MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome to the Georgia State University School of Social Work, housed within the nationally ranked Andrew Young School of Policy Studies. We are located in vibrant downtown Atlanta, the home of the Civil Rights Movement. The GSU School of Social Work educates and prepares students to be skilled and ethical social workers who bring positive change to the world, produce and disseminate innovative and sustainable social work practice knowledge to build healthy communities that maximize human potential and promote social and economic justice.
Georgia State University is among the most diverse universities in the nation, and U.S. News & World Report ranks Georgia State University as the No. 2 most innovative university, No. 6 “Best for Vets” college, and No. 11 for social mobility. Likewise, the School boasts a diverse group of faculty and students, with about 70% of our students and 40% of our faculty being racial/ethnic minorities. We are led by 20 nationally and internationally recognized faculty who excel in research and teaching across various specialty areas: health disparities; child welfare; family well-being; trauma-informed practice; social, economic, and restorative justice; substance misuse; and violence prevention.
Our faculty includes renowned scholars and researchers who address critical societal problems with their work, sharing their wisdom in the classroom and helping train the next generation of social work professionals. They are involved in building and sustaining healthy communities by developing and applying interventions, program strategies, policy analysis, and community-based research and evaluation; educating and training a multifaceted human services workforce; and facilitating community partnerships.
Our student body includes 350+ undergraduate and graduate degree seekers. At the undergraduate level, we offer an in-person Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) since 1981. The BSW program added an online program option starting in Fall 2021 and has already been selected as Forbes Top 10 Best Online Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work Program in the U.S. At the graduate level, we offer a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in four different options: a full-time in-person two-year option; a part-time hybrid three-year option; an in-person one-year Advanced Standing option for those possessing a BSW degree from a CSWE-accredited program awarded in the last five years; and, a fully online one-year Advanced Standing option. Our students have committed themselves to addressing life circumstances — such as poverty, violence, discrimination, and disparities in social and economic justice — that disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. They have become leaders in service delivery sectors, including health care, public child welfare services, and nonprofit management.
Finally, the School is a leader in child welfare workforce development and child well-being with several training and service arms. Through innovative professional development courses, the Professional Excellence Program (PE) provides current research and practice skills to the Georgia Division of Family and Children’s Services’ veteran staff. The Georgia Title IV-E Public Welfare Child Welfare Education Program prepares interested BSW and MSW students for careers as child welfare professionals in an effort to develop a stable and competent workforce in Georgia’s public child welfare system. The Child Welfare Training Collaborative (CWTC) offers training and development opportunities to those who serve children and families, including professionals in child welfare, education, healthcare, judicial, and community programs. By bringing everyone to the same table, the CWTC creates an opportunity for community partners to have a shared understanding of issues facing children and families and also strengthens collaborations to promote better outcomes for Georgia’s children.
We hope you will join us as we continue to build a culture of excellence in teaching, research, and service to local, state, national, and global communities.