Loyola University Chicago

School of Social Work

Post-MSW PEL with School Social Worker Endorsement

This program is for graduates with a MSW degree from an accredited School of Social Work that are seeking to obtain a Professional Educator License (PEL) with a School Social Work endorsement.  This is the license that is required by the Illinois State Board of Education to practice School Social Work within the public school setting in Illinois. 

Pre-requisites
  • Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited program
  • Please review the substitution rules as outlined in the section entitled Applying for Full Admission to an Illinois Educator Preparation Program from ISBE at:

Application materials are due by April 1st.

Application Requirements

Applications are due April 1st.

We accept applications to the post-MSW Professional Educator License program for the Summer start only. You must submit:

  • A Completed Application Form
    You may submit your application form online, follow the application link: gpem.luc.edu/apply/
    Note: Students who have already applied to a graduate or professional program at Loyola University Chicago should fill out the reapplication form.
  • 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. 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.
  • Two 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 1200
    Chicago, IL 60611
    We ask that you submit no more than 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
    In a double-spaced, typed essay, please explain:
    • Why are you interested in obtaining the Post-MSW Professional Educator License with the School Social Worker Endorsement?
    • What are your plans for securing an externship for the academic year at an Illinois public school?
    • How will you balance a 2 or 3 day a week externship with your other life commitments?
Program Requirements
  • Successful completion of 13 credits (3 required classes, one externship, and an integrated seminar).
  • Pass the ISBE Content Area Test for school social work (ISBE #238) before the completion of the program. Submit verification to Amy Greenberg at agreenberg2@luc.edu. All content-area tests are administered only in computer-based testing (CBT) format.
  • Required Coursework:
    • Enroll in SOWK 609 A & B Social Work Practice in Schools.
    • Enroll in CIEP 401 Exceptional Child (recommended Summer prior to externship or Spring)
    • Classes may be completed online or in the classroom
    • Student must receive a grade of "C" or better in each class
  • Externship Requirements:
    • SWFI 640 (0 credit)
    • SWFI 640S (2 credits)
    • SWFI 641 (0 credit)
    • SWFI 641S (1 credits)
    • Externships must be completed in a traditional Illinois public school (non-charter, non-therapeutic, non-parochial and/or non-alternative) for the entire academic year (August to June) for a minimum of 600 hours in the school setting.
    • Students complete the advanced internship application form in SONIA. Students will work with the PEL Team: Amy Greenberg, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, agreenberg2@luc.edu, and Professor Binita Donohue bdonohue@luc.edu for referrals for externships.
    • Students complete the advanced internship application form in SONIA
  • Required Meetings: Students must attend one meeting per semester at Loyola with their assigned liaison.

Program Outcomes

  • Standard 2.1.2: Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional judgments.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will articulate their process of ethical decision-making in their work with client systems, distinguishing between personal and professional ethics, values and behaviors.
  • Standard 2.1.2: Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional judgments.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will articulate their process of ethical decision-making in their work with client systems, distinguishing between personal and professional ethics. values and behaviors.
  • Standard 2.1.3: Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will demonstrate critical thinking by communicating their professional judgment using oral and written communication as appropriate to the practice setting.
  • Standard 2.1.4: Engage diversity and difference in practice.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will engage client systems in diverse settings to challenge oppression, discrimination, and privilege at the societal, institutional and personal level.
  • Standard 2.1.4: Engage diversity and difference in practice.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will engage client systems in diverse settings to challenge oppression, discrimination, and privilege at the societal, institutional and personal level.
  • Standard 2.1.5: Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will use knowledge of the effects of oppression and discrimination on clients and client systems to guide treatment planning and intervention.
  • Standard 2.1.6: Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will use practice experience with clients to inform the formulation of researchable questions to enable them to become more evidence-informed in selecting interventions, particularly with diverse and marginalized clients.
  • Standard 2.1.7: Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will select diverse theories of human behavior and the social environment to guide clinical practice.
  • Standard 2.1.8: Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will communicate to stakeholders and policymakers the implications of policies and policy change in the lives of clients.
  • Standard 2.1.9: Respond to context that shape practice.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will identify ways that they can maximize the strengths of the client context to design and promote effective interventions with clients.
  • Standard 2.1.10: Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
    Advanced PB: Students at the advanced level will demonstrate sensitivity to the interpersonal dynamics and cultural/contextual factors that can both strengthen and potentially threaten a therapeutic alliance.

CONTACT

Amy Greenberg, LCSW, MA.Ed, PEL
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
agreenberg2@luc.edu