325 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 962-4905
ssw.unc.edu
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Our Mission Statement & Core Values
UNC School of Social Work is committed to the mission of advancing equity, transforming systems and improving lives.
Our History & Background
Founded in 1920, UNC School of Social Work is one of the oldest professional schools at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The School currently offers the Master of Social Work (MSW) and the Ph.D. in Social Work degrees.
The on-campus MSW program, which enrolls approximately 320 on-campus students annually, is one of the country’s highest-ranked academic programs and focuses on evidence-informed practice. The School enrolled its first cohort of online MSW students (onlinemsw.unc.edu) in January 2024.
Since 1993, more than 136 students have earned their doctorate in social work from our School, which aims to develop scholars and educators who are prepared for careers in academic, research, and policy settings and who will advance the knowledge base of our profession on national and international levels. We are pleased to bring together seven scholars from across the nation and from Australia, Ghana and Taiwan in this academic year’s cohort of doctoral students.
Faculty at UNC School of Social Work use advanced research methods to inform, develop and evaluate practice, program and policy interventions to promote social change.
Five programs of research drive the School’s national reputation:
* Child, Youth, and Family Well-Being
* Economic Security
* Health, Mental Health, and Behavioral Health
* Older Adults and Long-term Care
* System- and Service-level Research
Ongoing insights into the impact of our research and community engagement programs are updated every fall and spring semester. To view the report, visit sswimpactreport.unc.edu
The School’s robust practicum program actively seeks to place students in immersive experiences that enhance their career objectives. The School increased funding to MSW students completing their practicum placements by about 230% in the 2022–2023 academic year alone, bringing to nearly a third the percentage of MSW students with financial awards.
The School’s more than 6,000 alumni can be found in 89 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, in 49 states throughout the U.S. and across the globe including in Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
Global perspectives are fostered at the School and global opportunities for students are as well. Plans are currently underway for a credited two-week immersive student experience in South Africa and continued research opportunities for social work students in the Galapagos.
A broad overview of School news can be found in the annual Contact magazine and the SSW News, distributed via email and at ssw.unc.edu/publications.
UNC School of Social Work is committed to the mission of advancing equity, transforming systems and improving lives.
Our Current Projects & Mental Health Initiatives
Faculty at UNC School of Social Work use advanced research methods to inform, develop and evaluate practice, program and policy interventions to promote social change.
Five programs of research drive the School’s national reputation:
- Child, Youth, and Family Well-Being
- Economic Security
- Health, Mental Health, and Behavioral Health
- Older Adults and Long-term Care
- System- and Service-level Research
Ongoing insights into the impact of our research and community engagement programs are updated every fall and spring semester. To view the report, visit sswimpactreport.unc.edu.
