Social Work Programs at Erikson Institute

Founded in 1966, Erikson Institute is now the leading graduate school in early childhood development, education, and social work. The institute began as a response to the War on Poverty when qualified professionals were needed for the new Head Start program. Three remarkable advocates started this innovative school—child psychologist Maria Piers, social worker Lorraine Wallach, and educator-activist Barbara Taylor Bowman. They received vital financial and intellectual backing from businessman and philanthropist Irving B. Harris.

The founders chose to name the institute after Erik Erikson, the developmental psychologist who first suggested that children develop not just biologically but through society’s expectations, prejudices, allowances, and prohibitions. When Erikson visited in 1967, he taught a class and joined discussions with faculty and students. His involvement inspired the leaders to rename it Erikson Institute for Early Education with his blessing.

Erikson Institute’s mission helps professionals tackle urgent challenges that young children, their families, and communities face. The institute builds a better future for children through ground-breaking programs, research that changes lives, and effective advocacy that strengthens early childhood professionals. This steadfast dedication to excellence has made Erikson a driving force for positive change in early childhood education.

The institute looks at human development throughout life from many angles. Students learn everything about developmental psychology, anthropology, education, sociology, health, and social work with families and communities. This detailed viewpoint helps them understand how children and families develop within their cultural, social, economic, and political environment.

Erikson has managed to keep its strong values of social justice and educational equality since day one. Every child deserves quality education and community support for their health and emotional growth. The institute works hard through education, family services, research, and leadership programs to help all children reach their full potential in education, social skills, emotional health, and physical development.

In 2014, Erikson launched its innovative Master of Social Work program—the first MSW to fully blend child development into social work studies. Before this, Erikson had worked with Loyola University Chicago on a dual degree that combined Loyola’s MSW and Erikson’s MS in Child Development. They created the standalone MSW because the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a 20% rise in jobs for social workers helping children and families between 2010 and 2020.

The MSW program at Erikson is unique because it:

• Gives students a detailed set of tools with knowledge, values, and skills to work with children and families in their cultural setting
• Teaches social work through a development lens that looks at children’s cultural, physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and language growth
• Offers deep supervision that helps students connect classroom theory and research with real practice

The Higher Learning Commission has fully accredited Erikson Institute, and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) has accredited its MSW program. This recognition shows that Erikson meets the highest standards and ranks among top graduate schools for Master’s in Social Work.

The institute also does significant research that shapes policy in Chicago and beyond. It serves as a center for new discoveries in early childhood development, which improve both academic programs and children’s lives across the United States. Their policy work aims to create a fairer world for all children.

Erikson keeps growing its reach and impact. The institute started its Distance Learning department in 2014 and rolled out its first online degree program the next year. That same year, Erikson received a USD 5 million Investing in Innovation (i3) grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand its Early Math Collaborative.

Today, Erikson Institute stays true to its founding principles while meeting modern early childhood development needs. The institute trains leaders across many fields serving young children and families—social services, child welfare, education, early care, mental health, psychotherapy, policy, and health care. By focusing on development and thoughtful practice, Erikson helps graduates become stronger supporters of children and families.

Where is Erikson Institute located?

Erikson Institute sits in the heart of Chicago at 451 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60654. The campus location puts students right in one of America’s most dynamic cities. Students can tap into an array of cultural, professional, and educational resources.

The choice of downtown Chicago reflects the institute’s dedication to innovation and accessibility. Located in River North, Erikson’s campus connects easily to public transit. This makes life easier for commuter students from all parts of the Chicago metro area.

Chicago serves as a perfect training ground for Erikson’s social work students. The city faces complex social challenges that create rich opportunities for field work, research, and community work. Students see ground issues affecting children and families in Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods firsthand.

The downtown location helps build strong ties with healthcare systems, social service agencies, schools, and community groups. These mutually beneficial alliances particularly benefit Master of Social Work students. They lead to diverse field placements and job connections after graduation.

Erikson’s Chicago setting connects students to the city’s cultural scene, museums, and neighborhoods. This rich environment gives students a broader point of view on child development and social work across cultures. They learn how different communities handle child-rearing, education, and family support. This knowledge makes them more culturally aware and effective social workers.

As a 60-year old private graduate school focused on child development, Erikson Institute plays a key role in Chicago’s educational scene. The school adds to the local academic community and draws students from across the region who want specialized graduate training in social work and child development.

The campus design aids collaboration between students and faculty. Common areas spark informal talks and knowledge sharing. This creates a supportive learning space beyond regular classes. The setting strengthens Erikson’s focus on reflective practice and professional growth in social work.

Students who pick Erikson’s Master of Social Work program benefit greatly from the Chicago location. They work with diverse populations and contexts that prepare them for careers serving various communities and age groups. Though Erikson focuses on child development, graduates can use their skills throughout people’s lives in many professional settings.

The campus keeps an intimate feel despite its big-city setting. Students get focused, specialized education plus all the perks of learning in a major city. Theory meets practice daily, enriched by Chicago’s diverse social landscape.

Chicago welcomes out-of-state and international students interested in Erikson’s programs. The city’s airport offers good connections, and public transit makes it easy to get around. The close-knit campus helps students build connections quickly, even in such a large city.

The LaSalle Street address puts students near cultural spots, restaurants, and professional groups. This prime spot gives easy access to academic resources, networking chances, and personal growth during graduate studies.

Erikson Institute’s Chicago home means more than just an address. It shows the school’s steadfast dedication to training social work professionals where theory and practice meet. The downtown Chicago location gives students an education deeply tied to the real challenges and opportunities children and families face today.

What social work programs does Erikson Institute offer?

Erikson Institute’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program is unique. It’s the first program to combine child development perspectives with social work education. This innovative approach creates a specialized learning path that goes way beyond the reach and influence of traditional MSW programs. Most other programs only include a few classes about working with children and families.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that social workers who work with children and families will grow 6% between 2024 and 2034. This specialized training addresses an important workforce need, especially when you have infants, young children, and their families representing the fastest-growing populations in child welfare and mental health systems.

Master of Social Work (MSW) Program Structure

Students in Erikson’s MSW program get a complete toolkit of knowledge, values, and skills. They learn to work with children and families while considering their culture and communities. The 60-credit hour curriculum combines social work knowledge with deep, cross-disciplinary understanding of child development. This approach covers everything in developmental psychology, anthropology, education, sociology, health, and social work with families and communities.

Students can choose from several flexible options that fit their lives and career goals:

• Format options: Study part-time or full-time, in-person (hybrid) or through the 100% online program
• Timeline choices: Traditional 20-month program or 12-month Accelerated option
• Advanced Standing: BSW holders can waive up to 21 credit hours, shortening their completion time by a lot

Note that Erikson’s MSW program has full accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). This confirms its high standards and places it among the best graduate schools for Master’s in Social Work.

Specialized Concentration Pathways

Erikson offers two specialized clinical concentrations. Students can tailor their education to specific career goals:

1. Clinical Practice with Children, Adolescents, and Adults This concentration helps social workers support children, adolescents, and adults through evidence-based and developmentally appropriate interventions and strategies. Students can customize the 60-credit hour program to focus on specific age groups. They complete a two-semester concentration field placement working with children, adolescents, and adults.
2. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Students in this specialized path learn to support mental, emotional, and physical health and development of children from birth to age 5 and their families. They master advanced techniques for working with the youngest, most vulnerable population and their caregivers.

Both paths include Erikson’s unique focus on developmental perspectives and reflective practice. This helps students become better advocates for children and families.

Program Goals and Philosophy

The MSW program combines Erikson’s unique strengths with core social work education principles. It uses developmental knowledge to shape strengths-based, person-in-environment perspectives, cultural competence, supportive practices, critical reflection, ethical decision-making, and social action.

Graduates of the program are ready to:

1. Excel as advanced practitioners in their chosen concentration area
2. Blend social work knowledge, values, and skills with deep understanding of child development to enable well-being
3. Use developmental theory to identify and address complex needs and individual differences of children and families
4. Promote human rights, social justice, social change, and community well-being through critical reflection, ethical practice, research, and community involvement
5. Apply self-knowledge, critical thinking, and reflective practice to build effective relationships with children, families, communities, and systems

Learning Environment and Faculty

The program’s core features an intensive two-year supervision seminar. Students connect classroom theory and research with their field practice. Prominent social work and child development faculty teach the classes. Social work students learn alongside peers from child development and teacher education programs.

This creates a collaborative learning community that encourages teamwork and cross-disciplinary skills—vital qualities for social work leaders. The online MSW program keeps classes small to build meaningful connections. Students get tailored support and develop strong relationships with professors and peers.

Career Opportunities

Erikson’s MSW graduates have unique preparation for many social service roles. Their strong clinical skills and deep understanding of child development make them sought-after by employers. Graduates can work as:

• Trauma-informed crisis counselors
• Individual and group therapists with children and families
• Social service administrators
• Research associates
• Policy advocates
• Mental health consultants
• Child welfare supervisors
• Licensed Social Workers (LSW)
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)

The Career Services team provides complete support through career counseling, workshops, an annual job fair, networking events, interview preparation, resume reviews, and a career placement program.

Before 2014, Erikson partnered with Loyola University Chicago for a dual degree program. Students could earn both a Master of Science in Child Development from Erikson and an MSW from Loyola. This partnership ended in 2015 when Erikson launched its standalone MSW program, which combines both degrees into one integrated curriculum.

Field education at Erikson Institute

The substance of Erikson Institute’s Master of Social Work program is field education. Students get hands-on experience that connects classroom theory with ground practice. Students must complete two years of field experience with at least 900 total hours of supervised fieldwork. This extensive practical training will give graduates the preparation they need for professional social work’s complexities.

Erikson’s practical experience offers more than typical internships. The field education program, also known as practicum education, builds competence over two distinct training years. Students can choose from more than 150 Chicago-based practicum opportunities. These high-quality placements align with their professional interests and career goals.

Students build generalist skills through an academic year-long practicum in their first year. The foundation phase involves fundamental social work experiences such as case management, advocacy, therapy, and community intervention. Students see theories come alive through application as coursework integrates with field practice. The original year needs 14 hours per week over two days, adding up to a minimum of 400 hours annually.

The second year helps students advance their expertise through specialized practicum experiences. Students work with complex populations in schools, hospitals, and child welfare agencies during this concentration year. They consider developing advanced skills in assessment, psychotherapy, crisis management, and trauma-informed intervention. Time commitment grows to 17.5 hours per week over two or three days. Students complete a minimum of 500 hours in this final year.

Erikson Institute has built strong partnerships with prestigious Chicago organizations. The institute emphasizes ten top practicum sites that showcase available opportunities. These partner organizations include:

• Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
• Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavior Health
• Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute
• Communities in Schools of Chicago
• Healing Space Therapy
• JPA Chicago – Juvenile Protective Association
• LIFT Chicago
• Office of the Cook County Public Guardian
• Sarah’s Inn
• Start Early

Erikson provides specialized support to online students to ensure quality field experiences whatever their location. The practicum office helps distance learners find excellent practicum sites in their local communities. Staff reach out to potential sites, vet and approve placements, and guide students throughout their practicum process.

Relationship-based education sits at Erikson’s field education philosophy’s core. Master’s candidates learn best through relationships with peers and professionals in the field. These connections help them master knowledge and skills and become thoughtful, reflective practitioners. Erikson builds strong relationships with emerging practitioners who then create lasting bonds with children, adolescents, parents, extended families, colleagues, systems, and communities.

The Field Education and Career Services team plays a significant role in helping students find and apply for internship placements. Erikson utilizes hundreds of pre-approved internship sites to match students with appropriate opportunities. Students can focus on learning rather than worrying about securing a placement.

Students join reflective seminars that run alongside their fieldwork. This unique program feature lets them process field experiences, link theory with practice, and receive guidance from experienced faculty. Students reflect on their growth and identity formation as social workers in these seminars.

Erikson’s field education benefits last well beyond graduation. Students build professional networks and relationships that often lead to jobs. Employers seek out Erikson graduates for their mix of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Erikson’s field education approach mirrors its broader mission to educate practitioners who make real differences in people’s lives, families, and communities. Field experiences inspire graduates to become field leaders who use research in practice, embrace technology, maintain ethical standards, and enhance the professional community.

What sets Erikson Institute apart?

Erikson Institute’s unique philosophy creates a learning environment that sets it apart from other graduate programs in social work. The institute, named after renowned psychoanalyst Erik H. Erikson in 1969, embraces his groundbreaking point of view that children are not just biological organisms. They develop within society’s expectations, prejudices, and prohibitions. This belief pervades every aspect of Erikson’s social work education approach.

An Erikson education is unique from typical social work programs nationwide through its reflective practice. Faculty members blend this method throughout the curriculum. It combines theory and practice through thoughtful reflection on thoughts, actions, and intentions. Students engage in honest, meaningful conversations about their learning experiences and their emotional and behavioral reactions in seminar classes. This promotes deeper self-awareness and professional growth.

The institute’s remarkable 7:1 student-faculty ratio makes this intensive reflective approach possible. Small learning communities thrive here, and faculty can give tailored attention to each student. Teachers get to know their students well and can adapt guidance to individual learning styles and career goals. The results are clear – Erikson’s master’s degree graduates enjoy a 96.7% employment rate. This shows how much employers value the institute’s unique educational approach.

The institute is dedicated to supporting graduates well after they complete their formal education. The first few years of professional practice can be tough and lonely. That’s why the institute created the Professional Learning Community (PLC). This innovative support system lets graduates continue reflective practice with peers. It provides vital emotional support and helps them grow professionally. Teachers and social workers find this community helps them manage stress and stay effective in their demanding fields.

Erikson Institute helps students develop resilience and self-care as professional skills. The curriculum shows how taking time for planned self-care helps practitioners stay balanced. They can then respond better to their clients’ various needs. This comprehensive approach to professional development helps social workers excel in challenging environments while delivering quality services.

The institute’s educational philosophy mirrors Erik Erikson’s strong advocacy for a “new education of children.” It builds on self-knowledge and rejects simple diagnoses or judgments. Social work students learn to address children’s and families’ complex needs with sophistication. The institute emphasizes that personality development never stops – experiences later in life can heal early childhood challenges.

Erikson students contribute over 49,000 field service hours yearly. This extensive hands-on experience combined with strong academic preparation creates exceptional graduates. MSW graduate Tracy Vega puts it well: “There isn’t any other graduate program like this. They don’t just let anyone out in the field. They want you to be as prepared as possible. You’re impacting people’s lives, and Erikson understands that”.

Relationship-based education forms the foundation of the institute’s approach. Master’s degree candidates learn best through their connections with peers and field professionals. Faculty members build strong relationships with emerging practitioners. These practitioners then learn to create effective relationships with children, families, communities, and systems throughout their careers.

The institute’s unwavering focus on combining social work knowledge with deep understanding of child development makes it special. As the first MSW program to fully include this developmental point of view, Erikson prepares social workers who can evaluate contextual factors affecting growth. They learn to cooperate effectively with individuals, groups, and communities. Graduates develop professional resilience while learning to spot and challenge historical, systemic, and cultural racism and oppression.

If you have plans for a social work career, Erikson Institute provides more than standard training. The institute’s blend of developmental knowledge, reflective practice, and supportive community creates graduates who can make real changes in children’s and families’ lives.

Next steps

Are you ready to pursue your graduate education in social work at Erikson Institute? The application process is simple yet gives a full picture of candidates who will excel in this specialized learning environment.

Your first step is to choose your desired program from Erikson’s variety of offerings. The institute’s Admissions team will guide you and answer questions about your specific situation throughout the application process. You can call them directly at (312) 374-5680 whenever you need individual-specific assistance.

After selecting your program, you’ll move through several key stages. Start by gathering all necessary documentation – transcripts, reference contact details, and materials for your application essays. International students must prove English language proficiency through tests like the DET.

Make sure you meet all criteria for your chosen program by reviewing Erikson’s admission requirements before submission. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis as soon as they’re complete, right until the final deadline for your desired term. But submitting by the early decision deadline gives you a better chance at service-based grants and program-specific scholarships.

Your application essays deserve special attention. These written statements show your professional goals and personal motivations. A campus tour, while optional, is a great way to meet faculty and explore student resources firsthand.

The financial side of graduate education matters just as much. Complete your FAFSA, check current tuition and fees, and look into all funding options before finalizing your application. Erikson Institute has several financial support options:

• Leadership scholarships (20% of total tuition) for master’s program students
• Affordability scholarships (25% of total tuition) based on Student Aid Index from FAFSA
• Vital Beginnings/Harris Scholarship (50-75% of total tuition) for specific programs

Program deadlines vary. Fall core programs in hybrid or online formats have a priority deadline of July 15, and final deadline of August 1. Child Life campus program applicants should note the earlier priority deadline of January 15. Spring core program applications are due by November 15 (priority) and December 5 (final).

Erikson’s Career Services team becomes a great resource after admission. They support MSW candidates during their studies and after graduation. Students get career counseling, workshops, annual job fairs, networking events, interview prep, resume reviews, and access to a dedicated career placement program. The team keeps an active job board on the campus portal with relevant job listings.

The institute’s strong employer connections come from hundreds of collaborations with organizations and networks of alumni and field experts. Each year, Career Services creates a Resume Book featuring Erikson students and alumni, which goes to organizations looking for qualified candidates.

Students who’ve been away from Erikson for at least three consecutive semesters (1 year) or exceeded their leave of absence need to apply for readmission. This means submitting an updated resume, new recommendation letters, and essays explaining absence reasons and completion strategies. Readmitted students usually start on a conditional basis for a set time.

Applying to Erikson Institute’s social work programs is more than just getting a degree—it’s a step toward creating better futures for children. You’ll join a community focused on making real change in children’s lives, families, and communities.