Founded in 1914, Loyola University Chicago's School of Social Work educates students to become leaders in the profession. Within a learning community dedicated to excellence in scholarship and service, students select a curriculum focused on clinical, organizational, community, and social justice issues.

Respect for Diversity

Guided by the NASW Code of Ethics and the mission of the University, the School of Social Work is committed to the recognition and respect for differences in racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds and in class, gender, age, physical and mental ability, religion, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. We value ethnically sensitive and culturally responsive social work education and practice. We will uphold the ethical standards set forth by the profession and the Jesuit ideals of the university. 

Students, faculty, and staff have a shared responsibility for championing social and economic justice for all members of society. This includes a commitment to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice in order to eliminate personal and institutional discrimination and ensure access to needed resources and opportunities for all persons, especially those who are disadvantaged or disenfranchised. Power, oppression, and privilege are examined, and students, faculty, and staff are expected to be respectful of the opinions of others while at the same time striving to attain the ideals of social justice.

The School of Social Work expects that students, faculty, and staff will demonstrate comparable respect for the diversity of their classmates, faculty, and clients, and commit to addressing issues of marginalization, oppression, prejudice, and discrimination.

Location

Loyola's School of Social Work (SSW) is located at our Water Tower Campus, at 1 E. Pearson on the 5th floor of Maguire Hall, in the heart of Chicago, one of America's most dynamic centers of education and commerce.

BSW Program

Loyola University Chicago's School of Social Work’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program introduces students to the dynamic, changing, and challenging profession of social work. Loyola University Chicago offers a combined BSW/MSW degree that allows full-time students to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in social work in just five years. Students earn a BSW in Social Work degree, blending a top-quality social work curriculum with a strong liberal arts base. Because many first-year MSW requirements are completed during students’ senior year, the MSW degree portion of the program can be completed in less time than normally required to earn a master's degree in social work.

MSW Program Specializations

For the Master's in Social Work program, two specializations are available: Micro Practice and Leadership, Mezzo, and Macro Practice. U.S. News & World Report ranks Loyola #28 on the list of Best Graduate Schools for Social Work.

Internships/Field Experiences

Through relationships with over 800 agencies, non-profit organizations, hospitals, and schools in the Chicagoland area, Loyola provides outstanding access to supervised internships and field experiences.

Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. in Social Work trains scholars adept in clinical research, scholarship, and teaching. The School and the University embrace ideals of social justice and service to others, commitments that inform the program's examination of clinical theories, practices, and systems of service delivery.

Continuing Education

The School of Social Work offers a variety of continuing education programs.

PRAXIS

Established in 2000, Praxis is one of the only student published journals of social work in the nation. The journal offers the scholarly work of students and alumni, providing a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints and timely research.