University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
The School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, established in 1918, is one of the oldest and most respected social work programs in the country. From its founding, the School has been committed to advancing knowledge through education, research, and community engagement.
An academic unit within the University, the School of Social Work offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, along with continuing education for practicing professionals. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Board of Accreditation. Students and graduates are eligible for full membership in the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Visions of School of Social Work
Transforming our world, our future, ourselves
- Prepares courageous leaders to transform social work practice, policy, research, and education in a community-engaged and inclusive environment
- Develops and advances innovative approaches to understand, prevent, and ameliorate complex social problems
- Builds collaborative partnerships to promote social justice
Goals of the School of Social Work:
- Educate professional social workers with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to engage in culturally competent practice with diverse populations and communities, to critically analyze personal, familial and environmental factors affecting practice settings and practice techniques, and to advocate for those who confront barriers to maximizing the achievement of their fullest potential.
- Engage in scholarly activities that contribute to professional knowledge about complex social problems and innovative approaches to ameliorate those problems.
- Provide service to local, national, and international communities through the development of and participation in collaborations with social agencies, community-based organizations, government, and foundations.
Graduate Degree Options
The School of Social Work awards Master of Social Work (MSW) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.
MSW Program
Students can earn their MSW through two formats: face-to-face and online. Students may pursue their MSW through our standard program or with advanced standing (after successful completion of a Council on Social Work Education-accredited undergraduate social work degree)
The face-to-face MSW program option allows students to pursue full-time or part-time study.. Students may specialize in Direct Practice or in Community, Organization, and Social Action (COSA), and may be able to earn a certificate in one of the following areas:
- Direct Practice - Children, Youth and Families
- Direct Practice - Gerontology
- Direct Practice - Home and School Visitor/School Social Work
- Direct Practice - Integrated Healthcare
- Direct Practice - Mental Health
- COSA - Gerontology
- COSA - Human Services Management
- COSA - Community Organizing Practice
- MA Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Study
Face-to-Face may also elect to pursue joint or cooperative degrees. Students must apply and be admitted separately to each academic unit. Approved joint degree options include:
- Master of Social Work / Master of Divinity (MSW/MDiv)
- Master of Social Work / Master of Public Administration (MSW/MPA)
- Master of Social Work / Master of Public and International Affairs (MSW/MPIA)
- Master of Social Work / Master of International Development (MSW/MID)
- Master of Social Work / Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (MSW/PhD)
- Master of Social Work / Master of Public Health (MSW/MPH)
- Master of Social Work / Master of Business Administration (MSW/MBA)
The online MSW program option offers is designed for part-time study in an asynchronous format. Online MSW students specialize in Direct Practice and may be able to earn a certificate in one of the following areas: Children, Youth and Families; Integrated Healthcare; or Mental Health.
PhD Program
The full-time PhD program prepares students for research and teaching careers in the field of Social Work. Students must hold an MSW degree to be eligible to apply directly to the PhD program. Applicants without an MSW degree, who wish to seek training to become full-time faculty or researchers in the field of Social Work, may apply to the joint MSW/PhD program.
Students may elect to pursue joint or cooperative degrees. Students must apply and be admitted separately to each academic unit. Approved joint degree options include:
- Master of Social Work / Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (MSW/PhD)
- Master of Public Health / Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (MPH/PhD)
Admissions
MSW Admissions
Applications are accepted both for our standard MSW program and for our Advanced Standing MSW program for students who have successfully completed an undergraduate social work degree from a CSWE-accredited BSW program.
All applicants to the MSW Program must meet the following criteria:
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate coursework
- Successful completion of a 3-credit course in statistics or quantitative analysis
Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may be considered for provisional admission.
Required application materials include:
- A personal statement (3-5 pages) responding to specific prompts
- Twp references (one academic and one professional recommended)
- A signed praticum education participation agreement
- Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended
Applicants are also encouraged to have 30 undergraduate (or combined undergraduate and graduate) credits in credits in liberal arts and 30 in social sciences. These are recommended but not required.
Liberal arts areas include:
- Humanities (English, languages, literature, philosophy, religion, communication)
- Fine arts (art, photography, dance, theater)
- Natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics)
Social science areas include:
- Psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, social work, history, criminal justice
International Applicamts
The School of Social Work welcomes applications from students in other countries whose credentials meet the requirements and the standards of the School of Social Work and the Office of lnternational Services of the University.
MSW applican s from other countries must apply directly to the School of Social Work. Applicants must submit the completed application form, additional required forms, and other required materials in English. Additional University of Pittsburgh application procedures for international students are described at http://www.socialwork.pitt.edu/admissions-aid/international-students. Other information and assistance for international students can be found online at www.ois.pitt.edu/intladmissions.html.
International students who hold a baccalaureate degree in social work from a program that is not accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and who are interested in obtaining advanced standing credit must submit their transcript to the council for a determination of equivalency. Further Information can be found online at www.cswe.org.
MSW Financial Assistance
Students interested in financial assistance to meet tuition and/or living costs should direct inquiries to both the Office of Admissions of the School of Social Work and the University’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Students should be advised that limited resources often preclude any one funding source from granting awards that meet total financial needs. As a result, students are strongly encouraged to seek financial aid packages consisting of partial awards (including loans and scholarships) from a variety of sources.
Applications for financial assistance are accepted only after an admissions decision has been made. Awards are made for a one-year period. New applications are required for each succeeding period
PHD Admissions
Persons seeking admission to the PhD Program must demonstrate the potential for doctoral studies. The doctoral program is open to applicants who have demonstrated intellectual capacity, critical thinking skills, and potential for research and scholarship.
Admission to the program is for the fall term only, and the application deadline is December 15. All applicants to the Doctoral Program in Social Work must provide the following (further details are provided on our PhD Admissions webpage):
- Official copies of all official undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- A social justice statement
- Three letters of reference from professors and others who have known the applicant in a professional capacity. Do not include personal references.
PhD Financial Support
School of Social Work full time PhD students may receive four years of financial support through various mechanisms, including an academic graduate student appointment, summer research opportunities, pre-doctoral fellowships, and travel and research supplements.
Students are encouraged to apply for pre-doctoral research traineeships and other external grant awards. External awards may include full or partial support for tuition and fees, pre-doctoral stipend, and funding to support research and/or dissertation-related expenses.
SSW Policy on Re-Admissions
Students who have not been registered in the school for one calendar year or longer for any reason are required to apply through the Admissions Office for re-admission. Re-admitted students enter the school under the curriculum requirements current at the time of their re-admission.
Academic Standards
MSW Academic Standards
Embodying the standards of professional social work, the School of Social Work has established expectations for student and faculty conduct in its Academic and Professional Behavior Policy. This policy, which outlines the professional behavior standards for MSW students and processes for addressing and resolving any violations of these standards, can be found in the MSW Student Handbook.
Students in the School of Social Work are required to adhere to the NASW Code of Ethics. Professional ethics are at the core of social work. The profession has an obligation to articulate its basic values, ethical principles, and ethical standards. The NASW Code of Ethics sets forth these values, principles, and standards to guide social workers’ conduct. The Code is relevant to all social workers and social work students, regardless of their professional functions, the settings in which they work, or the populations they serve. The NASW code of ethics can be viewed online at www.naswdc.org/pubs/code/default.asp.
The School of Social Work maintains an Academic Integrity Policy that applies to all students and faculty members. The policy is designed to ensure that both students and faculty uphold the ethical standards expected of them in fulfilling their academic and professional responsibilities.
PhD Academic Standards
The PhD program abides by prevailing principles of academic integrity, research responsibility, and social work ethics. Doctoral students are viewed as professionals and colleagues who share in the collective responsibility for promoting, exemplifying, and continuing the ethical, professional, and academic standards of the profession, school, university, and academy. Students are expected to adhere to Pitt’s Academic Integrity Guidelines, the School of Social Work’s Academic and Professional Behavior Policy, the Pitt Student Code of Conduct, the principles of ethical and responsible research and standards set by the Office of Research Integrity and the Guidelines for the Responsible Conduct of Research, and the NASW Code of Ethics.
Advising
MSW Advising
Students are assigned an academic advisor when they matriculate into the MSW program. Academic advisors help students understand the overall course of study and the semester-by-semester coursework required to successfully meet academic requirements for graduation. Academic advisors also serve as the primary point of contact for navigating available resources and supports and support students with the problem-solving process when needed.
Practicum advising is provided through the Practicum Office and complements academic advising. While similar in structure and purpose, practicum advising supports students in securing internship placements that will support social work educational competencies.
PhD Advising
The PhD Program Director serves as academic advisor for all first- and second-year students. Doctoral students admitted to candidacy are advised by their faculty dissertation chair.
Special Academic Opportunities
The school offers several special opportunities for student learning and engagement, including New Student Orientation, student events and activities, and community lectures. Additional opportunities include:
Student Participation on School Committees
Students have opportunities to participate in the governance of the School of Social Work by volunteering to serve on school committees as full members of those committees. Information about the purposes and functions of the committees is distributed during the beginning of each fall term.
Student Executive Council (SEC)
All degree students in the School of Social Work comprise the membership of the student organization that elects the Student Executive Council. The council focuses on student life and serves as a liaison with the administration and faculty.
The Student Executive Council relies heavily on student participation, to be of service to the student body. Activities include publication of a student newsletter, developing discussion sessions around critical social issues, providing of opportunities for social action, helping to plan for orientation, and planning a variety of social events.
ISEC members, representing the student body, are also appointed to serve in the following organizations and/or committees: Black Action Society; Student Chapter, NASW; Student Chapter, NABSW; Alumni Association (Liaison); BASW Club; and Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA).
VanKirk Career Center
The VanKirk Career Center prepares students for the social work job market by providing contemporary workshops, individual consultation, and technical support. The center’s services are constructed to develop greater self-confidence, expand awareness of career opportunities, and foster effective job search practices. All students can easily take full advantage of the professional development and career service opportunities offered by the VanKirk Career Center.
Center for Race and Social Problems
In 2002, then Dean of the School of Social Work Larry E. Davis established the Center on Race and Social Problems (CRSP) at the University of Pittsburgh to help lead America further along the path to social justice by conducting race-related research, mentoring emerging scholars, and disseminating race-related research findings and scholarship. CRSP is multidisciplinary in its approach and multiracial in its focus and was the first race-related research center to be housed in a school of social work.
Buhl Social Work Collection
The Buhl Social Work Collection is located on the first floor of Hillman Library. The Buhl Library is staffed by a part-time Social Work Librarian, whose office is located in Buhl Library.
School of Social Work Faculty
- TBD- Dean
- Yodit Betru, MSW, DSW - Director, MSW Program; Assistant Professor
- Jaime Booth, PhD - Associate Dean for Research; Associate Professor
- Laura Borish, MSW - Clinical Assistant Professor; CWEB/CWEL Agency Coordinator
- Cathy Breneman, Ph.D.- Director of Practicum
- Melvin Cherry, MSW, EdD - Practicum Assistant Professor
- Stevara Haley Clark, PhD - Director of Online Programs and Distance Education and Clinical Associate Professor
- Kyaien O. Conner, PhD - Donald M. Endowed Chair, Director of the Center on Race and Social Problems, Associate Dean for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Professor
- Quinton D. Cotton, PhD - Assistant Professor
- John Dalessandro, MSW - Practicum Assistant Professor
- Amy DeGurian, MSW - Practicum Assistant Professor
- Aliya Durham, MSW, MPIA . PhD- Assistant Professor; Director of Community Engagement, Center on Race and Social Problem
- Shaun M. Eack, PhD - James and Noel Browne Endowed Chair; Professor of Social Work and Psychiatry
- Stephanie Eckstrom, MSW - MSW Regional Program Director, Pitt-Bradford MSW Program
- Rafael Engel, PhD - Associate Professor
- Victor Figuereo, PhD - Assistant Professor
- Rachel Gartner, PhD - Assistant Professor
- Sara Goodkind, PhD - Professor; PhD Program Director
- Catherine Greeno, PhD -Associate Professor
- Amy Herschell, PhD - Professor: Principal Investigator, Child Welfare Education Research Programs
- James Huguley, EdD - Associate Professor
- Ron Idoko, EdD - Associate Director, Center on Race and Social Problems; Founding Director of the Racial Equity Consciousness Institute, and Research Assistant Professor
- Leah Jacobs, PhD - Associate Professor
- Alicia Johnson, MSW, PhD - Clinical Assistant Professor; CWEL Academic Coordinator
- Nev Jones, PhD - Associate Professor
- Toya Jones, PMSW EdD - Assistant Professor; Dierctor BASW Program
- Travis Labrum, PhD - Associate Professor
- Hung-Peng Lin, PhD - Research Assistant Professor, Child Welfare Education and Research Programs
- Deborah Moon, PhD - Associate Professor
- Elizabeth Mulvaney, MSW - Clinical Assistant Professor; Direct Practice Chair
- Mary L. Ohmer, PhD - Professor; COSA Chair
- Marlo Perry, PhD - Research Associate Professor, Child Welfare Education and Research Programs
- Sarah Fateman Porter, PhD - Assistant Professor
- Shannon Powers, PhD - Assistant Professor
- Suzanne Pritzker, PhD - Professor; Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
- Brooke Rawls, MSW - Assistant Professor; Academic Coordinator, CWEB Program
- Deborah Robinson, MSW - Practicum Assistant Professor
- Jeffrey Shook, PhD - Professor
- Fengyan Tang, PhD - Professor
- John Wallace, PhD - David E. Epperson Chair; Professor; Vice Provost for Faculty Diversity and Development, David E. Epperson Chair and Professor, Joint Appointments: Kats School of Business, Department of Sociology, Dietrich School of Aars and Sciences
- Misha Zorich, MSW - Assistant Professor; MSW Regional Program Director, Pitt-Johnstown; Director of Student Engagement
Program and course Offerings
