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About the Saint Louis University School of Social Work

Founded in 1930, the Saint Louis University School of Social Work is built upon an unwavering commitment to social justice.

Ranked in the top 13% of social work programs nationally by U.S. News & World Report, SLU's School of Social Work is a leader in integrating social work practice and education with faculty members who have made substantial contributions to the profession.

In addition to social work, the school offers outstanding undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and certificates in the areas of applied behavior analysis, gerontology, and criminology and criminal justice.

Leadership

School of Social Work Centers and Research

Doerr Center for Social Justice

The Emmett J. and Mary Martha Doerr Center for Social Justice Education and Research is an independently funded center within Saint Louis University’s School of Social Work that promotes long-range solutions to social problems through education and research.

Visit the Doerr Center for Social Justice

Health Criminology Research Consortium

The Health Criminology Research Consortium at Saint Louis University is an interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers investigating the nexus of health, crime and the criminal justice system, and how to improve effectiveness in prevention, clinical intervention and policy.

Health Criminology Research Consortium

About Our Approach 

Built upon an unwavering commitment to social justice, the school is a leader in integrating social work practice and education with faculty members who have substantially contributed to the profession.

Interactive teaching methods integrate community‐based practice with classroom activities and discussions. Small class sizes facilitate an atmosphere of intellectual dialogue that fosters relationships between students and faculty.

Continuously Accredited Since 1930

SLU's Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program has been fully accredited since 1930, and its Bachelor of Science in Social Work (B.S.S.W.) has been fully accredited since 1974; its accrediting body is the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The programs were last accredited in 2018. The next accreditation date is 2026.

The Council on Social Work Education, founded in 1952, is a partnership of educational and professional institutions, social welfare agencies and private citizens. It is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the United States.

The Council on Social Work Education ensures the preparation of competent social work professionals by providing national leadership and a forum for collective action. Its main responsibility is to promote and maintain the high quality of social work education. In addition, it strives to stimulate knowledge and curriculum development, to advance social justice, and to strengthen community and individual well-being.