Students walking in front of Twente Hall

Our Vision & Mission

With each relationship, we vow to be a true partner by providing a diverse, equitable and safe environment that encourages forward-thinking and creates inclusive experiences that drive social change.

Our Vision & Mission

Let's Partner

As a School within a comprehensive, premier research university, we continually strive to reinvent, innovate, transform and educate.
Dean Michelle Mohr Carney

Driven by our guiding principles and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we strive daily to achieve our vision that all individuals, families and communities utilize their power to achieve justice, equity and well-being.


Michelle Mohr Carney
Dean and Professor

A Foundation of Strengths

Offer innovative programming that graduates and supports uniquely qualified and compassionate social workers

Academics

12%
Ranked in the top 12% of public graduate institutions
84
years providing exceptional social work education
90%
of students perform above or excel in all competency areas
students sitting in grass by Fraiser Hall

Future Students

Providing exceptional social work education for 84 years, making KU the longest-running program and the only comprehensive, premier research School of Social Welfare in the state.

BSW, MSW, DSW, PhD
Graduates dressed in Regalia with Christina Boyd, Coordinator for Strategic Initiatives and Instructor-MSW Program, at the Lied Center getting lining up for graduation ceremony

Current Students  

Our MSW graduates exceed licensure pass rates by 10% each year and 97% of our undergraduates and 85% of our master's graduates secured employment immediately or decide to continue their education after graduation.

Resources for Current Students

Next Steps

Whether you are just starting your search or you know you are ready to apply, we are here for you each step of the way.

A Vision of Justice

Drive discoveries that TRANSFORM LIVES

Research

6.19M
grant funds in FY20
117
scholarly research presentations in FY20
79
published and in-press publications in FY20

Advancing Research

Research Clusters were designed to foster an integrated and inclusive environment for scholarship and research. Research Clusters work towards advancing the science and knowledge base of social work through collaboration, curriculum, scholarship and research.
Michael Riquino giving research presentation to a crowd in Garden City

A Mission of Change

Embrace our responsibility to promote social, economic, and environmental justice in Kansas, the nation and the world.

Community

4
Locations offering the MSW program & expanding to rural communities
59
Children & parents served from all 4 federally recognized tribes in KS
$4.5M
given back to Kansas each year in social service volunteer hours
Policy Summit Panel at the BEST Conference Center at the Edwards Campus in Overland Park

Community Impact

Increasing transformative experiences through holistic support and DEI centered culture. Increasing research productivity around serious societal needs. Increasing community engagement and partnerships as international leaders in social work.

Community Engagement

Collaborate with us

We strive to be the ultimate advocate who serves the needs of our communities, equitably and honestly by collaborating to transform practice and policy through evaluation, training and technical assistance, and professional development.

Social Welfare Stories

Sun: New Faculty Member Focuses on Health Equity

Dr. Sicong "Summer" Sun

Sicong "Summer" Sun examines how lack of access to financial resources impacts health and wellbeing.
Kang: New Faculty Member will Lead the School of Social Welfare in Emerging Field of Eco Social Work

Dr. Joonmo Kang

The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare is on the leading edge of a new area of social work that could have important implications for people around the world: eco social work.
Willey-Sthapit: New Faculty Member Gleans Insight for Preventing Domestic  Violence from Work in Nepal

Dr. Willey-Sthapit

Claire Willey-Sthapit, Ph.D., assistant professor in the KU School of Social Welfare, has studied responses to DV both in the United States and Nepal, gaining insight into community responses that empower survivors and hold those who use violence accountable.

Latest News

New tenure-track faculty to start at School of Social Welfare for the 2023-2024 academic year

The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare is excited to announce two new tenure-track faculty.

Celebrating Dr. Mahasweta Banerjee’s career at KU

Dr. Mahasweta Banerjee will retire from the School of Social Welfare at the end of June, after 31 years at KU. Read about Dr. Banerjee's career accomplishments, research and significant contributions to the School of Social Welfare.

2023 Dean's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching and Mignot Award Granted to Heather Bradley

The 2023 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching and the Mignot Award was awarded to Heather Bradley-Geary, M.S.W. for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Dr. Pegah Naemi Jimenez awarded 2023 Suzanne & Harry Statland Research Staff Award

For the first time ever this year, the School is proud to present a new annual award recognizing the outstanding research and scholarship work of research staff. The inaugural recipient of this award is Dr. Pegah Naemi Jimenez.

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