Social Welfare | MSW and Ph.D. | UCLA Luskin School
Source: http://luskin.ucla.edu/departments/social-welfare
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
Social Welfare | MSW and Ph.D. | UCLA Luskin School
Social Welfare
About
Academic Programs
CSWE Accreditation
News
Why UCLA?
Students
Contacts
Follow a manual added link
Follow a manual added link
75 years of community partnerships
The study of social work got its start at UCLA in 1947. Seventy-five years later, the Department of Social Welfare remains committed to enhancing human well-being and promoting social and economic justice for disadvantaged populations.
Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, we invite you to join UCLA Luskin Social Welfare at
a series of events
marking three-quarters-of-a-century of making a difference in Los Angeles and cities around the world.
The UCLA Department of Social Welfare offers the
Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
and a
Ph.D. in Social Welfare
.
Joint degrees
offer an even broader range of skill and expertise development. An undergraduate
B.A. in Public Affairs
,
Minor in Public Affairs
, and
Minor in Gerontology
are also available.
The UCLA Department of Social Welfare’s research and teaching guide policy makers, shape practice and programs in such areas as welfare, aging, health care, mental health, children and families, and long-term support. UCLA Social Welfare faculty members are committed to placing their knowledge at the service of communities and empowering the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.
MSW Plan of Study
Ph.D. Curriculum
Apply Now
View Brochure
Academic Programs
The
Master of Social Welfare
is a two-year period of full-time study program (6 quarters) merging theory, leadership, and research with generalist and specialized practicums of practice. Our curriculum is comprised of coursework and two separate year-long field placement components with social work agencies that allows our students to actualize what they are learning in the classroom, providing holistic, integrated experiences.
The
Ph.D. in Social Welfare
is a national leader in educating the next generation of social welfare scholars. Whether your interest is in service delivery or scholarly research, you will design your own advanced education aimed at pursuing your own intellectual interests.
The
B.A. in Public Affairs
offers an in-depth and engaged educational experience with a clear public service ethos. Drawing from UCLA Luskin’s expansive resources in Public Policy, Social Welfare, and Urban Planning, the major combines critical thinking, social science methodology, and experiential learning, connecting the dots between theory and action. The
Minor in Public Affairs
teaches students the skills of policy analysis and exposes them to the many issues facing today’s policymakers and opinion leaders. The
Minor in Gerontology
is an interdisciplinary program which utilizes UCLA’s professional schools and College resources to create an enhanced academic experience in aging.
Three-year Option:
As of fall 2021, a three-year period part-time program (8 quarters or 9 quarters with Pupil Personnel Services Credential) is available as an option for students interested in the Child and Family Well-Being area of concentration. Students in this program take classes in the mornings and work with their practicum agencies to complete their required internship hours over the course of their academic program. Please note that this is not an evening and weekend program; classes and an internship will be scheduled during regular business hours.
Concurrent Degree Programs
include four joint graduate degrees: Social Welfare MSW / Asian American Studies MA; Social Welfare MSW / Law JD; Social Welfare MSW/Public Health MPH, and Social Welfare MSW / Public Policy MPP.
International Study Opportunities
include summer programs, internships, international/comparative planning workshops and international exchange agreements.
Visitor Programs
attract and highlight visiting scholars, post-doctoral and graduate researchers, international professionals and trend-setting work by students at other institutions.
International related courses
are also available to our students.
Certificates, Licensure and Training Programs
Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) Licensure, Global Public Affairs Certificate, Human Services Management Certificate, Mental Health Training Programs, Public Child Welfare Training Programs, Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC)
CSWE Accreditation
As a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, our MSW program measures and reports student learning outcomes. Click the link below for the most recent data, which is updated every two years.
Form AS M5.0.1(d): Student Achievement Assessment Summary
News
Award recognizes Turner’s research on the lived experiences of Black youth and systems of punishment.
Read more
→
UCLA Luskin Social Welfare Ph.D. student Qianyun Wang.
Qianyun Wang is one of 15 finalists turning ideas into action in the 2025 competition.
Read more
→
Duncan Lindsey. Photo by Alan Braus.
The UCLA Luskin Social Welfare professor emeritus was a pioneering scholar of child welfare.
Read more
→
Latoya Small is one of several recent additions to the outstanding Social Welfare faculty. Find out more about Small and her research in a recent
profile
by the Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services.
Why Study Social Welfare at UCLA?
The UCLA Department of Social Welfare’s research and teaching guide policy makers, shape practice and programs in such areas as welfare, aging, health care, mental health, children and families, and long-term support. UCLA Social Welfare faculty members are committed to placing their knowledge at the service of communities and empowering the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.
The full-time
faculty
members in the Social Welfare program are extraordinary scholars in their fields of study.
Choose between three advanced areas of concentration: Child and Family Well-Being, Health and Mental Health across the Life Span, or Social and Economic Justice.
Bright, accomplished, diverse and passionate, our students are consistently honored for their work.
Established in 1947, UCLA’s Department of Social Welfare is committed to enhancing human well-being and promoting social and economic justice for disadvantaged populations. Among UCLA Luskin’s departments, Social Welfare is the oldest and largest in terms of both student enrollment and number of faculty. As professionals and scholars at a great public research university, the faculty has a responsibility to train the next generation of practitioners and leaders for the social work profession and to advance the knowledge base for social work policy and practice in California and around the world. Graduates assume leadership roles in social work practice and scholarship, and they address the social, health, and mental health needs of diverse populations.
UCLA is committed to increasing diversity in graduate education. We embrace the principles of diversity and inclusion to understand, appreciate, and respect differences in cultures and customs, religious beliefs, gender identity, sexual preferences, immigration status, and political points of view.
Our graduate population reflects broad intellectual interests and includes students from many cultures and backgrounds. We feel it crucial to continue to increase the diversity of our graduate student population so the university community more accurately reflects the demographics of California and the nation.
UCLA offers action-oriented study in arguably the most dynamic region in the world.
UCLA Graduate Division awards numerous fellowships supporting diversity. Luskin School-wide fellowships support our commitment to social justice. The department offers merit-based fellowships to top applicants regardless of citizenship status. All eligible Social Welfare students receive a need-based fellowship award. Ph.D. students typically receive tuition and fees.
Students
Students in our programs come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are attracted to the diversity and vitality of Los Angeles from across the country and around the world. They represent a broad range of undergraduate degrees including psychology, sociology, social work, business administration, political science, literature, and world arts.
The programs attract individuals with a strong interest in public service who share a passion for assisting those in need.
Our program reflects the commitment to making a difference that is common among social workers nationwide and reflected in recent public service announcements from the National Association of Social Workers.
LGBTQ Youth PSA
Single Parents PSA
Older Adults PSA
Typically, students who are accepted into UCLA’s program have a minimum of 1-2 years of work and/or volunteer experience.
Most students live off campus and spend a significant percentage of their time in practicum placements. The Department of Social Welfare and the students themselves have compiled a list of department and university resources to aid them in their studies here at UCLA.
Contacts
Department of Social Welfare
Luskin School of Public Affairs
3250 Public Affairs Building
Box 951656
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656
phone: (310) 825-2892
fax: (310)
206-7564
Poco D. Kernsmith
Chair
poco@luskin.ucla.edu
(310) 825-5932
Shelly Brooks
Manager
(310) 825-1429
brooks@luskin.ucla.edu
T
anya Youssephzadeh
Director of Student Services
tyousseph@luskin.ucla.edu
Oliver Ike
Admissions Officer
(310) 825-7737
oliver@luskin.ucla.edu
Ervin Huang
Student Affairs Officer
ervin@luskin.ucla.edu
(310) 825-5581
Amy Tinoco
Student Affairs Officer (HCAI SWECE Stipend Program)
atinoco@luskin.ucla.edu
(424) 442-6532
Academic Program Coordinator
(310) 825-2892
Carmen Mancha
Administrative Analyst, Practicum Education Office
(310) 825-2257
cmancha@luskin.ucla.edu
Tera Sillett
CalSWEC Administrative Analyst
(310) 206-6048
tsillett@luskin.ucla.edu
Lorraine Rosales
PPSC Coordinator
(424)259-5051
lorraine@luskin.ucla.edu
Follow UCLA Social Welfare
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube
Apr
23
Join us for an engaging alumni panel, Sustainability in the Entertainment Industry, featuring UCLA Luskin alumni Jazz Henry MURP'25 and Irma Livadic MPP'19, who are building careers at the intersection of sustainability, […]
May
12
Join Dr. Jasmine Smith, the Director of Capacity Building with the NASW-CA Chapter to learn about the social work licensure process, including key steps, requirements, and guidance for navigating the licensure pathway.
May
21
Young people from around the world gather online and in person at the Luskin School to engage and deliberate on solutions for sustainable development and other global challenges.
May
29
Join us for a Career Tour at Google LA to discover how leaders in technology are shaping policy, social impact, community engagement, and responsible innovation.
View Calendar
Social Welfare Strategic Plan
Contact
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
3250 Public Affairs Building - Box 951656
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656
Campus Resources
Maps, Directions, Parking
Directory
Contact
Academic Calendar
Careers
Diversity
University of California
Terms of Use
Follow
The statements on this page represent the views of people affiliated with the Luskin School of Public Affairs and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of California, or UCLA or its Chancellor.
Posts and comments by individuals at UCLA on social media channels may not reflect the opinions or
policies of UCLA
, the University of California or the Luskin School, nor its benefactors and academic partners.
Scroll to top
Social Welfare
About
Academic Programs
CSWE Accreditation
News
Why UCLA?
Students
Contacts
Follow a manual added link
Follow a manual added link
75 years of community partnerships
The study of social work got its start at UCLA in 1947. Seventy-five years later, the Department of Social Welfare remains committed to enhancing human well-being and promoting social and economic justice for disadvantaged populations.
Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, we invite you to join UCLA Luskin Social Welfare at
a series of events
marking three-quarters-of-a-century of making a difference in Los Angeles and cities around the world.
The UCLA Department of Social Welfare offers the
Master of Social Welfare (MSW)
and a
Ph.D. in Social Welfare
.
Joint degrees
offer an even broader range of skill and expertise development. An undergraduate
B.A. in Public Affairs
,
Minor in Public Affairs
, and
Minor in Gerontology
are also available.
The UCLA Department of Social Welfare’s research and teaching guide policy makers, shape practice and programs in such areas as welfare, aging, health care, mental health, children and families, and long-term support. UCLA Social Welfare faculty members are committed to placing their knowledge at the service of communities and empowering the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.
MSW Plan of Study
Ph.D. Curriculum
Apply Now
View Brochure
Academic Programs
The
Master of Social Welfare
is a two-year period of full-time study program (6 quarters) merging theory, leadership, and research with generalist and specialized practicums of practice. Our curriculum is comprised of coursework and two separate year-long field placement components with social work agencies that allows our students to actualize what they are learning in the classroom, providing holistic, integrated experiences.
The
Ph.D. in Social Welfare
is a national leader in educating the next generation of social welfare scholars. Whether your interest is in service delivery or scholarly research, you will design your own advanced education aimed at pursuing your own intellectual interests.
The
B.A. in Public Affairs
offers an in-depth and engaged educational experience with a clear public service ethos. Drawing from UCLA Luskin’s expansive resources in Public Policy, Social Welfare, and Urban Planning, the major combines critical thinking, social science methodology, and experiential learning, connecting the dots between theory and action. The
Minor in Public Affairs
teaches students the skills of policy analysis and exposes them to the many issues facing today’s policymakers and opinion leaders. The
Minor in Gerontology
is an interdisciplinary program which utilizes UCLA’s professional schools and College resources to create an enhanced academic experience in aging.
Three-year Option:
As of fall 2021, a three-year period part-time program (8 quarters or 9 quarters with Pupil Personnel Services Credential) is available as an option for students interested in the Child and Family Well-Being area of concentration. Students in this program take classes in the mornings and work with their practicum agencies to complete their required internship hours over the course of their academic program. Please note that this is not an evening and weekend program; classes and an internship will be scheduled during regular business hours.
Concurrent Degree Programs
include four joint graduate degrees: Social Welfare MSW / Asian American Studies MA; Social Welfare MSW / Law JD; Social Welfare MSW/Public Health MPH, and Social Welfare MSW / Public Policy MPP.
International Study Opportunities
include summer programs, internships, international/comparative planning workshops and international exchange agreements.
Visitor Programs
attract and highlight visiting scholars, post-doctoral and graduate researchers, international professionals and trend-setting work by students at other institutions.
International related courses
are also available to our students.
Certificates, Licensure and Training Programs
Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) Licensure, Global Public Affairs Certificate, Human Services Management Certificate, Mental Health Training Programs, Public Child Welfare Training Programs, Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC)
CSWE Accreditation
As a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, our MSW program measures and reports student learning outcomes. Click the link below for the most recent data, which is updated every two years.
Form AS M5.0.1(d): Student Achievement Assessment Summary
News
Award recognizes Turner’s research on the lived experiences of Black youth and systems of punishment.
Read more
→
UCLA Luskin Social Welfare Ph.D. student Qianyun Wang.
Qianyun Wang is one of 15 finalists turning ideas into action in the 2025 competition.
Read more
→
Duncan Lindsey. Photo by Alan Braus.
The UCLA Luskin Social Welfare professor emeritus was a pioneering scholar of child welfare.
Read more
→
Latoya Small is one of several recent additions to the outstanding Social Welfare faculty. Find out more about Small and her research in a recent
profile
by the Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services.
Why Study Social Welfare at UCLA?
The UCLA Department of Social Welfare’s research and teaching guide policy makers, shape practice and programs in such areas as welfare, aging, health care, mental health, children and families, and long-term support. UCLA Social Welfare faculty members are committed to placing their knowledge at the service of communities and empowering the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.
The full-time
faculty
members in the Social Welfare program are extraordinary scholars in their fields of study.
Choose between three advanced areas of concentration: Child and Family Well-Being, Health and Mental Health across the Life Span, or Social and Economic Justice.
Bright, accomplished, diverse and passionate, our students are consistently honored for their work.
Established in 1947, UCLA’s Department of Social Welfare is committed to enhancing human well-being and promoting social and economic justice for disadvantaged populations. Among UCLA Luskin’s departments, Social Welfare is the oldest and largest in terms of both student enrollment and number of faculty. As professionals and scholars at a great public research university, the faculty has a responsibility to train the next generation of practitioners and leaders for the social work profession and to advance the knowledge base for social work policy and practice in California and around the world. Graduates assume leadership roles in social work practice and scholarship, and they address the social, health, and mental health needs of diverse populations.
UCLA is committed to increasing diversity in graduate education. We embrace the principles of diversity and inclusion to understand, appreciate, and respect differences in cultures and customs, religious beliefs, gender identity, sexual preferences, immigration status, and political points of view.
Our graduate population reflects broad intellectual interests and includes students from many cultures and backgrounds. We feel it crucial to continue to increase the diversity of our graduate student population so the university community more accurately reflects the demographics of California and the nation.
UCLA offers action-oriented study in arguably the most dynamic region in the world.
UCLA Graduate Division awards numerous fellowships supporting diversity. Luskin School-wide fellowships support our commitment to social justice. The department offers merit-based fellowships to top applicants regardless of citizenship status. All eligible Social Welfare students receive a need-based fellowship award. Ph.D. students typically receive tuition and fees.
Students
Students in our programs come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are attracted to the diversity and vitality of Los Angeles from across the country and around the world. They represent a broad range of undergraduate degrees including psychology, sociology, social work, business administration, political science, literature, and world arts.
The programs attract individuals with a strong interest in public service who share a passion for assisting those in need.
Our program reflects the commitment to making a difference that is common among social workers nationwide and reflected in recent public service announcements from the National Association of Social Workers.
LGBTQ Youth PSA
Single Parents PSA
Older Adults PSA
Typically, students who are accepted into UCLA’s program have a minimum of 1-2 years of work and/or volunteer experience.
Most students live off campus and spend a significant percentage of their time in practicum placements. The Department of Social Welfare and the students themselves have compiled a list of department and university resources to aid them in their studies here at UCLA.
Contacts
Department of Social Welfare
Luskin School of Public Affairs
3250 Public Affairs Building
Box 951656
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656
phone: (310) 825-2892
fax: (310)
206-7564
Poco D. Kernsmith
Chair
poco@luskin.ucla.edu
(310) 825-5932
Shelly Brooks
Manager
(310) 825-1429
brooks@luskin.ucla.edu
T
anya Youssephzadeh
Director of Student Services
tyousseph@luskin.ucla.edu
Oliver Ike
Admissions Officer
(310) 825-7737
oliver@luskin.ucla.edu
Ervin Huang
Student Affairs Officer
ervin@luskin.ucla.edu
(310) 825-5581
Amy Tinoco
Student Affairs Officer (HCAI SWECE Stipend Program)
atinoco@luskin.ucla.edu
(424) 442-6532
Academic Program Coordinator
(310) 825-2892
Carmen Mancha
Administrative Analyst, Practicum Education Office
(310) 825-2257
cmancha@luskin.ucla.edu
Tera Sillett
CalSWEC Administrative Analyst
(310) 206-6048
tsillett@luskin.ucla.edu
Lorraine Rosales
PPSC Coordinator
(424)259-5051
lorraine@luskin.ucla.edu
Follow UCLA Social Welfare
Youtube
Apr
23
Join us for an engaging alumni panel, Sustainability in the Entertainment Industry, featuring UCLA Luskin alumni Jazz Henry MURP'25 and Irma Livadic MPP'19, who are building careers at the intersection of sustainability, […]
May
12
Join Dr. Jasmine Smith, the Director of Capacity Building with the NASW-CA Chapter to learn about the social work licensure process, including key steps, requirements, and guidance for navigating the licensure pathway.
May
21
Young people from around the world gather online and in person at the Luskin School to engage and deliberate on solutions for sustainable development and other global challenges.
May
29
Join us for a Career Tour at Google LA to discover how leaders in technology are shaping policy, social impact, community engagement, and responsible innovation.
View Calendar
Social Welfare Strategic Plan
Contact
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
3250 Public Affairs Building - Box 951656
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656
Campus Resources
Maps, Directions, Parking
Directory
Contact
Academic Calendar
Careers
Diversity
University of California
Terms of Use
Follow
The statements on this page represent the views of people affiliated with the Luskin School of Public Affairs and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of California, or UCLA or its Chancellor.
Posts and comments by individuals at UCLA on social media channels may not reflect the opinions or
policies of UCLA
, the University of California or the Luskin School, nor its benefactors and academic partners.
Scroll to top