Academics at ICSW
A contemporary psychodynamic perspective anchors the ICSW experience, leading to a comprehensive understanding of human motivation and behavior. Our doctoral programs embrace psychodynamic principles that guide our students to determine and resolve the causes of behavior rather than simply managing that behavior.
ICSW’s academic approach unites theory, research, and clinical practice to provide students with a rigorous education steeped in the issues and challenges facing clinicians today. Our curricula are strategically designed to blur the lines between the classroom and the clinic, allowing practicing clinicians to make their current professional concerns and ambitions central to their graduate studies.
ICSW students benefit from intimate classroom settings and the strong support of a faculty composed of expert social work clinicians, researchers, and educators. Whether earning a degree at our Chicago campus or through our pioneering distance learning programs, our students emerge from ICSW prepared to make substantial contributions to the future of counseling and clinical social work.
Our Programs and Specializations
In 1981, ICSW became the first independent, accredited school in the United States to offer a doctoral program in clinical social work. Today, ICSW offers a range of doctoral options to students who attend classes at our Chicago campus as well as our distance learning students nationwide. Doctoral students may pursue a traditional clinical social work track or select from one of three specializations.
The links below allow you to explore the doctoral program opportunities available at ICSW. For additional admissions information, including financial aid details, please visit us here.