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Enrollment Options

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice’s master’s degree in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration (SW) offers several different enrollment options, including Full- and Part-time options, Advanced Standing, Dual Degrees with other UChicago graduate schools or the Hyde Park Cluster of Theological Schools, and a program for UChicago College students to complete the SW degree in five years instead of six.

The Full-time Social Work and Social Welfare (SW) Program is a two-year program.

The Core Curriculum consists of seven required courses taken during the first two quarters of study. A concentration, selected during the winter quarter of the first year, is begun in the spring. Field placements are required and are carried out in association with the core curriculum during the first year, and in association with each student's concentration during the second year.

The full-time student ordinarily spends six quarters in residence. Master of arts candidates are required to complete eighteen courses: a Core Curriculum required of all students and a concentration curriculum in clinical practice or social administration. A requirement in the area of human diversity may be met by two of a number of approved first and second year courses that address issues related to culture, race, ethnicity, class, age, mental and physical ability, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Fieldwork is a non-credit degree requirement. The School does not grant academic credit for previous course work or life experience.

Curriculum Map for the Clinical Concentration

Curriculum Map for the Social Administration Concentration

To apply, please visit Admissions.

Extended Evening Program

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice offers a three-year Extended Evening Program (EEP) in the Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration (SW) program to meet the educational needs of working adults. The program enables students to complete the Master of Arts degree requirements by attending classes part-time in the evenings during three years of continuous enrollment. EEP requires the same number of hours and credits in class and fieldwork as the Full-time Program.

Required courses are scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 8:20 p.m., two evenings a week. It is especially important for EEP students to take the required concentration courses in the specified sequence because most of these courses are offered in the evening on an every-other-year basis. Because of scheduling constraints, students in the EEP do not have as full a selection of courses as students in the day program. To take advantage of alternative course offerings, EEP students are encouraged to arrange their work schedules so that they can take some of the daytime courses at the Crown Family School and other units of the University.

EEP students complete two field placements. First-year students are required to complete 400 hours. Students are in the field for one full day or two half days per week (Monday-Friday) consecutively for 12 months. All students must successfully complete the core field placement requirement before registering for Winter quarter of their second year. 

The second field placement is compatible with the student’s advanced academic concentration. Students in the clinical practicum complete 720 hours, which requires a commitment of 9 hours per week in field. Students in the social administration concentration complete a minimum of 576 hours in field, which is a commitment of 8 hours per week. Social Administration students are in placement one full or two half days each week. Advanced placement typically begins in October of the second year, continues through the summer, and concludes at the end of the third academic year.

Students are encouraged to talk with their employers about the necessity of having some flexibility in their weekday schedules while in school. Students working in qualified agencies may be able to arrange one of the two field placements at their places of employment.  The School will consider placing students in their agency of employment for first year Core or second year Concentration field placements provided certain safeguards can be established to insure that the educational quality of the experience is not compromised.

Increasing numbers of field placements require background checks, proof of immunizations, and/or drug testing prior to beginning work at the agency. The Field Education Office informs students of these requirements before beginning the practicum.

Financial aid and student loans are available for part-time study based on a combination of merit and need.

Curriculum Map EEP Clinical Practice

Curriculum Map EEP Social Administration

To apply, please visit Admissions.

Part-time Day Program

Students in the Social Work and Social Welfare (SW) Part-time Day Program take two courses each quarter over three years. Core courses are completed during the first year, except for the core practice course which is postponed until the second year along with the first field placement. Students in the Part-time Day Program complete two field placements during their second and third year on the same academic schedule as the Full-time students.

Curriculum Map Part-time Day Clinical Practice

Curriculum Map Part-time Day Social Administration

To apply, please visit Admissions.

The Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration (SW) Advanced Standing Master's program is designed for exceptional students who have graduated from an accredited baccalaureate social work (BSW) program within the past five years.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and Crown Family School's criteria for admission to the master's program must include an earned baccalaureate degree from a college or university accredited by a recognized regional accrediting association. Baccalaureate social work graduates entering master's social work programs are not to repeat what has been achieved in their baccalaureate social work programs. 

Enrollment in this program begins in the Summer quarter. Students register for four quarters of full-time study in their chosen concentration, which includes 12 advanced courses and 640 hours of field placement for Clinical Practice students and 496 for Social Administration students. Field placements can be completed during the academic year with a potential summer start. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in the Crown Family School’s advanced curricular options.

View the Clinical Concentration Curriculum Map

View the Social Administration Curriculum Map

To apply, please visit Admissions.

The Crown Family School offers several opportunities for students to combine professional degrees to create a unique multi-faceted program. These joint or dual degree programs link professional study in two complementary realms of expertise to provide the student with multiple tools and approaches to address the issues of social change.

There are many practical advantages to the combined degree programs, including an interdisciplinary exploration of your field of interest and a wider range of career choices upon graduation. Generally, the combined degree programs allow students to fulfill the requirements of both degree programs in one year less than if pursued separately. Joint degree programs are available between the Crown Family School and the Booth School of Business, the Harris School of Public Policy, and the Divinity School. Dual degrees are available between the Crown Family School and the Hyde Park Cluster of Theological Schools.

Students must pursue formal admission to both degree programs through the admissions department of each respective school. If a student is currently enrolled in the first year of a professional school, he or she may apply for admission to another program to begin the combined degree. Students may apply for admission to both programs at the same time and defer the Crown Family School program for one year.

To apply to the Crown Family School, please visit Admissions.

Joint AM/MBA

Students interested in pursuing both the AM degree in the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the MBA in the Booth School of Business may enroll in the joint AM/MBA program. This option enables students to complete both degrees in three years.

Students in this program must satisfy all of the requirements in both schools. For the MBA component of the program, students must complete 14 courses while registered in the Booth School of Business and must satisfy all of the specific requirements of the MBA curriculum.

Course requirements for the AM component of the program include core and concentration courses for a total of 13 Crown Family School courses. Applicants seeking admission to joint AM/MBA program must meet the entrance requirements and satisfy the basic undergraduate degree requirements of both the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the Booth School of Business.

Information for current students who wish to consider joining this program may be obtained by contacting the Dean of Students Office of both the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the Booth School of Business. Applicants should contact the Directors of Admission.

Curriculum Map for AM/MBA - Clinical Practice

Curriculum Map for AM/MBA - Social Administration

Joint AM/MPP

Students interested in pursuing both the master's degree in the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the master's in public policy in the Harris School of Public Policy may enroll in the joint AM/MPP program. This option enables students to complete both degrees in three years.

Students in this program must satisfy all of the requirements in both schools. Joint degree students will be required to take 13 courses with the Crown Family School and 14 courses with the Harris School, including the Crown Family School's six core courses and the Harris School's seven core courses.

Applicants to the joint AM/MPP program must meet the entrance requirements and follow the application procedures for both schools. Information for current students who wish to consider joining this program may be obtained by contacting the Dean of Students Office of both the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the Harris School of Public Policy. Applicants should contact the Directors of Admission.

Curriculum Map for AM/MPP - Clinical Practice

Curriculum Map for AM/MPP - Social Administration

Joint AM/MDiv

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the Divinity School of the University of Chicago have designed a program of study that permits students to earn both the AM and the MDiv degrees in one academic year less than if they completed both degree programs consecutively. Course requirements for the AM component of the program include core and concentration courses for a total of 13 Crown Family School courses.

Applicants to the joint AM/MDiv program must meet the entrance requirements and follow the application procedures of both the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the Divinity School.

Information for current students who wish to consider joining this program may be obtained by contacting the Dean of Students Office of both the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the Divinity School. Applicants should contact the Directors of Admission.

Curriculum Map for AM/MDiv - Clinical Practice

Curriculum Map for AM/MDiv - Social Administration

Dual AM/MDiv

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has designed programs of study with several of the schools comprising The Hyde Park Cluster of Theological Schools. These programs enable students who are interested in developing dual competence in social work and ministry to earn both the AM and MDiv degrees in one academic year less than if they completed both degree programs consecutively. Course requirements for the AM component of the program include core and concentration courses for a total of 13 Crown Family School courses.

Applicants to these dual degree programs must meet the entrance requirements and follow the application procedures of both the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the specific theological school to which they wish to apply. The theological schools with which the Crown Family School has dual AM/MDiv degree programs are the following:

Chicago Theological Seminary 
1407 E. 60th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
1100 East 55th Street 
Chicago, Illinois 60615

McCormick Theological Seminary 
5460 S. University 
Chicago, Illinois 60637

Meadville/Lombard Theological Seminary 
5701 South Woodlawn Avenue 
Chicago, Illinois 60637

Catholic Theological Union
5401 South Cornell 
Chicago, Illinois 60615 

Complete your UChicago undergraduate and graduate degrees in 5 years instead of 6.

Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice offers students an opportunity to begin their professional training in social work, policy, and social administration while still in the College. At the Crown Family School, we challenge our students to dig deeper to understand the root causes and human costs of social problems. Our community of faculty, alumni, and students is proactive. We reach beyond easy explanations and standard responses.

Qualified students who wish to pursue a joint MA degree in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration at the Crown Family School should consult with their College adviser and with the admissions office at the Crown Family School as soon as their first year, but no later than early in their third year.

Students will need a GPA of 3.25 or higher and to have completed their general education requirements by the end of their third year. Students are encouraged to complete their AB major requirements before beginning graduate study, but this is not a requirement. The Joint AB/AM program in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration provides students the flexibility to complete some requirements in their major, including an AB thesis, in the combined AB/AM year. Please contact the Admissions Office of the Crown Family School for consultation.  

AB/AM students take nine to ten courses in their fourth College year. Students also complete a field placement (an evaluated internship) that spans Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters. Students complete their second field placement during the second year of joint residence.

AB/AM students enter joint residence status during the three quarters prior to the anticipated date of College graduation, during which time they will be charged tuition at the Crown Family School’s graduate rates. View more details on the AB/AM Academic Pathways for Year 1 at the Crown Family School.

For more information, contact the admissions office for the Crown Family School, at 773.702.1250 or admissions@crownschool.uchicago.edu.

College Years 1-2: Visit the Crown Family School and consider taking a course at the Crown Family School during your second year to see if the program is a good fit. Meet with your College adviser and with Crown Family School Admissions to discuss your plans.

College Year 3: Apply to the Crown Family School. Meet with the College AB/AM adviser in autumn quarter. 

College Year 4/Crown Family School Year 1: Begin joint residence status: 1st year of AM program. AB/AM students are charged tuition at Crown Family School's graduate rates. Graduate with AB in major.

Crown Family School Year 2: Residence in the Crown Family School status. Students complete Crown courses and second field placement (approximately 16-24 hours per week). Graduate with AM in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration.

To apply, please visit the Admissions pages.