work, you can feel confident in choosing an Illinois BSW program, knowing that your decision will accelerate your education regardless of where you live, work, and study in the future.
All BSW programs have a field education requirement. Field education is an opportunity for you to gain supervised experience in a real-world setting. Most BSW fieldwork consists of a field seminar class and at least 400 hours of practicum experience.
Salaries and Career Outlook for Social Workers with an Online MSW Degree in Illinois
The average annual salary for social workers in the United States was $55,350 in 2022. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that a BSW is “the most common requirement for entry-level nonclinical social worker positions.”
Chicago’s average salary for child, family, and school social workers was $61,860 per year in 2022. The Windy City’s yearly average salary for healthcare social workers was $62,640, and $64,890 for all other social workers in 2022.
According to the BLS, social and community service managers, who are responsible for coordinating and supervising programs and organizations that support public well-being, can qualify for employment with a bachelor’s degree and professional experience in the field. Social workers in these leadership roles earned $79,260 in 2022.