Social Work is a profession devoted to helping people function the best they can in an environment. Social workers provide services directly to clients, or work for change to improve social conditions.

Social workers identify and build on individual, family and community strengths, while promoting human dignity and positive social change.

Career Opportunities

  • Community Social Work
  • Case Manager
  • Child Welfare Worker
  • School Social Worker
  • Clinical Social Worker 
  • Public Health Social Worker
  • Occupational Social Worker
  • Geriatric Social Worker
  • Behavior Therapist
  • Family Court Counselor
  • Foster Care Caseworker
  • Human Resources Consultant
  • Parenting Coach 
  • Probation/Parole Officer
  • Victim Services Worker
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Crisis Counselor 

Study Format

  • On Campus

Social Work Program and Degree Overview

Our bachelor of arts degree in Social Work provides a curriculum and learning environment that is accessible to a broad diversity of students, who will make important and unique contributions in their service to clients, communities and the profession-at-large.

Graduating social work students are prepared to enter the profession in various positions and employment settings. They are also prepared to continue their education at the graduate level with a master’s degree in social work.

The full-time social work faculty members have doctorates in social work, and many years of clinical practice experience in the field. This enables them to connect theory and practice in the classroom by utilizing real-life examples. Social work courses are small with much individual attention and one-on-one interaction with your professors.

The social work degree and field experience will prepare you to work immediately after graduation. Many graduates find employment with the agency where they complete their field experience. If you plan a career in social work, we highly recommend that you complete the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. Concordia students have attended graduate school at well-regarded institutions such as Washington University (St. Louis); University of Chicago; University of Illinois; Loyola University; University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan.

Employment for social workers is experiencing a growth trend, faster than the average for all occupations. Job prospects are favorable.

Social Work Course Information

The first course you will take, Introduction to Social Work, provides you with an overview of the social work profession and all the exciting career opportunities that are available to graduates with a social work degree.

Other courses in the curriculum address ethical issues and social work values, methods of social work practice for multiple levels of intervention, as well as knowledge and skills for work with diverse client populations. You will be able to choose from a number of social work electives to fulfill remaining coursework requirements.

All social work majors are required to participate in a 420 clock-hour social work field experience or internship. This culminating experience, together with the concurrent field experience seminar, prepares you for entry into one of the most exciting and rapidly growing professions available today.

Social Work Major Requirements (42 hours)

For course descriptions, please reference the undergraduate course catalog.

SOW-4000 Introduction to Social Work
SOW-4110 Social Work Values and Ethics
SOW-4200 Social Welfare Policies and Services
SOW-4210 Cultural Sensitivity in Social Work Practice
SOW-4320 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I
SOW-4325 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II
SOW-4420 Social Work Practice I: Micro-Methods of Intervention
SOW-4430 Social Work Practice II: Mezzo-Methods of Intervention
SOW-4440 Social Work Practice III: Macro-Methods of Intervention
SOW-4700 Social Work Research Methods
SOW-4990 Social Work Field Experience
SOW-4991 Social Work Field Seminar

Electives (6 hours)

SOW-4310 Loss and Mourning
SOW-4350 Social Work with Abusive and Addictive Systems
SOW-4410 Child, Family, and Community
SOW-4510 Social Work with Children and Adolescents
SOW-4515 Social Work with Adults and Families
SOW-4910 Special Topics in Social Work Practice

Total Hours - Social Work (48 hours)
Total Hours - Degree (120 hours)

Social Work Major Opportunities

By virtue of Concordia University Chicago’s location in a large metropolitan area, students have ready access to cultural and learning opportunities that are almost unlimited.

There are opportunities for field trips, service projects and volunteer experiences, which further enrich the life and learning of our students.

Agencies and organizations that have hosted students include Hephzibah Children’s Association, Thrive Family Services, Bethesda Home, Lutherbrook, Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, Proviso Family Services, Lutheran Child and Family Services and Oak Park Township Senior Services.

In addition, CUC’s Social Work Club gives students the opportunity to plan special events such as presentations and film screenings, as well as field trips and service learning projects. The Social Work Department also participates with other departments in sponsoring events that are involved with the Global Justice Series. Social work students are also eligible for initiation into Alpha Kappa Delta, the national honors society for social justice, research and service.

A bachelor of arts degree in Social Work provides a curriculum and learning environment that is accessible to a broad diversity of students, who will make important and unique contributions in their service to clients, communities and the profession-at-large. Graduating social work students are prepared to enter the profession in various positions and employment settings. They are also prepared to continue their education at the graduate level with a master's degree in social work.

Types of sites that Concordia students have completed their internship:

  • Youth services centers
  • Senior services centers
  • Circuit Court Social Services Department

Students can access applications and materials related to internships as well as job opportunities on the Resources tab of the Concordia Connect student portal.

If you are a business or organization with a job or internship opportunity for a Concordia Social Work student, please contact Dr. Carol Jabs.

Field experience lets you apply theories and concepts you have learned in class to real world settings. You will receive extensive exposure to different areas of social work and still be able to arrange the experience to satisfy your specific goals and needs. As the field experience continues, your faculty advisor will work closely with you to assist your progress. The bottom line for our students is that they get the experience they want and need.

Student Organizations

Alpha Kappa Delta
International Honors Society for Social Justice, Research and Service

Benefits of Becoming a Member

  • Lifetime membership
  • Every new initiate receives a certificate and membership card.
  • Members are invited to an induction ceremony/dinner.
  • Members receive a free one-year subscription to Sociological Inquiry, official journal of AKD.
  • Members have access to the AKD newsletter.
  • AKD sponsors student paper contests for members with cash prizes and travel money to participate in the American Sociological Association (ASA) annual meeting.
  • Members are eligible to wear honor cords for graduation ceremonies, AKD pins, and other memorabilia.
  • Membership indicates academic honors status on your resume.
  • AKD members who become Civil Service employees meet one of the requirements for entrance at the GS-7 level (an increase in pay-grade, providing they enter at the GS-5 level).
  • Concordia will pay the $40 membership fee

Member Eligibility 

Sociology, Criminology or Social Work majors who demonstrate a serious interest in social issues (all sociology majors/minors, criminal justice majors and social work majors fulfill this requirement)

Students must:

  • Be at least a junior
  • Have an overall GPA of 3.3, including all sociology/criminal justice/social courses
  • Have taken at least four courses in sociology, criminal justice and/or social work

Potential candidates should contact Dr. Carol Jabs as the AKD chapter representative by phone, ext. 3145 or email.

Download the application or see Social Work faculty for an application. 

Social Work Club

CUC's Social Work Club gives students the opportunity to plan special events such as guest speakers, film screenings, field trips and service learning projects.