UW School of Social Work Viewbook 2015-17

Change the big picture with a career in social work.

School of Social Work

VIEWBOOK 2015-2017

2

The University of Washington School of Social Work is a recognized leader in solving the most demanding social issues of our day through rigorous research, academic innovation and public service.

Among the nation’s top-ranked schools of social work, we recruit the best and the brightest, nurture groundbreaking ideas, and partner strategically to challenge limits, redress inequities and strengthen communities.

Our fundamental purpose is to educate tomorrow’s social work leaders, discover solutions that work in the real world, and build human capacity for lasting social change.

Discover how you can be an agent of social change.

FAST-GROWING CAREER Opportunities According to the U.S. Department of Labor, jobs in social work are expected to grow by 19 percent by the year 2022, particularly in high-demand areas such as mental health and medical social work.

As a social work student, you’ll acquire a strong grounding in human behavior, economic drivers and social welfare. You’ll develop a deep respect for individual experiences, differences and identities. You’ll understand how to work collectively and how to apply rigorous research to help solve some of society’s most persistent problems. You’ll learn to challenge social norms, build networks and think independently. Social work is your chance to change the big picture by transforming the lives of society’s most vulnerable members, which in turn transforms the future for us all.

3

learn at one of the nation’s best Social Work schools.

Our programs The University of Washington School of Social Work offers top-ranked academic programs plus research and public service opportunities that build professional expertise, hone research skills, and foster the ability to lead and serve in a multicultural world.

Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare (BASW) If you have a strong interest in community service and social change, this undergraduate program provides classes in human welfare, policy impact, cultural diversity, social justice and intergroup dialogue. Additional classes on research methods, practice skills and effective intervention strategies help you learn ways to improve lives and strengthen communities.

During the course of study, students develop social work skills in a wide range of settings that include working with individuals, families, communities, nonprofit organizations and government systems. We offer a unique opportunity to combine critical thinking, civic engagement and social justice leadership through classroom learning and field placements that develop vital skills while addressing local needs.

This professional degree program prepares graduates for individual practice as well as graduate study in social work and related fields such as law, education and public health. Students who want a strong professional foundation while making a difference in their community are well suited for this generalist course of study in social welfare.

5

GEORGINA MENDOZA Los Angeles, California MSW Extended Degree Program Health-Mental Health

The mentorship from my professors is exceptional.

It’s a key factor in my growth in the MSW program and in my career goals. My field education advisers are an incredible source of support, and I’m excited to start my advanced year of practicum in the pediatric pulmonary center at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

6

I spent a month in Cambodia, where I was paired with a Cambodian social work student on a research project involving diabetes patients. It was an eye-opening experience and gave me a greater understanding of critical global issues. I selected the School of Social Work because it offers such incredible opportunities.

RIABELLe VIVAS Tacoma, Washington BASW

7

Our programs,

continued

Master of Social work (MSW) Our MSW program prepares you for social work practice within a broad range of professional settings, from direct service with individuals, families and communities to policy analysis and organizational leadership. We offer a dynamic and diverse classroom experience where faculty and students engage one another and explore strategies and skills to effect social change.

To accommodate a wide range of talented students and working professionals seeking an MSW degree, we offer three distinct degree paths as well as concurrent-degree programs.

MSW Day Program

The traditional two-year full-time day program combines classroom learning with hands-on practice experience through our field education placements. Course work centers on social justice principles and core social work practice skills in concentration areas such as administration and policy practice; children, youth and families, and multigenerational practice; community-centered integrative practice; and health-mental health.

The MSW Day Program also offers concurrent degrees that combine a Master of Public Health (MPH) or Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a Master of Social Work.

8

EXTENDED DEGREE PROGRAM OFFERS greater CONVENIENCE Nearly 50 percent of all MSW students are enrolled in the School’s extended degree program where classes are held in the evenings and on Fridays and Saturdays—a plus for working adults who cannot carry a full-time course load.

MSW Advanced Standing Program

The 10-month full-time program allows eligible students to complete an MSW in one year instead of two. It is aimed at students who have an undergraduate degree in social work or social welfare from a school accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The program begins in the summer, preparing students to enter the advanced year of the graduate program. In the fall, advanced standing students join the second-year cohort of the two-year day program, selecting a concentration and field placement opportunity.

MSW Extended Degree Program

The three-year extended degree program offers students a part-time path for earning their master’s in social work. With classes in the evenings and on Fridays and Saturdays, the program attracts a diverse group of working professionals including rural practitioners. Students earn their degree during nine to 11 consecutive academic quarters with a combination of classroom experience and field placements in their communities. The first half of the program centers on social justice principles and core social work practice skills, while advanced classes in the second half focus on a concentration, such as multigenerational practice with children, family and elders or integrative health-mental health advanced practice.

9

ERNESTO SOSA Los Angeles, California MSW Day Program, Administration and Policy Practice MPH, Health Services

The School of Social Work was my first choice because it gave me the opportunity to pursue a double degree program in social work and public health. Both of these fields focus on our most vulnerable populations and share a common grounding in prevention and community involvement—which is where I plan to focus my future work.

10

My professors encourage me to think about social justice issues, from the individual to the community to society in general. I’m learning more about the connection between structural inequality and individual experiences, giving me a different perspective on policy that I would not have gotten anywhere else.

Dionne Foster Yorktown, Virginia MSW Day Program, Administration and Policy Practice

11

Our programs,

continued

Field Education

Field placements are the cornerstone of social work education, where students integrate the intellectual theory from the classroom with the hands-on practice that comes from real-world experiences.

Our goal is to provide students with a supervised and supportive learning environment where they can master and synthesize social work knowledge, values and skills. Placements are available to both undergraduate and graduate students at more than 300 sites, from hospitals and mental health centers to a variety of nonprofit agencies, such as the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (photo, below).

We work closely with community agencies and organizations to ensure that field placements complement and expand upon the content received in the classroom. Field education is invaluable in helping our students master competencies and model behaviors that will lead to their successful, independent practice in the future.

12

OUR research centers CREATE CHANGE THROUGH SCIENCE Our nationally recognized research and innovative centers provide rich opportunities for all our students to impact real-life problems and learn from faculty who are noted scholars in their fields.

Doctor of PHILOSOPHY IN Social Welfare (PhD) Social work researchers address the critical human needs of our increasingly global society. The School’s doctoral program ranks as one of the nation’s best in preparing tomorrow’s social work scholars and educators for roles in research, teaching and leadership.

Working closely with faculty mentors, our doctoral candidates design individual programs of study responsive to pressing social issues. We offer interdisciplinary opportunities, research and teaching preparation, training in multiple methodologies, as well as financial support.

The University of Washington Seattle campus features 15 colleges and schools including arts and sciences, education, public affairs, public health, law and medicine. The breadth of this highly recognized research university ensures student access to a wide range of disciplines in social and health sciences through coursework and research opportunities.

Our graduates serve as faculty in social work programs throughout the country and are in high demand for their skills in advanced research and scholarship.

Our programs are designed to connect knowledge with experience, and scholarship with action so that you’re equipped to succeed when faced with the challenge of social change.

13

Live in one of the world’s most Vibrant cities.

Top Ranked among SOCIAL WORK Graduate Schools In 2012, the U.S. News and World Report ranked the University of Washington School of Social Work third among the nearly 220 advanced social work degree programs in the nation.

Seattle is a hub of philanthropic and social innovation, exemplified by leading institutions such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Casey Family Programs. Dramatically situated between Puget Sound and the Cascade Mountains, the city offers a mix of urban energy and natural beauty.

With a wide array of educational, cultural and recreational opportunities, Seattle and the University of Washington will bring a rich new dimension to your education, friendships and commitment to social change.

15

At the School of Social Work, we’re in the business of seeking solutions to the most demanding social issues of our day. We do this by modeling what a great university can and must do to serve society. We have an unwavering commitment to academic strength, scientific inquiry and public engagement.

In the Pacific Northwest, we encourage and embrace new ideas.

We live and work in a culture where creativity, risk-taking and innovation are the norm. When we add hands-on research, high ideals and hard work—social work becomes social change.

We’ve created a dynamic and diverse learning environment where you can challenge yourself and the world around you.

I think you’ll find that our School is an inspiring place where science, collaboration and community come together to transform lives and improve futures. I hope you will take the time to explore what we have to offer.

Eddie Uehara Professor and Ballmer Endowed Dean in Social Work

16

We are committed to educating the next generation of social work leaders who will change the field in unexpected and remarkable ways.

School of Social Work University of Washington 4101 15th Avenue NE Box 354900 Seattle, WA 98195-4900

s

Degree Programs Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare (BASW) Master of Social Work (MSW) Doctor of Philosophy in Social Welfare (PhD) s s

Admissions Tel: 206.543.5676 Email: sswinfo@uw.edu

Find out more about the School of Social Work at socialwork.uw.edu

Redefining what’s possible

Box 354900 Seattle WA 98195-4900

socialwork.uw.edu

Rev. 6/2014