New MSW Student Orientations

Advanced Standing New Student Orientation PowerPoint Presentation

Fulltime New Student Orientation PowerPoint Presentation

PM Extended Study Student Orientation PowerPoint Presentation

Academic and Program Information

What are the core courses required for the program for the first year?
 
Please review the MSW Foundational classes below:

Full-Time Program

Fall – Year 1

• SocW410 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3 credit hours)
• SocW420 – Policy 1: Social Welfare Policy & Services (3 credit hours)
• SocW430 – Practice 1: Generalist Practice with Individuals & Organizations (3 credit hours)
• SocW570 – Field Instruction I (5 credit hours)

Spring – Year 1

• SocW460 – Social Work in a Multicultural Society (3 credit hours)
• SocW460 – Research 1: Social Work Research (3 credit hours)
• SocW431 – Practice II: Generalist Practice with Families, Groups and Communities (3 credit hours)
• SocW571 – Field Instruction II (5 credit hours)

PM-Extended Study Program

Fall – Year 1

• SocW410 – Human Behavior and the Social Environment (3 credit hours)
• SocW420 – Policy 1 (3 credit hours)

Spring – Year 1

• SocW411 – Social Work in a Multicultural Society (3 credit hours)
• SocW460 – Research 1 (3 credit hours)

Summer – Year 1

No coursework required

Fall – Year 2*

• SocW430 – Practice 1 (3 credit hours)
• Elective (Open) (3 credit hours)
• Field (Option 1)* (5 credit hours)

What elective options are available?

SOCW 512, SOCW 539, SOCW, 576, SOCW 533, SOCW 503, SOCW 547, SOSCW 522 SOCW 523, SOCW 502, SOCW544, SOCW 558, SOCW 576, SOCW 503, SOCW547, SOCW 522.

What is the typical course load per semester?

Full-time students typically enroll in 12 to 16 credit hours per semester, while part-time students take six (6) to nine (9) credit hours.

Can I pursue a specialization or concentration within the program?

Yes. Students can choose from the following concentrations: Mental Health, Child and Family Services, Community Health and Urban Development, School Social Work, and Social Work within Justice Systems.

Are there opportunities for interdisciplinary courses?

Yes, there are opportunities through other campus units. They are listed on the college website. Students will first need to talk with their academic advisor and then follow-up with the unit in which they are interested.

When will I be assigned an academic advisor?

Academic advisors will be assigned before the semester starts.

When do I select my specialization?

Full time students (2-year program) select their specialization the spring semester of their first year. Extended study PM students (3-year program) select their specialization the spring semester of their second year. All students receive information prior to their selections. Information sessions are held to assist students in choosing a specialization.

If you have not yet registered for classes, please do so as soon as possible. If you have not received registration information, please email the Office of Student Services at jacswoss.uic.

Field Instruction

How many field placements will students have while completing the MSW program?

Full-time and part-time students are required to have two field placements: generalist and specialization year. Advanced standing students will complete one specialization field placement.

How many hours do students need to complete each year of the program?

• Generalist students complete a minimum of 450 hours, 15-16 hours a week
• Specialization students complete a minimum of 630 hours, 21 hours a week

What is the schedule for classes and field placement?

Generalist students will have classes Monday and Wednesday and must appear at the field placement assignment two days a week. The most common schedule is Tuesday and Thursday.

Specialization students will have core classes on Tuesday and/or Thursday, either in the morning or evening. Students will also be required to complete two elective courses of their choice. The most common schedule is to be in field placement on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

What are the requirements of the supervision at the field site?

Field instructors must have an MSW with at least two years postgraduate experience. Should the organization assign a Task Supervisor, the student must have separate MSW supervision either individually or within a group setting.

School Specialization field instructors require an MSW and a Professional Educator License (PEL).

When does field placement start?

Field placements start the second week of fall classes. Some organizations require students to begin earlier, but JACSW requests students only complete training prior to the first day of school.

School Specialization students will begin and end field placement according to their assigned school calendar, not the UIC academic calendar. This is typically mid-August through mid-June.

What should students expect from field placement over the semester break?

JACSW asks that you continue in field placement over the winter break but allow yourself a two-week break. We ask that students discuss the break with their Field Instructor at the beginning of the semester.

Can students begin their internship before September to end early?

No. Field placement has a curriculum that mirrors an academic semester. Also, “banking” hours is not permitted.

Do I register for Field Placement?

Yes. Registration for field placement is required for all terms.

What Field Placement agencies does JACSW have affiliations with?

JACSW has affiliation agreements with organizations throughout the Chicago and metropolitan areas.

For PM Students

What is the schedule for the PM students to complete field placement?

First year of school – no field placement.

Second year of school – field placement is completed in one of three options:

• September – May term: 15-16 hours a week while taking night classes
• January – August term: 15-16 hours a week while taking night classes in the spring
• May – August term: 40 hours a week for 12 weeks
• Third year of school – Minimum of 21 hours a week for a total of 630 hours for the school year

Are there any stipends available for field placements?

We encourage our community partners to provide stipends if they are able. Some partnering agencies have given stipends in recent years and liaisons can assist you in identifying these during your field placement search.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

What financial aid options are available for graduate students?

To learn more about financial aid options, please contact the Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Marybel Flores.

Are there scholarships or fellowships specific to social work students?

To learn more about scholarships or fellowships specific to social work students, please contact the Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Marybel Flores.

Miscellaneous Questions

Is there parking available on campus?

Parking is available for a fee and is sold on a first come, first serve basis. To apply for monthly parking, visit the Parking Office located in the Student Services Building, 1200 W. Harrison St., 2620 SSB, MC 049, Chicago, IL 60607. For more information, please visit the Parking Services website.

How do I waive CampusCare? Can CampusCare be waived by Medicare coverage?

Please contact the CampusCare office at cchealth@uic.edu, or visit the CampusCare website. The office will be able to provide you with more information about CampusCare waivers.

Does UIC offer a Laptop Loan program?

The following is a link for information on laptop requests. Students need to log-in with their netid and password to see the page and make a request. This laptop request program will be available for the fall semester. More information about technology and support for online learning is available on the UIC Technology Solutions website.

U-Pass Information

To Learn more about U-PASS please visit: U-PASS | ID Center | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)

Can I use the U-PASS for paratransit?

Students unable to use fixed route public transportation due to a disability may be eligible for the Paratransit Service, a shared ride program offered by the Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Please contact the UIC Disability Resource Center for more information.

Bookstore Information

If books are not available by August 20, please email your course instructor. Learn more at the UIC Bookstore website.

Jane Addams Student Government (JASG)

Students interested in JASG should contact: JACSWstudentgov@gmail.com. You will receive a message from JASG later.