Overview

The University of Washington Tacoma Master of Social Work (MSW) degree was established in 1998 and was accredited as a three-year, part-time alternative degree program of the University of Washington School of Social Work. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Social Welfare (commonly referred to as the BASW Program) was established in 2002 and was likewise accredited as an alternative program of the University of Washington School of Social Work.

The Council on Social Work Education notified UW President Mark Emmert in June 2005, of the Commission on Accreditation's vote to reaffirm the SSW's accreditation for eight years, with no conditions or interim reports required, ending June 2013. Both the UW Tacoma MSW and BA in Social Welfare programs are presented as "program options" of the University of Washington School of Social Work.

The UW Tacoma Social Work Program has strong ties to the community with nearly 100 of our current students completing practicum placements in the surrounding area, faculty conducting collaborative research with partners in our community and over 200 alumni actively involved in service and helping professions largely in the South Puget Sound region.

Mission

As members of the University of Washington School of Social Work , we commit ourselves to promoting social and economic justice for poor and oppressed populations and enhancing the quality of life for all. We strive to maximize human welfare through:

• education of effective social work leaders, practitioners and educators who will challenge injustice and promote a more humane society, and whose actions will be guided by vision, compassion, knowledge and disciplined discovery, and deep respect for cultural diversity and human strengths;
• research that engenders understanding of complex social problems, illuminates human capacities for problem-solving, and promotes effective and timely social intervention; and
• public service that enhances the health, well-being, and empowerment of disadvantaged communities and populations at local, national, and international levels.

We embrace our position of leadership in the field of social work and join in partnership with others in society committed to solving human problems in the twenty-first century.

Additionally, the Social Work Program shares the mission of the University of Washington Tacoma.

The University of Washington Tacoma educates diverse learners and transforms communities by expanding the boundaries of knowledge and discovery.

Finally, the Social Work Program commits itself to providing access to social work education to residents of the south Puget Sound region (Program goal emanating from UW Tacoma's defining characteristics and guiding principles)

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