Overview
Build a career that makes a difference
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Whether you’re pursuing your first college degree or interested in graduate study, IU School of Social Work offers degree programs that help you meet your goals. Learn the foundations of social work as an undergraduate or elevate your expertise with a graduate degree. Our programs are designed to meet you where you are.
Did you know?
- Social workers are the #1 mental health providers in the United States.
- The Social Work field is anticipated to grow by 12% from 2020 - 2030.
- We have over 11,000 alumni helping communities worldwide.
- We have over 1,800 students pursuing degrees on multiple campuses and online.
- We offer a 100% online Master of Social Work degree called MSW Direct.
- We have strong study-abroad partnerships.
- We offer a Certificate, Associate, and Bachelor's Degree in Labor Studies.
- We are one of the first social work schools to offer an e-Social Work Education and Practice.
- We offer field practicums to enhance student experience.
To learn more about our nationally ranked IU School of Social Work programs, please visit our website, ssw.iu.edu, or follow us on social media: IUSocialWork (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn).
Our History
Indiana University has a distinguished history of preparing graduates for entry into social work practice. Courses in this area began to be offered in 1911 through the Department of Economics and Sociology. Between 1911 and 1944, various administrative and curricular changes were implemented, and degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels were offered. In 1944, the Indiana University Division of Social Service was established by action of the Trustees of Indiana University. The organizational status was changed in 1966 when the Graduate School of Social Service was created. In 1973, the name was changed to the School of Social Service to recognize the extent and professional nature of the School’s graduate and undergraduate offerings. In 1977, the name evolved again into the School of Social Work to reflect more clearly its identification with the profession.
The IU School of Social Work has degree opportunities, including:
- Associate
- Baccalaureate
- Master's
- Doctoral
- Certificates
In addition, the Department of Labor Studies, within the School of Social Work, offers programs to prepare students for leadership roles within the workplace, including:
- Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies
- Associate of Science in Labor Studies
- Certificate in Labor Studies
- Minor in Labor Studies
The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program prepares students for generalist social work practice. The Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares graduate students for advanced social work practice in an area of specialization, and the Ph.D. program in social work prepares social workers for leadership roles in research, education, and policy development. Although the degree programs vary in their emphases and levels of complexity, the school’s curricula at the undergraduate and graduate levels are a continuum in education for social service. For example:
- Opportunities provided for a range of experiences in substantive areas of interest to students and of importance to society.
- The curriculum focuses on problem-solving and strength-enhancing experiences that involve the classroom, lab, and field experience.
- An exploration of educational procedures and arrangements optimizes effective training, including institutional self-study of the entire curriculum as well as the exploration of specific educational tools.
While the headquarters for the IU School of Social Work is located in Indianapolis, the School has campuses throughout the state of Indiana: Bloomington, New Albany (IUS), Richmond (East), Fort Wayne (IPFW), Gary (Northwest), and South Bend (IUSB). In addition, an MSW online program called MSW Direct.
Graduates of the school are interested is a vast array of social service settings, including those concerned with aging, family and child welfare, corrections, mental and physical health, and adjustment in schools, agency management, administration, and legislature. In anticipation of such professional activities, the school provides field instruction placements throughout the state where students serve individuals, groups, families, communities, and organizations or function in leadership roles.
The Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The MSW Program has been continuously accredited since 1923. The school is a member of the National Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors, and the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education, among others.
Mission Statement
Guided by an authentic commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Indiana University School of Social Work is nationally and internationally recognized for educating leaders of tomorrow through community-engaged practice, research, and partnerships to positively impact individuals and society.
Vision Statement
The Indiana University School of Social Work, across its multiple campuses and online communities, provides a rich array of quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities to prepare graduates for practice and research in an increasingly diverse world. The School contributes to creating a fair, just, and equitable society by educating competent and ethical professionals to address complex social, environmental, and economic challenges on local, state, national, and global levels. Establishing dynamic partnerships, the School enhances the health and well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities, leading innovative and translational solutions through community-engaged practice, advocacy, policy, research, and service.
Our dynamic and diverse community, founded on ethics, inclusivity, transparency, respect, and collaboration.
We live this value by:
- Demonstrating equity and inclusion through ethical practice to ensure that all voices are heard, respected, and considered.
- Practicing collaborative and transparent decision-making that engages and responds to all individuals regardless of rank or status.
- Emphasizing diversity as a critical value in implementing collaborative community-wide system initiatives.
- Providing educational experiences that equip our students to promote well-being for individuals, families, communities, and organizations.
Engaged, inclusive leadership committed to supporting IUSSW now and in the future.
We live this value by:
- Modeling formal and informal leadership through education, scholarship, and service.
- Fostering engagement and communications within and across our systems with transparency, collaboration, and strong interpersonal relationships.
- Being stewards of a well-defined and transparent infrastructure to support students and all constituents.
- Providing educational experiences that equip our students to promote well-being for individuals, families, communities, and organizations.
Our profession and its ideals
We live this value by:
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Ensuring the ideals of the profession are apparent in all of our interactions with one another and the community.
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Engaging meaningfully with our alumni throughout their professional careers.
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Adhering to the profession’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Technology in social work education and practice.
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Maintaining the standards of professional practice, including but not limited to, licensure requirements, continuing education, certifications, and professional development.
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Developing dynamic partnerships and innovative solutions with the community at large.
All faculty and staff appreciate their contributions to our programs, culture, and community.
We live this value by:
- Supporting faculty and staff by creating multiple pathways for success, recognition, compensation, and opportunities to contribute and grow.
- Demonstrating a commitment to clear, fair, and effective hiring and retention practices.
Our students
We live this value by:
- Demonstrating integrity in the admissions process by welcoming students who are committed to advocating for social justice.
- Providing quality education that inspires future social work practitioners to be curious lifelong learners that seek the best and evidence-based practices for a diverse world.
- Providing our students with consistent, high-quality principle-based education responsive to emerging social, environmental, and economic needs.
- Employing an experiential and effective learning platform in class and field education.
- Seeking and supporting an inclusive and diverse student body by providing fair, transparent, consistent, and efficient recruitment, admissions, and retention processes.
- Relying on rigorous academic standards, a supportive environment to enhance student well-being and incorporation of student voices throughout their time at IUSSW.
Policy on Nondiscrimination
Based on the tradition of the social work profession and consistent with Indiana University’s Equal Opportunity Policy, the Indiana University School of Social Work affirms and conducts all aspects of its teaching, scholarship, and service activities without discrimination based on race, color, gender, socioeconomic status, marital status, national or ethnic origin, age, religion or creed, disability, and political or sexual orientation.
The School of Social Work has a strong commitment to diversity and nondiscrimination. Indeed, diversity is celebrated as a strength. This perspective is demonstrated by the composition of its faculty and student body, curriculum content, and recruitment and retention activities, by participation in university committees dealing with oppressed populations; by numerous service activities, including advocacy on behalf of the disadvantaged; by its selection of field practicum sites; and by school policies.
