The University of Washington School of Social Work is the social work school of the University of Washington, a public research university in Seattle, Washington.

The School is located in the University District neighborhood of Seattle, Washington adjacent to the main University of Washington campus. Beginning in the early 1900s, the School developed from a single course to an independent department accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

History

1900s

In 1918, the University used Red Cross funding to establish a social casework course in the Department of Sociology in order to train caseworkers to provide services to families of servicemen returning from World War I. This represented the first formal social work training in the state of Washington."Methods of Social Service and Case Work". Catalogue: University of Washington 1917-1918. Department of Printing, University of Washington, 1918, p.171

1930s

At the height of the Great Depression in 1934, UW established the graduate program at the School with funding from the Washington State Emergency Relief Association in response to the need for public agency social workers and administrators in the region. The School's graduate program became independent in 1934 under the direction of Arlien Johnson"General Series". Catalogue Number for 1936-1937 Sessions. University of Washington, 1936, No. 450, p. 190 and was formally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education during the same year. Ernest Witte becomes the school's director in 1939, adopting a two-year masters program, and expanding the curriculum and fieldwork opportunities.

The School gained independent status as a professional school in 1958."School of Social Work At U.W. Gets School Status". The Seattle Times, 1958, p. 45 The undergraduate program was established in 1959"School of Social Work History", University of Washington p.3 and formally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education in 1975. The School officially added a doctoral program in 1975 and a three-year evening master's degree program in the 1980s."School of Social Work History", University of Washington p.4

Research Centers Current research centers include the Social Development Research Group,Large, Jerry, "A Cure for Social Ills? Prevention" The Seattle Times the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute,Burlingame, Liz, "Indigenous Wellness Research Institute Launches Tonight" The UW Daily and Partners for Our Children.Bach, Ashley "Ballmers Give $10 Million to Help State's Children" The Seattle Times

Partnerships

Since 2006, the School of Social Work has partnered with the Royal University of Phnom Penh in Cambodia to develop social work curriculum and train social work professionals to address pressing societal problems, following years of civil discord.

Rankings and reputation In 2024, the School was ranked 7th out of 319 schools for best graduate programs in social work by the U.S. News & World Report.

See also List of social work schools

References

External links School of Social Work Website