Welcome to the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina! We are happy that you are interested in the College and invite you to learn more about our social work community, dedicated to promoting social well-being and social justice for vulnerable populations.

Founded in 1801, our University has a long, distinguished tradition of leadership and service in higher education. The College of Social Work was founded in 1969; since its beginning it has also been dedicated to leadership and service to South Carolina, the nation, and internationally.  Our location in the capital city of Columbia provides rich opportunities for learning and advocacy at both practice and policy levels. 

The College of Social Work emphasizes the preparation of social work professionals and the generation of social work knowledge, with the purpose of addressing the major challenges facing our society—impoverished communities, violence, addictions and mental illnesses, health disparities, lack of support for older adults, the needs of military, veterans, and their families, to name a few. 

The College is a member of the University’s Division of Health Sciences—social work, public health, nursing, pharmacy, and family medicine. Our work includes a cross-disciplinary perspective and we collaborate with colleagues across our Division, across campus, and around the world. 

Faculty at the College of Social Work engage in research regarding a wide range of topics, some include child welfare, health, aging, behavioral health, and community development.  They have received foundation, state, and federal funding to explore social problems and develop interventions to address challenges faced by vulnerable individuals, families, communities, and organizations.

The College of Social Work is well known for its national and international leadership in social work education. Our Master of Social Work Program is fully accredited, and it consistently ranks among the top graduate programs in the South. Our MSW graduates are employed in a wide range of social work practice and administration settings throughout the world. Many have become top leaders in the profession. In addition, our new BSW Program has enrolled its first cohorts.

Our research-oriented Ph.D. program in social work ranks among the very best as well. We prepare doctoral students for successful careers in higher education, research, and scholarship. Graduates of the program teach or administer at some of the finest programs in higher education. One of the unique features of our doctoral program is its emphasis on interdisciplinary research.

The College also offers a variety of international experiences for students, practitioners, and researchers chiefly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

As Dean, my goal for the College is to establish full-circle community engaged education and scholarship.  Here research, grounded in questions that matter to the community, informs soon-to-be practitioners in the classroom, and is disseminated back to the community in an ongoing process.  We can do this by finding and supporting the best faculty and students, building strong partnerships with the community, collaborating with our colleagues across disciplines, and holding ourselves to the highest educational standards…all with the ultimate goal of promoting social well-being and social justice for vulnerable people around the world.

The University of South Carolina College of Social Work is a great place to learn, work, and serve. Please visit us when you have the opportunity—our campus is one of the most beautiful in the nation and a perfect place to learn and reflect.  Let me know if we can help you any way.

Sincerely,
Anna Scheyett, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Dean and Professor