School of Social Work University at Buffalo, the State University of New York

The University at Buffalo School of Social Work

The University at Buffalo School of Social Work has created outstanding graduate programs that are ranked within the top 12 percent of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited social work programs. The school offers individuals the opportunity to collaborate with faculty members and peers who have diverse backgrounds, cultural experiences, and worldviews. It also provides several dual-degree programs that enable students to integrate social work study with disciplines relevant to the field.

University at Buffalo School of Social Work Podcast Series

Another important feature of the School of Social Work is its "Living Proof" podcast series that features conversations with social work professionals, interviews with researchers, and information about emerging trends and best practices in the field.

The Master of Social Work Program at the University at Buffalo

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program consists of an evidenced-based, "trauma-informed, human rights" curriculum. Students gain the expertise needed to identify, evaluate, and improve the human and social circumstances that would otherwise lead to individual, family, group, and community trauma.

The MSW curriculum consists of foundation, advanced, and elective courses, as well as field placements. The advanced curriculum includes a variety of intervention studies, advanced topics, and elective courses that make it possible for students to tailor their educations to meet their practice area interests.

Students complete the foundation curriculum before starting the advanced curriculum. They may, however, enroll in electives courses -- including online courses -- at any time.

BA/MSW Joint Degree Program

The Bachelor of Science/Master of Social Work at the University at Buffalo is a very competitive program that prepares ambitious students for advanced social work practice. Students can earn both the Bachelor of Science (BS) and MSW degrees in 5 years. They each complete a minimum of 93 undergraduate credits and 60 credits in the MSW program.

JD/MSW Dual Degree Program

Students who pursue the Juris Doctor (JD)/MSW degree can earn dual degrees in law and social work in 4 years of study. They each earn 90 credits in the law program and 60 in the MSW program. They also each complete 2 field placements in the MSW program, a law clinic, and 2 JD/MSW colloquia. The program enables students to integrate legal principles with social work theory and practice.

Master of Business Administration/Master of Social Work Program

The University at Buffalo also offers a 96-credit Master of Business Administration (MBA)/MSW dual degree program that enables students to earn both degrees in 3 years.

Students gain in-depth understandings of the fundamentals of business management, and also develop the expertise needed for social work practice and administration.

MPH/MSW Dual Degree Program

The UB dual Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Social Work program includes 37 credits in public health courses and 51 in social work courses. This program allows students to integrate the principles and practices of 2 similar but unique perspectives to addressing social issues. The disciplines share similar positions regarding prevention, community, and special concern for vulnerable populations. Students can now choose from 2 MPH concentrations ? Health Services Administration and Community Health and Health Behavior.

Doctoral Program in Social Welfare at the University at Buffalo

Students in the PhD in Social Welfare program design individual plans of study that may include courses in political science, psychology, sociology, law, education, public health, urban planning, and public health and health professions.

The curriculum, which includes 47 credits and can be completed in 2 years, consists of professional seminars, independent study, research methods courses, research internships, and dissertation preparation.

Students receive generous support in completing the program, including financial assistance, professional guidance, and career-placement assistance. In fact, 85 percent of graduates are placed in research and academic positions throughout the country.

Dedicated Faculty

The UB School of Social Work faculty members are teachers, scholars, and activists who are committed to research and practice. For instance, Professor, Charles D. Syms, MSW, has several years of clinical practice and managerial experience in child protective services, mental health counseling, and substance abuse treatment.

The Buffalo Center for Social Research

Faculty members' research interests span a wide range of areas including aging, children and youth, domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse, and trauma.

Through the Buffalo Center for Social Research, faculty members and students receive the support needed to conduct cutting-edge research that promotes real-world solutions. The center facilitates a wide-variety of scholarly endeavors such as collaboration amongst faculty members and students, data analysis support, focus group interviews, research seminars, and student-led agency evaluations.

It also hosts the Distinguished Scholars Series in which prominent scholars -- such as Dr. Brian E. Bride -- present their research findings to the School of Social Work community and UB stakeholders.

Alumni and Employment Opportunities

The alumni of the UB School of Social Work build successful careers in a wide-variety of fields, including business. For example, international financier, Leslie A. Brun (MSW '74), used his graduate education in social work to build a multi-million dollar business that allows him to make valuable contributions to the community.

The school provides a wide-range of resources to help students and alumni achieve career success, including continuing education courses, non-degree courses, and job search assistance.

Financial Assistance in the School of Social Work at UB

The UB School of Social Work provides tuition scholarships; fellowships; and graduate, research, and teaching assistantships for eligible students.

Students may also qualify for federal student loans and external scholarships and fellowships.

The University at Buffalo

Founded in 1846, the University of Buffalo is a flagship school in the State University of New York 64-campus system. UB is a top, research-intensive, public university that is committed to providing excellent academic programs to nearly 30,000 students.

"Kiplinger" has given the University of Buffalo a ranking on its list of the top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges.

UB is located in Buffalo, New York, in the northeastern region of the United States. Its location within western New York -- just minutes from Canada -- offers students a wide variety of entertainment, cultural, outdoor recreational, employment, and community (e.g., urban, rural, and suburban) options.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Master of Business Administration/Master of Social Work (MBA/MSW)
  Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work (JD/MSW)
  Master of Public Health/Master of Social Work (MPH/MSW)
• Social Work Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Social Welfare Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 188
• Doctoral Degrees 5
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? Yes
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? No

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees 900 hours of field work
• Doctoral Degrees Required and Required
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied478
• Accepted285
• Acceptance Rate59%
• Enrolled193
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $50
• Application Fee - International $50
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline March 1st March 1st Yes
• Winter deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline Not Reported Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's Degrees24 credits of course work in liberal arts
• Doctoral's DegreesGRE General Test, MSW or equivalent
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL required, 600 paper based, TOEFL iBT

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *Not Reported
• Out-of-state tuition *Not Reported
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year feesNot Reported
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsApril 30
• Types of financial support availableFellowships, Research Assitantships, Teaching Assistantships, Tuition Waivers, Federal Work-Study, Health Care Benefits, Scholarship and/or loans, Graduate Assistantships, instructorships and research grants (PhD)

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students427
• Female Percentage83%
• Male Percentage17%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students427
• Part-time Percentage39%
• Full-time Percentage61%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino2%
• Black / African American11%
• White / Caucasian72%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian2%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races0%
• Unknown13%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty58
• Full-time Percentage43%
• Part-time Percentage57%
• Female Percentage67%
• Male Percentage33%

• Existing Research
• Focus of faculty researchTrauma, substance abuse, child welfare, aging, human rights
• Externally sponsored research expenditures last yearNot Reported