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CHHS >> Social Work

 

Welcome to the School of Social Work

 

Greetings. Thank you for visiting the SFSU School of Social Work website. The fully accredited School, which has been in existence for almost 80 years, appreciates its associates and friends, and celebrates the thousands of students who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) and/or Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. This year, for the first time, we will also offer an MA degree in Gerontology. The following is a brief history:

 

Baccalaureate Education

Since the 1930's, San Francisco State College (then named) had an undergraduate major in social welfare. Since its early inception, however, it was situated within the Sociology Department. According to accreditation documents submitted to the Council on Social Work Education in November 1967,

"in 1955 it [social work] became an independent department- within the Division of Social Sciences. With the latter reorganization of the college into schools, the Social Welfare Department became one of the constituent members of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences..." (p.32)

"In the early years of the undergraduate social welfare curriculum, all courses were taught by sociologists. It was not until 1948 that a professionally educated social worker was brought in and placed in charge of the social welfare course offerings." (p.32)

 

From 1948 until 1966, the Department concentrated on baccalaureate education, with enrollments reaching around 600 at the time it started a Master of Social Work degree program in 1966. Almost forty years ago, San Francisco State College submitted its self study materials for graduate social work program accreditation. In a cover letter dated 27 November 1967, College President John Summerskill said:

"...I want to personally assure you of the College's firm and enthusiastic support of the Department of Social Work Education in its efforts to establish and maintain a program of excellence in graduate professional education. The College is committed to the proposition that whatever physical, financial, or intellectual resources are required to maintain a program of excellence will be and, in fact, have been allocated. Moreover, I am greatly encouraged by the splendid support the program received from the professional social work community."

 

Social workers in community agencies have played a key role in the establishment, development, and ongoing excellence in the School's curriculum. According to the 1967 accreditation document, Social workers in community agencies have played a key role in the establishment, development, and ongoing excellence in the School's curriculum.

 

According to the 1967 accreditation document: In 1962, the President of the College appointed an Advisory Committee for Graduate Social Work Education consisting of leading agency executives and practitioners in the Bay Area. Assisted by the faculty of the Social Welfare Department, during 1963 this Committee conducted a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a graduate school of social work at the College, using guidelines provided by the Council on Social Work Education. The Committee's report, submitted to the President in February 1964, concluded that there is a need for another graduate social work school in the Bay Area and that adequate resources for field instruction exist among Bay area social agencies. (pp. ii-iii)

 

San Francisco State College's first MSW class was tentatively scheduled to begin in September 1967, but the program was funded a year earlier than projected. Therefore, the graduate program began in 1966 with 41 students who were selected from a pool of 180 applicants. Field placements were found for all 41 students, and all by 13 "secured" stipends (p. iv).

 

Current School of Social Work Program

San Francisco State University's School of Social Work continues its tradition of excellence in education and practice. For Fall Semester 2008, the School admitted 30 baccalaureate and 70 graduate social work students. Combined with second year students, the School has approximately 58 baccalaureate (BASW) and 130 graduate (MSW) students. The latter select from three areas of emphasis: Administration and Planning; Individual, Families, and Groups; and Social Action and Change.

 

Effective Spring Semester 2009, the Gerontology Program became a partner with the School of Social Work. As a result, the School now offers an MA in Gerontology, with 3 emphases: Geriatric/Home Care Management; Health, Wllness, and Aging; and Long-Term Care Administration. For more information, contact Mira Pasikov at mirap@sfsu.edu.

 

The School will launch a part-time MSW degree program through the College of Extended Learning (CEL). This CEL-MSW Program will allow students to graduate in three years. For more information, contact Dr. John Lemmon at jalemmon@sfsu.edu.

 

School Programs and Projects

The School of Social Work enriches education and practice through its diverse programs, many of which provide stipends and other support to students. They include:

 

Bay Area Academy (Directed by Rodger Lum)

Mental Health Program (Coordinated by Sheila Hembury)

Pupil Personnel Services Credential, MSW and Post MSW (Coordinated by Christina Feliciana)

Title IV-E Child Welfare Training Project (Coordinated by Stephanie Coram)

 

In addition, the School has an Institute for Multicultural Research and Social Work Practice (Directed by Liz Dunbar Knox), which was established in 1988. Kenji Murase was the first Director, followed by Susan Sung, Rita Takahashi, Morgan Yamanaka, Miu Chung Yan and Liz Dunbar Knox. The institute supports diversity and social justice research and practice activities and projects.

 

The School continues to serve needs by education multiculturally diverse social workers for work in a wide range of settings and across multiple areas of practice.

 

Rita Takahashi

School of Social Work Director

Cited Work:

 [1]San Francisco State College, Department of Social Work Education.  (1967, November).  Report submitted to the Council on Social Work Education in furtherance of application for accreditation.  San Francisco, CA:  Author.