School of Social Work | The University of Iowa

Why Social Work?

There has never been a better time, or a greater need, for professionals educated in Social Work.

Find out Why

Why Iowa?

The University of Iowa offers the highest-ranked Social Work programs in Iowa.

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# 1

The highest-ranked MSW program in Iowa

according to U.S.News & World Report

# 9

National ranking among online MSW programs

College Consensus ranked us #9 on their list of the 25 Best Online Master's In Social Work (MSW) Programs in 2021!

95 %

pass the licensure test on first try

On average, 95% of our MSW students who take the Social Work Licensure test pass on their first try! (Compared to a national average of 74%)

5

Learning Centers across Iowa

Scroll down to learn more about our programs in Iowa City, Des Moines, Sioux City, the Quad Cities, and Online

News and Announcements

Bern-Klug Inducted to AASWSW Fellows

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

University of Iowa School of Social Work Professor and Director Mercedes Bern-Klug, PhD, has been announced as a 2022 Fellow in the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (AASWSW).

What is the biggest mistake that people make when donating to charity?

Monday, November 15, 2021

What is the biggest mistake that people make when donating to charity? Clinical Assistant Professor and Field Education Director Sarah Witry, MSW, LMSW, weighs in as an expert on the topic of values-driven philanthropy.

Self-Care A-Z: Sound Self-Care Advice—Listen

Monday, November 15, 2021

Do you appreciate "boops, pops, and swooshes"? Assoc. Prof. Stephen Cummings talks about the importance of sound and listening in self-care, in the latest issue of The New Social Worker Magazine.

Upcoming Events

Iowa City MSW Degree - Info Session

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 4:00pm to 5:00pm

Virtual

Please join us via Zoom for an info session to learn more about earning your MSW degree on the main University of Iowa campus in Iowa City Click here to join:https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/109960976 Sessions take place on the following dates, from 4-5 pm (Central). 2021 March 9 April 13 May 4 June 1 June 22 July 13 August 10 September 14 October 5 October 19 November 9 December 7 We encourage advance registration using the form at https://socialwork.uiowa.edu/graduate/msw-social-work...

Let's Talk, Hawk! (Open to all UI students)

Friday, December 10, 2021 11:30am to 12:30pm

Virtual

Let's Talk, Hawks! is a drop-in consultation service offered by the University Counseling Service (UCS) typically at various campus locations, but is now virtually during the Fall 2021 semester. It provides you with an opportunity to have an informal, confidential, anonymous conversation with a UCS therapist. You can share your mental health concerns, work on problem solving together, learn about useful campus and community resources, or ask questions about counseling and UCS. Let’s Talk...

Quad Cities MSW Information Session

Tuesday, December 21, 2021 4:00pm to 5:00pm

Virtual

Please join us via Zoom for an info session to learn more about earning your MSW degree from the University of Iowa at our learning center in the Quad Cities. Click here to join:https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/94412157777 Contact our Admissions Office directly with any questions or requests:ssw-admissions@uiowa.edu (319) 335-1250

Quad Cities MSW Information Session

Tuesday, January 11, 2022 4:00pm to 5:00pm

Virtual

Wild Bill’s Library Workshop

Thursday, January 20, 2022 3:30pm to 4:30pm

North Hall

University of Iowa students: Learn “How to Library” from a friendly UI librarian! Dan Gall, the UI Librarian for Social Work & Distance Education, takes time to help you understand the myriad resources (and people) available at the UI to help you find the information you need. From finding the right books and how to check them out, to research concepts, ethics, and citations, Dan is your personal guide to the UI Libraries system. Open to all students, regardless of major. Sessions meet in...

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Our Learning Centers

The University of Iowa's Old Capitol building viewed through bright yellow flowers.

Iowa City

Iowa's Center for Intellectuals, Artists, Scientists Philosophers and Activists is the the central campus for The University of Iowa, in Iowa City, It has made many top ten lists of great places to, live, work, do business and retire.

Des Moines

Des Moines is geographically the heart of Iowa and of our nation--the state capital, offering an urban environment focused on the well being of the entire state in a culture that exemplifies typical Midwest friendliness.

Quad Cities

The Quad Cities is actually a group of five cities bridging the Mississippi River on the Iowa-Illinois boundary. The largest of these cities, Davenport and Bettendorf (in Iowa) and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline (in Illinois), are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which has a population of almost 400,000.

Sioux City

Sioux City and the surrounding areas of northwestern Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota are sometimes referred to as Siouxland. Our part time, 3 year MSW program, based at Briar Cliff University is preparing for its fifth cohort of graduate students.

A woman's hands typing on a laptop keyboard

Online

This cohort-model program strives to build strong connection and engagement by keeping class sizes small, creating learning communities of students living in similar geographic regions and matching these communities with a local mentor. Students meet with their learning communities twice each year and with all students in the summer at the Summer Institute, held at the University of Iowa main campus in Iowa City, Iowa.