Why Iowa?

With mental health services in greater demand than ever, social work training has never been more valuable. As the home of the highest-ranked social work programs in the state, the University of Iowa has resources and expertise to prepare you for vital and rewarding careers helping people and communities.

Make an impact

Transform lives

Collaborative and committed

The research university difference

Benefit from the expertise, learning, and training opportunities you can only find at a major research university and health sciences campus like the University of Iowa

# 1

Highest-ranked MSW program in Iowa

US News and World Report

Social work: a career and a calling

Social workers are the nation’s largest group of mental health services providers. There are more clinically trained social workers—over 250,000—than psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses combined. And with an expected growth in jobs of 12 percent by 2030, social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States.

“The experiences and opportunities opened by an MSW are endless. I know so many classmates and friends with MSWs who have gone on to do some incredible work, in a variety of fields. Policy builders, politicians, community collaborators, therapists, directors of programs, and business owners.”

- Ondrea Patzlaff, MSW ‘11

Portrait of Ondrea Patzlaff

A format that fits your life

You have a lot going on–Iowa’s online MSW makes it possible to advance professionally without putting the rest of your life on pause.

# 19

Online MSW program in the nation

Source: College Consensus

News and Announcements

Introducing the new program specialist in the School of Social Work

Thursday, February 13, 2025
MSW graduate Melanie Reed returns to the University of Iowa as the new program specialist for the School of Social Work in Des Moines, bringing her extensive experience in student support, medical social work, and mental health advocacy to support the next generation of social workers.

Upcoming Events

BA in Social Work Info Session

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Virtual
Please join us via Zoom for an info session to learn more about earning your BA in Social Work degree on our main University of Iowa campus in Iowa City. Click here to join: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/98742008183
Social Impact Career Trek promotional image

Social Impact Career Trek

Thursday, March 6 7:00am to Friday, March 7, 2025 6:00pm
Join the Pomerantz Career Center on an overnight visit to the Kansas City area to meet with employers in the social impact and non-profit industry!
Night of 1000 Dinners promotional image

Night of 1000 Dinners

Thursday, March 6, 2025 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Unitarian Universalist Society
Night of 1000 Dinners is a community celebration of International Women's Day focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Iowa City MSW Info Session

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Virtual
Please join us via Zoom for an info session to learn more about earning your MSW degree on our main University of Iowa campus in Iowa City.

Des Moines MSW Info Session

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Virtual
Please join us via Zoom for an info session to learn more about the MSW program in Des Moines at the John and Mary Pappajohn Education Center. Click here to join: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/94610615429
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