The School is one of the leading centers of professional training in direct social work practice. Graduates at all levels acquire the core knowledge and skills necessary to work directly with individuals, families, and groups. Concurrent practical experience with clients in agency settings closely supervised in a supportive environment is an integral component of professional social work education. The School draws on the extraordinary diversity of service agencies in the New York City metropolitan area and the tristate region for its student fieldwork placements. Carefully selected field instructors are on site in the more than 350 agencies in which students are placed.
Faculty have extensive professional experience and excellent teaching skills.
They bring to the School a wide range of knowledge and social work orientations spanning contemporary psychodynamic, psychological, and social theory perspectives and related research. While teaching is the first obligation of the full-time faculty, they also engage in a wide range of social work practice and research projects and scholarly analysis for publication. Through consultation and research, faculty assist local social service, mental health, and health care agencies in program planning and evaluation. Faculty from the School are also called upon to help shape nationwide programs in social services, education, and mental health. Flexible Professional Education .