BASW and MSW Programs in Pennsylvania

Why do many individuals in Pennsylvania choose the profession of social worker every year? Social work is a profession for people who want to be instrumental in improving other people’s lives by assisting individuals, families and children with financial, social, interpersonal and medical issues.

Employees in the Social Work in Pennsylvania

Employees in the social work field are often human and social service assistants and social workers. Social workers identify and then eliminate economic and social unfairness and improve the lives of families, groups, communities and individuals. Besides, they plan, formulate and enforce social policies, resources, services and programs required to meet primary human needs, and identify and end economic and social injustices.

Nowadays there is a number of schools that are ready to offer you an opportunity to get a degree in social work. If you want to pursue a degree in social work in Pennsylvania, then the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work can be the perfect choice for you.

This educational establishment is the fifth-oldest school of social work in the United States. The School of Social Work offers an undergraduate degree in Social Work, a masters in Social Work, and a doctorate program in Social Work. The School of Social Work’s doctoral program, started in 1948, is the second oldest social work doctoral program in the United States. The School also runs a Child Welfare Training Program site in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Nowadays the School of Social Work offers undergraduate degree, masters, and doctorate programs in Social Work, and is led by Dean Larry E. Davis.

The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work offers the following educational programs:

Bachelor’s Degree Program in Pennsylvania

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) was initially accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in 1973. It has been continuously reaffirmed since that time and has been ranked among the top undergraduate social work programs in the country. The BASW Program now offers both a Major in Social Work (BASW) and a Social Work minor. The BASW program offers opportunities for students to develop the basic training to work in a wide variety of settings.

Master’s Degree Programs

The University of Pittsburgh’s School of Social Work, successor to the Division of Social Work in the Department of Sociology, was founded in September 1938 and accepted its first class of MSW students that year. We take pride in our history, while developing professional practice to meet future challenges. The MSW Program offers social work education for the 21st century and is ranked among the top graduate social work programs in the nation. The MSW degree provides the background and skills necessary to become leaders in direct practice with individuals, families, and groups, as well as options to specialize in community organizing or administration of agencies.

PhD Program

The doctoral program is one of the oldest and most highly regarded in the United States, and its graduates constitute the ranks of deans, professors, and leading researchers and scholars. Social work doctoral education prepares students for leadership roles in social work research, social work education, social policy, planning, and administration. The goal of the doctoral program of the School of Social Work is to provide students with advanced academic training that will allow them to contribute to the knowledge base of the professional.

Dual/Joint/Cooperative Degrees

MSW Dual, Joint, and Cooperative Degree Programs

Some students seek to complement their social work education and training by earning a degree in another discipline or profession. Others wish to further their education within the field of social work. The dual, joint, and cooperative degree programs offered by the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work afford students a unique way to complete their MSW studies while also pursuing another graduate degree. However, no student will be permitted to enroll or engage in more than one dual, joint, or cooperative degree program within the School of Social Work or between the School of Social Work and any other school or program during the course of earning that dual or joint degree.

Master of Social Work/Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work

Each year, a small number of applicants express interest in pursuing both an MSW and a PhD in social work. These individuals often already possess a graduate degree in a related academic field, but find that their personal and professional interests lie more fully in the field of social work. Such applicants typically are interested in grounding themselves in the practice base of the social work profession, while also seeking to develop their advanced research and intellectual skills.

Master of Public Health/Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Work

This program provides a unique opportunity to combine the attainment of a master’s in public health and a PhD in social work. Since 12 credits can be applied to both degrees simultaneously, and since advising is arranged for all joint students, it is usually feasible for joint students to complete both degrees within the general timetable outlined for the doctoral program, although the number of electives necessarily becomes very restricted.

Contact Information:
University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work
Admissions Office
2104 Cathedral of Learning,
Pittsburgh, Pa 15260
412-624-6302
E-mail: sst8@pitt.edu