Many master of social work (MSW) programs in Illinois offer one-year advanced standing programs for full-time students who hold bachelor’s degrees in social work. These types of MSW programs allow students to waive first-year, foundational courses and begin their studies with advanced coursework and field education.
In most advanced standing MSW programs, students must have earned their BSW degrees within the last five to ten years to be eligible for enrollment.
Graduates of accredited one-year MSW programs in Illinois can obtain licensure as licensed social workers (LSW) or licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) in Illinois and practice in a variety of social work specializations.
Accreditation
All programs mentioned are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and meet the standards for social work education.
One-Year Advanced Standing MSW Programs
Illinois one-year MSW programs are offered throughout the state, including in Northeastern Illinois, Central Illinois, Southern Illinois, the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area, and online.
Note that advanced standing programs may also allow students to enroll part time at a reduced course load and earn their MSW degree in two years.
Of the sixteen CSWE-accredited one-year MSW courses in Illinois, all offer specialized social work tracks and field placements. We’ve provided the most relevant MSW program highlights and admission requirements for aspiring Illinois social workers who have earned a BSW within the last ten years.
Program Highlights
The program information below is intended to help MSW candidates decide which program best suits their needs.
One-Year Illinois MSW Programs for Advanced Standing Students
Aurora University - Northeastern Illinois, Online
- Specializations include addictions, child welfare, school social work, forensics, gerontology, healthcare, leadership administration, military and veteran social work
- 30 semester hours
- Open to students who have an undergraduate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution within the past five years
- One-year and two-year options
- University of St. Francis
University of St. Francis - Northeastern Illinois, Online
- Specializations in the University of St. Francis’ 32-credit hour program include aging/gerontology, child welfare, criminal justice, developmental disabilities, domestic violence, forensics, health care, immigration, international concerns, legal systems, mental health, school social work, and substance use.
- Part-time options are available to advanced standing students.
- The program includes four semester hours of field education per semester and integrated seminars
- Bridge courses are required for students with a GPA of less than 2.75.
Governors State University - Northeastern Illinois
- The MSW program comprises 32 credit hours and 16 to 20 hours of field education per week
- Specializations include children, youth, and families, and school social work
- Advanced standing students must have earned a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program within seven years of applying to the MSW program and attained a 3.0 G.P.A. in baccalaureate course work.
- Advanced Standing students apply for candidacy during the fall term of their first year.
- A two-year part-time option is available.
Lewis University - Northeastern Illinois
- Specializations include clinical specialization and population track
- Student must have earned an overall GPA of 3.0 and a social work GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate program.
- MSW program requires 30 hours of graduate study (advanced clinical year) and 600 hours of field work in during fall and spring semesters.
- This program can be completed as a full-time student in one year or as a part-time student in two years.
Illinois State University - Central Illinois
- The one-year MSW program offers a specialization in school social work.
- Advanced standing students who have completed their practicum in the two years prior to applying should submit a recommendation letter from their agency field instructor in addition to their other letters.
- Advanced standing students must begin their coursework during the summer term.
- Students with degrees from international social work programs aren’t eligible for the advanced standing program.
- Candidates must have completed a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program within 8 years.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale - Southern Illinois, Online
- Specializations include health/mental health, children, youth, families, school social work (CYF with school social work PEL endorsement).
- One-year MSW program students may also pursue the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology or the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Substance Use Disorders and Behavioral Addictions
- Applicants must hold a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program.
- One-year students must meet the requirements for the regular two-year and online programs.
- The advanced standing program consists of one summer semester of 9 credit hours of transition courses and 30 credit hours of advance study in the student’s chosen area of specialization.
- The transition courses include: Perspectives on Human Behavior for Social Work Practice, Advanced Social Work Research, Advanced Social Work Policy Practice
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - Southern Illinois, Online
- Specialization focus is on advanced generalist practice.
- The capstone (SOCW 565) is required to graduate from the MSW degree program. Students who earn a passing grade from this pass/fail capstone course will have met the graduation requirements.
- The program allows advanced standing students to enroll part time and complete their MSW in two years instead of one year.
- Students must have earned a BSW degree within the previous seven years.
- A GPA of 3.0 or higher and a C or better in each of the foundational courses is required. This includes:
- Undergraduate research methods course: C or better
- Undergraduate statistics course: B or better
Dominican University - Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area, Online
- Specializations include child welfare, gerontology, military social work, school social work, health and well-being, and immigrants and refugee social work.
- Students who hold a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited institution can complete the MSW in nine months.
- One-year students will complete 30 credit hours of coursework, including 20 hours per week of fieldwork (600 clock hours) and related field practicum courses, over two semesters.
- Students may choose a two-year, part-time study plan.
- Students with a BSW from an accredited social work program are not eligible for admission into the 60-credit hour program.
Loyola University Chicago - Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area, Online
- Specializations include advanced clinical practice, certified alcohol and drugs counselor, migration studies, school social work/PEL
- Student must have received obtained their undergraduate BSW degree (with a 3.0 minimum GPA) within the past five years.
- Student must have completed 23 credit hours, including one internship
- Advanced standing students must begin the program in the fall.
Erikson Institute - Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area, Online
*Note that Erikson Institutes advanced standing MSW program is a two-year program. It is included on this list of one-year MSW programs because students can waive credit hours, which may be of interest to MSW-seeking students in Illinois who hold BSW degrees.
- Students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for enrollment:
- Have completed a bachelor’s degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Submit a letter of recommendation from a BSW field instructor.
- Submit a field evaluation that proves at least 75 percent proficiency and a minimum of 400 field hours completed.
- If the student completed the BSW within the previous six years, they may be eligible to waive up to 25 credit hours.
- Students must meet the following requirements to be eligible for enrollment:
University of Illinois at Chicago - Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area
- Specializations include mental health, child and family services, organization and community practice, school social work, and social work within justice systems.
- The field Instruction requirement is 24 hours per week in the student’s specialization year (with a minimum total of 630 hours).
- The specialization plan of study for advanced standing students who complete the program in one year is the same as the plan of study for full-time students.
The University of Chicago - Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area
- Program specializations focus social service and leadership intended to “frame individual distress in a larger social context” with a new curriculum as of the 2024 academic year that integrates psychology, sociology, economics, political science, law, and public health in a multidisciplinary approach to direct practice and policy analysis and advocacy skills that encompass micro-, mezzo-, and macro-level practice.
- Students must submit two academic references and a reference from a current or recent practice professor or field instructor.
- Applicants must submit a transcript showing conferral of an undergraduate BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited college or university.
- A field practicum of 496 hours and a field seminar with a consultant is required.
Northeastern Illinois University - Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area
- Specializations include practice with children, youth, and families, and leadership and change.
- Students must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
- Three letters of recommendation are required, including one from the program director, field director, or a faculty member of the BSW program.
- Students must submit a resume and a two-page professional statement.
Chicago State University - Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area
- Students must complete a minimum of 33 credits and 600 clock hours of field education.
- The program requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 in the social work major.
- Specializations include direct practice clinical social work, program planning and administration, and school social work.
- The school social work specialization requires an additional 50 hours of field education.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area, Central Illinois, Online
- The two concentrations of the program are Leadership and Social Change (LSC) and Advanced Clinical Practice.
- Specializations within the advanced clinical concentration include mental health, school social work, healthcare, and children, youth and family services.
- Students must have earned a bachelor of social work degree within the past seven years from a CSWE-accredited BSW program.
- The program comprises 32 credit hours of advanced coursework.
- Students must complete 1 to 2 semesters (12 to 24 credit hours) of field placement.
Chamberlain University – Online Only
- Specializations include medical social work, crisis and response interventions, and trauma.
- The program can be completed in one year at a full-time pace.
- Two-year part-time option is available.
- Students must have either:
- Received a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program within the last 5 years
- Received their BSW more than 5 years ago and have an active social work license in good standing
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 from a CSWE-accredited institution that is also accredited by a regional accrediting agency or an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- Foreign transcripts must be from an international social work program that is accredited by an accrediting body with a memorandum of understanding with CSWE. Alternatively, the program may have been approved by the CSWE International Social Work Degree Recognition Service.
Choosing the right one-year MSW program in Illinois requires careful consideration of various factors, including specializations, location, qualifications for enrollment, and your unique career goals.
Illinois MSW programs provide prospective social workers with many opportunities to pursue a fulfilling career serving people in need and making communities throughout The Prairie State healthy and strong.