Why Choose Jane Addams?

ETMSW building in late spring

Jane Addams provides a supportive environment of academic excellence that will expand your world view and prepare you to be an agent of social change.

  • Ranking US News consistently ranks Jane Addams in the top 10% of graduate social work programs, nationally.

  • Faculty Our faculty include researchers and scholars who are internationally recognized as leaders in their fields.

  • Diversity Our faculty and student body reflects the rich racial and ethnic diversity of the Chicago metropolitan area.

  • Social Justice The pursuit of social, racial and economic justice informs everything we do, from the curriculum, to research, to community engagement.

In the Spirit of Jane Addams Heading link

Jane Addams

Often described as the “mother of social work” in America, Jane Addams worked tirelessly on behalf of poor and immigrant families in Chicago.

The Jane Addams College of Social Work carries forward that mission and that spirit of service, adapting them to the realities of today’s urban communities.

MSW students in class

Programs that Prepare You for Real-World Social Work

Our professors and instructors have worked extensively in the field, and this real-world experience permeates our curriculum. Our program enhancements provide focused skillsets for working with particular marginalized populations. Graduates from Jane Addams College of Social Work are ready to make a positive impact in the world.

MSW student working in field

Serving Underserved Communities

Through its programs and MSW field placements, Jane Addams College actively serves underprivileged individuals and communities, both in the city of Chicago and throughout the metropolitan area.

looking at research

Research with Real Impact

Our faculty conduct research that is every bit as mission-driven as the community services we provide. Research at Jane Addams College produces results that advance social justice for marginalized and disadvantaged populations in our society.

UIC campus with Chicago skyline

Urban Chicago Location

We are located in the heart of Chicago, one of the world’s great cities. Just minutes from downtown and in the same neighborhood as Jane Addams’ Hull-House, UIC offers students access to a variety of urban experiences and a diversity of communities.

In the Words of Our Students Heading link

The Jane Addams experience, in the words of some of our graduates:

From the first day of the program, I was amazed by just how much we were encouraged to think critically about complex issues facing communities, the nation, and the world. When I look back on my two years at Jane Addams, the first thing that comes to my mind is not the diploma. I think about, rather, the thought provoking discussions in the classroom, the passion regarding topics that may not always be the simplest ones to talk about, the unity to stand up against injustice wherever it exists, no matter how small or large it may seem.

Diala Abughosh  |  MSW '19

I initially chose Jane Addams College because I had discovered who Jane Addams was, and she instantly became a hero to me. However, as I completed my MSW, I learned so much more about the college and its values. The professors are real social workers who inspire me. They recognized my unique traits and interests, and helped me harness my own passion and guide it into something productive and beneficial to the field. The Jane Addams College of Social Work helps populations who are in need, and that is something that I will always stand behind.

Tobi Ballantine  |  MSW ’17

I’m incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to do my studies here. JACSW was my first and only choice to pursue doctoral studies, and I can truly say that the college really walks the talk of its mission. I’m proud to have been intellectually nurtured in this environment and empowered to take action on issues I truly care about.

Janaé Bonsu  |  PhD ’21

Jane Addams truly changed my social work career. I feel so connected to urban city populations after interning on an inpatient psychiatric unit at University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System. If you are a person who wants to develop skills among communities with a variety of issues, and study under those who are truly committed to social work, Jane Addams can open doors for you.

Emily Keesling  |  MSW ’17

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