Welcome to the University of Washington School of Social Work where our aim is to drive an education that focuses on the vision of a more just, empowered and engaged world. 

The Profession of Social Work

Social workers commit themselves to promoting social and economic justice that enhances the quality of life for all.  And today there are more than 600,000 professional social workers in the United States and hundreds of thousands more effecting change in countries throughout the world.  Imagine knowing that you have job security:  Recent government studies report higher-than-average growth in the field of social work.  As members of a frontline, multifaceted team, social workers are equipped to address many of the social needs of our rapidly changing society.   

Guided by our professional code of ethics and practice standards, the social work profession requires knowledge of human development and behavior, of social justice, of economic and cultural structures and of interactions among all these factors.  Social workers develop skills to broker and access services, and to facilitate change.

The University of Washington School of Social Work believes that you have everything you need to become a great social worker.  That’s why we invite you to explore your professional degree options with us.

Why choose the UW School of Social Work?

Our School is consistently ranked as one of the top schools of social work in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.  We have a rich 75-year history, with scores of accomplished scholars and a wealth of cutting-edge research.  We believe in encouraging undergraduate, and master’s degree students to evaluate their practice at all levels of social work intervention and our PhD students to become leading scholars, researchers, and educators.

The School is accredited by the Council for Social Work Education (CSWE).