School History

UNC Charlotte School of Social Work began as a Social Service Work concentration in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology in the College of Arts & Sciences.

An interest in social work grew, leading to the establishment of a social work major (Bachelor of Social Work) in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work.

1991 – Dr. Jim Dudley was hired as the first Program Director for the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program. The BSW program started with 17 students and by the end of the year, enrollment doubled to 35 students. A group of 12 commitment professionals who supported the department and community formed the Social Work Advisory Community Advisory Board (CAB).

1995 – The BSW program became fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and was celebrated by a reception at the Nation’s Bank now known as Bank of America. More than 50 students were enrolled in the BSW Upper Division program, with five full-time faculty and a full-time secretary.

2000 – The Master of Social Work (MSW) program is established.

2002 – The MSW program graduated its first class with 22 students. The Department of Social Work with its BSW and MSW programs became a separate unit and joined the new College of Health and Human Services. The Department of Social Work began participating in the North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative (CWEC). The program was established in 1999 to improve public child welfare services in North Carolina.

2004 – The MSW program was accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

2006 – The MSW program admits the first group of Advanced Standing students. The Advanced Standing plan of study allowed for students with a BSW to obtain their MSW in one calendar year.

2008 – The U.S. News and World Report ranked UNC Charlotte’s MSW Program as 82nd in the country. The Department of Social Work was reaffirmed for Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accreditation for eight years.

2014 – UNC Charlotte Department of Social Work was approved by the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees to be a School of Social Work.

2016 – The first cohort of the new three year MSW students began classes in the summer. The School of Social Work and the Department of Special Education & Child Development announced the approval of a joint graduate certificate program in Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH). The Commission of Accreditation for Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) determined that the BSW and MSW programs reaffirmed accreditation for 8 years. The School of Social Work was awarded a $2 million U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) federal grant to provide scholarships for graduate students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds who are preparing for careers in behavioral health care. This scholarship funded graduate students from 2016-2020.

2017 – The Charlotte Regional Integrated Behavioral Health Scholars (CRIBHS) program was launched through this grant funding awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program funded graduate students interested in behavioral health from 2017-2021.

2018 – The Race and Social Equity (RASE) Academy was established to foster the scholarship of practice and research focused on advancing racial and social parties within the community.

2019 – The 2019-2020 U.S. News and World Report ranked the MSW program in the top 20 percent of all graduate social work programs nationally. The MSW program is tied for 51st place.

2020 – In 2020, the School of Social Work consisted of 21 full time faculty, 18 part time faculty and 3 administrative staff members. The School of Social Work grew to consist of nearly 460 students in the BSW, MSW (1-Year Advanced Standing, 2-Year, and 3-Year) and Early Childhood Mental Health graduate certificate combined.

2021 – The School of Social Work received approval from CSWE for the MSW program to be a fully online program starting in May 2021. Additionally, renewed funding was received for the Integrated Behavioral Health Program (HRSA BHWET Grant) with a focus on high need children, adolescents, and transitional aged youth.

2022 – The School of Social Work added an Advanced Standing Distance Education MSW plan of study for students with a BSW who prefer to do an online program. The School now offers two traditional program options (1-year Advanced Standing and 2-year) and two Distance Education program options (2-year Advanced Standing and 3-year). The BSW program maintained its growth of over 90 students in the cohort starting their first year of Upper Division. Due to this maintained growth, the School was able to make a temporary faculty position permanent. The Practicum Office now has partnerships with over 275 agencies.

2025 – The Commission of Accreditation for Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) determined that the BSW and MSW programs reaffirmed accreditation for 8 years. The School of Social Work launched its fully online BSW Upper Division program.