Mission Statement

The School of Social Work at the University of Georgia is the oldest public institution in the state providing professional social work education. As part of a land-grant institution, the School has primary responsibility for preparing social work leaders and scholars across its four degree programs for social work practice with the diverse people and communities in the state of Georgia, the region, the nation and beyond our national borders. The School is committed to recruiting a student body that reflects academic excellence as well as diversity.

The School of Social Work at the University of Georgia aims to prepare practitioners and scholars who will be leaders in the elimination of oppression and inequality through an emphasis on skill-based social work practices, policy development, and research initiatives. While many theories underlie the practice of social work, our School emphasizes the application of a social ecological framework and is grounded in systemic inquiry. Through our academic, service and research programs, we promote the goals of economic and social justice for individuals, families, and communities.

 We are committed to positive change through the use of ethical and evidence-based social work interventions at the individual, familial, group, community, organizational, societal or international levels, as we strongly believe that it is within families and communities that sustained change occurs.  The University of Georgia School of Social Work is committed to the development, application and dissemination of evidence-based knowledge to prepare social work leaders to work toward the prevention and/or resolution of critical social problems facing society. We reflect a continuing commitment to promote educational and professional growth among social service personnel in the state of Georgia through the implementation of innovative continuing education and professional development programs.