Apply - Graduate Programs

We invite you to apply now to the Graduate School of Social Work. Please review the general information and requirements detailed below prior to submitting your application. Please review the deadlines to ensure your application is submitted in a timely manner.

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• Application Instructions: MSW and Dual Degree Students

  We invite you to apply to any of our terms (fall, spring, or summer).* Priority application deadlines are listed at the bottom of this page. Once we receive all required application materials, please allow 4-6 weeks for an admission decision. Early applications are strongly encouraged.

  *Students applying to the advanced-standing option should apply to the Summer II term. Please contact our Enrollment Advisor, Danielle Pernini, at dpernini@luc.edu or 312.915.7707 for more information.

  You must submit:

  • A Completed Application Form
    We prefer that you submit your application form online. You may also download an application form and mail the completed form to:
    
    Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
    820 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
    Chicago, IL 60611
  • Official Transcripts
    Applicants must submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate work. To be eligible for admission, your transcript must show an earned bachelor's degree or a bachelor's degree in progress. Certified copies of transcripts are acceptable; faxed copies of transcripts are not considered official. If you attended Loyola University Chicago previously, you do not need to request these transcripts; we have them on record.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
    If you supply your recommender's email address as part of your completed online application form, then your recommendation letters may be submitted online. Or, your recommenders may mail them to:
    
    Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
    820 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
    Chicago, IL 60611
    
    We ask that you submit only three letters of recommendation.  Recommendation letters can come from academic, professional or volunteer sources.  One of each is recommended.  If you graduated less than 5 years ago, at least one reference should be from an academic source.
  • A Statement of Purpose
    Please answer the following questions in a double-spaced, typed essay:
    1. In 250 words or less, describe, in any form of writing, why you want to study at LUC-SSW.
    2. In 250 words or less, address any previous work, educational, and/or volunteer experiences and assess your strengths and weaknesses in those areas.
    3. Being a social worker requires advocacy skills, critical thinking skills, and ability to communicate effectively through oral and written word. Select one of the topics below and write an essay, with supporting documentation, for a position on that topic. These questions could find support in either direction, and assessment will not be based on the position taken, but on your advocacy, writing, and critical thinking skills as demonstrated by your response. Please respond in less than 500 words and title this section with the question you are answering:
       1. Should the medical profession force feed people with anorexia as part of treatment?
       2. Should news broadcasters be required to be balanced and impartial in their reporting of events?
       3. Is zero tolerance policing (strict and set responses to all crimes by police) a good way of reducing crime?
       4. Should mental health educators and professionals make their political ideologies apparent?
  • Application Fee
    A $50 application fee is required for applications submitted by mail. If you complete the online application form, the application fee is waived.
• Application Instructions: Doctoral Program

  We accept applications to the Ph.D. program for a fall term start only. Applications are due January 1st.

  You must submit:

  • A Completed Application Form
    We prefer that you submit your application form online. You may also download an application form and mail the completed form to:
    
    Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
    820 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
    Chicago, IL 60611
  • Official Transcripts
    Applicants must submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate work. To be eligible for admission, your transcript must show an earned MSW degree or a MSW degree in progress, as well as a minimum GPA of 3.o on a 4.0 scale. Certified copies of transcripts are acceptable; faxed copies of transcripts are not considered official. If you attended Loyola University Chicago previously, you do not need to request these transcripts; we have them on record.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
    If you supply your recommender's email address as part of your completed online application form, then your recommendation letters may be submitted online. Or, your recommenders may mail them to:
    
    Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
    820 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
    Chicago, IL 60611
    
    We ask that you submit only three letters of recommendation.  Recommendation letters can come from academic, professional or volunteer sources.  One of each is recommended.  If you graduated less than 5 years ago, at least one reference should be from an academic source.
  • A Statement of Purpose
    Please answer the following questions in a double-spaced, typed essay:
    1. What are your areas of professional specialization or interest?
    2. What are your research interests and activities?
    3. How have these interests evolved from your prior educational and/or professional activities?
    4. Within your area(s) of interest, what do you consider to be the major psychosocial, service delivery, social policy, and/or research issues for the social work profession to address?
    5. What do you hope to gain through your doctoral study and your likely professional activities after you have completed the PhD program?
    6. At this stage in your professional career, what do you regard as your greatest strengths, abilities, and accomplishments?
    7. What are the areas in which you have the most to learn?
    8. How do you think enrollment in the PhD program will build on your strengths and/or help you grow in new areas?
  • Test Scores
    An official GRE or Official Miller Analogy Test scores report must be submitted directly from the testing service. To learn more about the GRE, visit http://www.ets.org/gre/; to learn more about the MAT, visit www.milleranalogies.com.
  • Application Fee
    A $50 application fee is required for applications submitted by mail. If you complete the online application form, the application fee is waived.
    
  • CV/Resume
• Application Instructions: Post-MSW Type 73 Certificate

  Applications and all required test scores are due March 1st.

  You must submit:

  • A Completed Application Form
    We prefer that you submit your application form online. You may also download an application form and mail the completed form to:
    
    Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
    820 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
    Chicago, IL 60611
  • Official Transcripts
    Applicants must submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate work. To be eligible for admission, your transcript must show an earned MSW degree or an MSW degree in progress. Certified copies of transcripts are acceptable; faxed copies of transcripts are not considered official. If you attended Loyola University Chicago previously, you do not need to request transcripts; we have them on record.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
    If you supply your recommender's email address as part of your completed online application form, then your recommendation letters may be submitted online. Or, your recommenders may mail them to:
    
    Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
    820 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
    Chicago, IL 60611
    
    We ask that you submit only three letters of recommendation.  Recommendation letters can come from academic, professional or volunteer sources.  One of each is recommended.  If you graduated less than 5 years ago, at least one reference should be from an academic source.
  • Official Score Reports for Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency and Content Area Exam
    Test centers and dates can be found online at: www.icts.nesinc.com.
  • A Statement of Purpose
    Please answer the following questions in a double-spaced, typed essay:
    1. Why are you interested in obtaining the Post-MSW Type 73 Certificate?
    2. What are your plans for securing an externship for the academic year at an IL public school?
    3. How will you balance a 2 or 3 day a week externship with your other life commitments?
• Application Instructions: Nonprofit Management & Philanthropy Sector Certificate

  We accept applications to this certificate for the fall term only. Applications are due July 1.

  You must submit:

  • A Completed Application Form
    We prefer that you submit your application form online. You may also download an application form and mail the completed form to:
    
    Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
    820 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
    Chicago, IL 60611
  • Official Transcripts
    Applicants must submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate work. To be eligible for admission, your transcript must show an earned bachelor's degree or a bachelor's degree in progress. Certified copies of transcripts are acceptable; faxed copies of transcripts are not considered official. If you attended Loyola University Chicago previously, you do not need to request these transcripts; we have them on record.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
    If you supply your recommender's email address as part of your completed online application form, then your recommendation letters may be submitted online. Or, your recommenders may mail them to:
    
    Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
    820 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
    Chicago, IL 60611
    
    We ask that you submit only three letters of recommendation.  Recommendation letters can come from academic, professional or volunteer sources.  One of each is recommended.  If you graduated less than 5 years ago, at least one reference should be from an academic source.
  • A Statement of Purpose
    Please submit a typed, double-spaced essay describing your academic interests and professional goals.
  • Application Fee
    A $50 application fee is required for applications submitted by mail. If you complete the online application form, the application fee is waived.
• Application Instructions: International Students

  Applicants may be required to submit additional materials:

  • Language Test Requirement
    

    An official TOEFL or IELTS score report is required for international applicants whose native language is not English. For the TOEFL, a score of at least 79 on the Internet-based or 550 on the written-based test is required. For the IELTS, a minimum score of 6.5 is required. Copies and faxes are not accepted as official documents; we must receive test scores directly from the testing service.

    This requirement is waived for those who have completed a four-year U.S. bachelor's degree program, an accredited master's program in the U.S., or those who are citizens of or have completed a bachelor's degree at a recognized institution at which the language of instruction is English in these countries: Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.

  • Transcript Evaluation
    

    Applicants who completed post-secondary education abroad are required to submit non-U.S. transcripts to Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE) for evaluation of credentials. Your evaluation must show that your non-U.S. education is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree to be considered for admission.

    Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
    www.ece.org
    414.289.3400

    Please request a General Evaluation with Grade Average for your undergraduate studies. If you have completed graduate coursework abroad and would like to be considered for transfer credit, please request a course-by-course evaluation report. An official report should be sent to:

    Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
    Loyola University Chicago
    820 N. Michigan Ave., suite 800
    Chicago, IL 60611

  For more information, please visit the International Admission Web site.
• Application Instructions: Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling

  We accept applications to this certificate for spring term start only. Applications are due December 1.  Once we receive all required application materials, please allow two weeks for an admission decision. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
  
  Application materials should be returned to gradapp@luc.edu or their office address;

  • Graduate Enrollment Office
    820 N. Michigan Aveune
    8th Floor
    Chicago, IL 60611

  • Current or previous Loyola Graduate Students
    • Reapplication form
    • A statement of purpose

  • External Students (have never attended a Loyola Graduate Program)
    • A Completed Application Form
      We prefer that you submit your application form online. You may also download an application form and mail the completed form to:
      
      Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
      820 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
      Chicago, IL 60611
    • Official Transcripts
      Applicants must submit official transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate work. To be eligible for admission, students must have a master’s degree or be completing a master's degree in Social Work, Education, Counseling, Nursing, or a similar field.  Certified copies of transcripts are acceptable; faxed copies of transcripts are not considered official. If you attended Loyola University Chicago previously, you do not need to request these transcripts; we have them on record.
    • Three Letters of Recommendation
      If you supply your recommender's email address as part of your completed online application form, then your recommendation letters may be submitted online. Or, your recommenders may mail them to:
      
      Graduate & Professional Enrollment Management
      820 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800
      Chicago, IL 60611
      
      We ask that you submit only three letters of recommendation.  Recommendation letters can come from academic, professional or volunteer sources.  One of each is recommended.  If you graduated less than 5 years ago, at least one reference should be from an academic source.
    • A Statement of Purpose
      Please submit a typed, double-spaced essay describing your academic interests and professional goals.
    • Application Fee
      A $50 application fee is required for applications submitted by mail. If you complete the online application form, the application fee is waived.

   MSW Deadlines

The below deadlines apply to the MSW program ONLY. Different deadlines apply to certificate programs and the PhD program. Please review the Application Instructions for each program to confirm the appropriate application deadline.