Land Acknowledgement

The School of Social Welfare acknowledges that the University of Kansas occupies land that has been cared for by several tribal nations.

This land acknowledgment recognizes that Indigenous people are traditional guardians of the land and that there is an enduring relationship between Indigenous peoples and these traditional territories. Our School affirms, advocates for, and supports the sovereignty of the four-federally recognized tribes of Kansas, and the other 570 federally recognized nations in the U.S.

The acknowledgment reminds us to continue our commitment to advocating for, and supporting Indigenous students, staff, and faculty while working towards decolonizing the systems of power and oppression. Please visit the Land Acknowledgment webpage for a listing of our current actions of commitment.

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.

Let's Partner

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

Quality Education Quality Education

Research Advancement Research Advancement

Community Engagement Community Engagement

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

12%

Ranked in the top 12% of public graduate institutions

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.

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Info Sessions Info Sessions

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A Vision of Justice

Drive discoveries that TRANSFORM LIVES

6.19M

grant funds in FY20

117

scholarly research presentations in FY20

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.

Research Office

Research Projects

Research Highlights

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.

Locations offering the MSW program & expanding to rural communities

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.

Research Partners Research Partners

Evaluation & Training Evaluation & Training

CEUs CEUs

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.

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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.

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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.

Read full story

Upcoming Events

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Land Acknowledgement

Our Vision & Mission

Let's Partner

A Foundation of Strengths

Future Students

Current Students

Next Steps

A Vision of Justice

Advancing Research

A Mission of Change

Community Impact

Collaborate with us