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 through

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

Future Students

Providing exceptional social work education for 83 years making KU the longest running program and the only comprehensive, premier research School of Social Welfare in the state

BSW, MSW, PhD

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.

Request More Info Request More Info

Info Sessions Info Sessions

Apply Apply

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

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

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 News

Family Strong

The Family Strong demonstration project will focus on eight counties in southeast Kansas, a region where the out-of-home foster care placements for children are nearly double that in the rest of the state.

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Toni Johnson Scholars for Racial and Social Justice

Launched in the fall of 2021, the Toni Johnson Scholars program supports students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s in social welfare who have experienced marginalization and oppression and Ph.D. students pursuing research on racial justice.

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Professor Documents the Stories of Young African Refugees' Trek to Italy

Terry Koenig documents the stories of young African refugees' trek to Italy as part of "The Long Road Out of Africa: Inclusion and Identity in Como, Italy."

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