The Department of Social Work offers a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree that is nationally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Students are trained as generalists to provide direct service to clients in a wide variety of human service agencies.

The UIS Social Work Program is nationally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

  • CSWE accredited programs offer curricula and training that is recognized and trusted by social service agencies
  • With a BSW degree from a CSWE accredited program, a student may be eligible for Advanced Standing status when applying for MSW programs. Advanced Standing reduces the amount of coursework necessary for completing an MSW.

The Fieldwork practicum offers BSW students a unique and valuable experience working with people in a community social service agency under the mentorship of a professional social worker. Fieldwork placements can help students make:

  • BSW graduate from UIS report high rates of social work employment.
  • BSW alumni gave UIS high ratings in their preparedness for graduate school (MSW).

Our Mission

The UIS Social Work program prepares competent graduates for professional social work practice and provides the foundation for graduate social work education, lifelong learning, leadership, and public service.  A person-in-environment framework is used to teach and instill social work knowledge, skills, values, and cognitive/affective processes in order to promote social and economic justice, diversity, and improve the quality of life for all persons across social systems.

Our Goals

  1. Prepare students for competent social work practice, lifelong learning, and civic engagement.
  2. Teach students a person-in-environment framework for practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities across micro, mezzo, and macro system levels.
  3. Educate students on the fundamental role of social work values and ethics in professional practice and personal development.
  4. Promote student commitment to diversity, human rights, and social and economic justice in order to improve the quality of life for all.

What You Can Do With This Degree

Social Workers are trained to work with a variety of people, problems, and settings. BSW graduates have gone on to work in the following fields:

  • Aging Services
  • Child Welfare Services
  • Children & Youth Services
  • Community Action Agencies
  • Criminal Justice Agencies
  • Developmental Disabilities Services
  • Domestic Violence Programs
  • Family Service Agencies
  • Homeless Shelters
  • Income Maintenance Programs
  • Mental Health Services
  • Intellectual Disabilities
  • Nursing Homes
  • Public Health Agencies
  • Public Housing Agencies
  • Residential Treatment Programs
  • Schools
  • Substance Abuse Programs
  • Veterans Services
  • Vocational Rehabilitation