People of all ages rely on professional social workers. Social workers address the problems and issues that affect our community at its core: homelessness, addictions, mental illness, child abuse and neglect, unemployment, disability, illness, poverty, aging, isolation, discrimination and oppression, and more.

In short, social workers make a difference in people’s lives. And PSU’s School of Social Work is making sure social workers are there when you need them.

Mission

The School of Social Work is committed to the enhancement of the individual and society. We are dedicated to social change and to the attainment of social justice for all people, the eradication of poverty, the empowerment of those who are oppressed, the rights of all individuals and groups to determine their destiny, and the opportunity to live in cooperation.

Education

PSU’s School of Social Work offers a full spectrum of social work education. Our School of Social Work is among the top schools in the nation, and we provide the only Masters and PhD of Social Work Programs in Oregon. That means it is our responsibility to meet the education, research, and training needs of the state and region.

Students can earn a Bachelors Degree in Child and Family Studies, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (soon), a Masters in Social Work, or a Ph.D. in Social Work and Social Research.

Part of the Community

The challenges of working with people in their most difficult moments require hands-on training with experienced professionals. At PSU, MSW students spend 1,000 hours providing services to clients in social service agencies, undergraduate students spend 300-500 hours, and each PhD student provides 200 hours of research on complex projects. This practical experience benefits students and provides 5,600 hours per week ($2.2 million annually) of service to people in our region.

Research

Over 20% of PSU’s research is conducted by faculty, students, and researchers in the School of Social Work. The Regional Research Institute on Human Services (RRI) has provided ground-breaking research in child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health for more than 35 years. The RRI, along with the Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children’s Mental Health and the Center for Improvement of Services for Children and Families, are awarded $8-10 million annually from a variety of local and national funders to advance social work knowledge and practice. Social services are large and complex. Our research programs ensure that services are offered effectively, efficiently, and with the most successful results.

Karla Diaz (MSW '03) works at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Quito, Ecuador. more