The School of Social Work and Criminal Justice is operating remotely, Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Staff can be contacted by email.
For resources for students affected by COVID-19, please see this document or visit the website for the Office of the Chancellor.
Committed to Our Community
The School of Social Work and Criminal Justice has strong ties to the South Puget Sound community: our graduate and undergraduate students complete local internships and practicum placements; our faculty conducts collaborative research with partners in our community; and our alumni are actively involved in service and helping professions largely in the South Puget Sound region.
Learn more about community engagement and endowment opportunities.
Giving Opportunities
Visit our Giving Page to learn more about needs, find opportunities, and make a gift.
We are hiring!
Check out the positions below and apply today:
Practicum Support/Temporary Lecturer in Social Work
MSW
Master of Social Work
UW Tacoma's part-time, evening Master of Social Work (MSW) programs seek to enroll well-qualified students with diverse backgrounds. We especially seek applicants who are committed to work with diverse populations.
BASW
Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare
The Social Welfare major is dedicated to preparing competent, ethical, and culturally sensitive social workers with specialized knowledge and skills who are committed to evidence-based practice and to planned social change.
CJ
Bachelor of Arts Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice major, both online and on campus, offers a multidisciplinary understanding of crime and justice within the framework of broader social processes within our society. This innovative approach emphasizes social justice, diversity, community partnerships, systems thinking and skill development. A social justice lens is adopted with a focus on harm reduction, rehabilitative and restorative approaches to crime and justice.
Affirming Social Justice
The social work and criminal justice faculty and staff are committed to social justice as the foundation for engaging with our students, one another, and the communities we serve.
This commitment is reflected in our core values, which include:
- Empowering individuals as change agents;
- Reducing systemic and societal barriers that impede individuals from achieving their full potential;
- Fostering a community that promotes critical self-reflection, discovery, and action;
- Engaging micro and macro practice to advocate and achieve a more compassionate and equitable society.
Dr. Charles Emlet: Developing an age-friendly Puyallup
After 25 years of social work practice in the field, much of which had been and still is centered around older adults and LGBTQ+ individuals, Dr. Charles Emlet came to UW Tacoma in 1999 and has been teaching social work practice, research methods, spirituality in social work and aging gerontology ever since. During our Feb. Collaboratory drive, we were able to reach out to and speak with Dr. Emlet about the work he’s doing in our community.
New faculty at UW Tacoma in 2020-21
We are pleased to introduce 12 faculty members who have recently joined the UW Tacoma community.
The Monstrous
Some monsters hide under beds or in sewer drains. Most, however, live inside us. Ingrid Walker and Dustin Annis talk about the role of the monstrous imagination in culture and politics.
A Giant Leap
Every student's journey to a degree is unique, and the great leap they take into the world beyond. Read about four 2020 grads: from psychology to cybersecurity to space!
Education Outside the Classroom
Two UW Tacoma students interning at Tacomaprobono this summer are helping others and gaining valuable experience.