The MSW Program at Illinois State seeks to prepare advanced social work practitioners who act as agents of social change who in turn will promote individual and societal well-being. The School has identified broad MSW curricula goals. These curricula goals are grounded within a liberal arts foundation to ensure that students' practices are grounded in traditional values and theory and be current with the demands of the changing practice environment. The MSW curricula goals are derived from three sources: (1) the goals of Illinois State University, (2) the goals of the School of Social Work, and (3) the objectives of the MSW Program.<br><br>MSW students who choose this specialization take coursework that prepares them to do their advanced practicum in a school setting for one academic year. You will be required to pass the content area test for social work prior to entering your last semester of study. Students should apply for the Professional Educators License with a school social work endorsement in their last semester through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), allowing them to obtain employment as a School Social Worker. In this role, social workers will assist in assessing grade school, middle school, and/or high school children's needs, especially if the children are showing deficits in learning. Once those needs are clearly identified, the worker will collaboratively develop individualized education plans (IEPs) to meet these needs, and in most cases, will work with the student and his/her teachers and family members to make the student's educational experience more successful. The worker will also provide individual, group, and family counseling services and serve as a broker in locating needed services within the community.