The UC School of Social Work provides students with the knowledge and expertise to become skilled social work professionals, serving as leaders in solving complex societal problems. They have a positive impact on their communities and create a better tomorrow for many individuals and families.
Graduates provide excellent and compassionate care and assistance to people they serve in areas such as mental health, health and gerontology, social work administration, and working with children, adolescents, and families.
The School of Social Work has experienced dramatic growth since its inception in 1974, with a 70 percent overall increase in enrollment in recent years.
Recent program initiatives include:
- a MSW-JD program in conjunction with the College of Law
- a school social work program
- classes being offered in Dayton and Butler County
- one-credit-hour courses that attract students, alumni and other professionals seeking continuing education opportunities for professional social work licensure
The School is determined to be designated a full-fledged college. This change would help raise the prestige of the school locally and nationally, widen exposure for its programs and leading-edge efforts, and help deepen the pool of potential students. It would also help attract private and public financial support for current and future innovations, including the establishment of a behavioral science research institute.
All of the School's programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
Funding Opportunities
The School of Social Work seeks funding for the following key initiatives:
Undergraduate Scholarships
The School would like to establish scholarships for full-time and part-time students. There are currently no full tuition scholarships and no financial assistance for part-time students who often work in social service agencies full time to support their own education. Low-income students would also benefit greatly from financial assistance.
Endowed Graduate Fellowships
Approximately 40 percent of the School's graduate students take classes on a part-time basis because they must maintain full-time employment. Thirty percent of these students are seeking to earn a MSW degree as a mid-career shift into a field where they can make a positive difference in their communities and in people’s lives. Supporting these students is a top priority.
Faculty Support
The School seeks funding for two endowed professor positions to increase faculty research and scholarship productivity, and to invest in the development of a doctoral program. Also, having a senior faculty member who is research/grant productive would assist the School in opening a behavioral science research institute.
Program Support & Research
Achieving the top priority of renaming the School to a college would enable the School to better support an infrastructure related to grant funding and the development of research projects and social service-related institutes. Once approval as a college has been finalized, efforts will be undertaken to name the college after someone offering a significant monetary gift or endowment. Programmatic support is also needed to develop the behavioral science research institute.
Dean’s Excellence Fund
The School of Social Work would benefit greatly from an excellence fund that would enable the Dean to fund additional state-of-the-art educational experiences, while supporting an innovative Community Bridge Building Program that further links the School of Social Work to the Greater Cincinnati Community and improves the quality of social work professionals and services.