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School of Social Work

Strengthening Diverse Communities

Contact Us

School of Social Work

601 Howard Place, NW

Washington, DC 20059

Main: 202-806-7300

Online MSW Admissions: 1-833-685-1677

On-Campus MSW Admissions: 202-806-6450

socialworkadmissions@howard.edu

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Find Your Path

Explore Our MSW Programs

Choose the Howard MSW experience that aligns with your academic background, learning preferences, and professional goals.

On Campus

Flagship MSW

Experience Howard in Washington, D.C. through immersive, in-person learning, faculty mentorship, campus programming, and agency-based education.

Explore the Flagship MSW
Online

Online MSW

Earn a Howard MSW through a flexible online learning experience grounded in the Black Perspective and designed to extend Howard's social work education beyond campus.

Explore the Online MSW
Interdisciplinary

Dual & Joint Degrees

Combine social work with another professional discipline through interdisciplinary pathways that broaden your preparation and professional reach.

Explore the Dual Degrees
Looking for additional learning opportunities?   Learn more about our Non-Degree Options →
Howard University School of Social Work

Fast Facts

A legacy of social work education, scholarship, service, and community impact.

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Years of Social Work Education

Preparing generations of social workers, scholars, practitioners, and leaders.

#1 in D.C.
Top-Ranked MSW Program in Washington, D.C.

#12 Best Social Work Program in the Nation U.S. News & World Report

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Hours of Supervised Service

Through agency-based education experiences connecting academic learning with professional social work practice.

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Hours of Community Outreach

Contributed through volunteer service with District-based organizations and community partners.

$0M
Grant Portfolio

Supporting research, community engagement, scholarship, and social work initiatives.

R1
Research Institution

Study social work within Howard University, a Carnegie-classified R1 institution with the highest level of research activity.

HUSSW Featured Content

Grand Stories Podcast

GrandStories: Profiles in Aging Podcast Returns with New Episodes

The GrandStories: Profiles in Aging podcast is back with an exciting lineup of new episodes, now available for listening!

Developed and hosted by Dr. Robert Cosby, Director of the Howard University Multidisciplinary Gerontology Center (HU-MGC), the podcast explores timely conversations on aging, social justice, and the evolving role of social work in supporting older adults, their families, and communities. Through engaging discussions with experts and community leaders, GrandStories highlights emerging issues affecting older adults while showcasing innovative collaborations that promote healthy aging, equity, and inclusion. 
PCMI Graduates 2026

Building the Workforce Through Lived Experience

A new class of graduates from the Howard University School of Social Work's Peer Case Management Institute (PCMI) is stepping into careers where lived experience informs professional practice. Featured in Street Sense Media, the June 2026 graduates completed an intensive 11-week training program that prepares them to provide case management and peer support throughout the District's homeless services system.

The Peer Case Management Institute is a partnership among the Howard University School of Social Work, the D.C. Department of Human Services, The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, and Pathways to Housing DC. Through classroom instruction and professional development, participants gain the training skills needed to support individuals navigating housing instability. As the graduates begin this next chapter, they bring firsthand understanding, professional preparation, and a shared commitment to helping others move forward. 
May 2026 Graduates

Honoring AY25-26 Graduates and Student Leader Award Recipients

On Friday, May 8, 2026, the Howard University School of Social Work celebrated the Summer 2025, Winter 2025, and Spring 2026 graduating classes during its annual Awards and Recognition Ceremony. The event honored 180 MSW graduates and 6 Ph.D. graduates for their academic excellence, leadership, scholarship, and commitment to advancing social justice through the profession of social work. The ceremony also recognized distinguished student award recipients and graduating leaders who exemplify the enduring strength of the Black Perspective in social work education and practice. 
HUSSW News & Highlights

See What’s Happening at the School of Social Work

Explore the latest accomplishments, research, student and alumni highlights, faculty achievements, and stories from the HUSSW community.

Read More News & Highlights →

Iahnna Henry

Concentration: Direct Practice

The HUSSW program has shaped me as a first-year student by expanding my perspective on social work and instilling confidence in my ability to grow within the profession. It has provided me with the autonomy to develop my skills and the knowledge to become an effective advocate for change. Through this program, I have learned how to leverage my experiences to strengthen my practice and work toward improving structures like resident services to better serve communities.

90 Years of Social Work Excellence

Since 1935, the Howard University School of Social Work has been a national leader in advancing justice, equity, and community transformation. Founded under the visionary leadership and advocacy of Lucy Diggs Slowe, Dr. Inabel Burns Lindsay, and Dr. E. Franklin Frazier, the School has prepared generations of social work pioneers who have shaped policy, practice, and progress across the nation and the world.

With more than 90 years of excellence in social work education, the Howard University School of Social Work stands among the nation’s leading programs- ranked #12 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, the highest-ranked graduate program at Howard University, and the #1 social work program in Washington, D.C.

For nine decades, our faculty, students, and alumni have been at the forefront of addressing society’s most urgent challenges — from civil rights to child welfare, from health and mental health to criminal justice reform. Guided by the enduring strength of the Black Perspective, our work continues to empower communities and transform lives.

We are proud to honor our legacy, celebrate our achievements, and look ahead to the next chapter of impact.

 

Click Here to Learn More About Our History
Dean Emeritus Crewe and Dean Jennings
Support the Howard University School of Social Work

Invest in the Future of Social Work

A gift to the Howard University School of Social Work is an investment in the people who will enter communities, agencies, institutions, and policy spaces prepared to confront some of society's most complex challenges. Your support expands what is possible for our students while strengthening the education, scholarship, and experiences that prepare them for the work ahead.

Expand Student Opportunity Help provide scholarships and critical resources that support students throughout their academic journey.
Advance Research & Scholarship Strengthen research, instruction, and the development of knowledge responsive to pressing social challenges.
Prepare the Next Generation Support professional development and learning experiences that extend students' preparation beyond the classroom.
Your investment strengthens the people who will shape what comes next in social work.
Give Today →

Bison News

View More News
A collage image of 7 women, all in black and white
Jun 25, 2026

The Howard University Student-Led Bus Protest that Challenged Virginia’s Jim Crow Laws
Jamerson Watson
May 8, 2026

For Master's Graduate Jamerson Watson, Social Work is Not Just A Profession; It's a Ministry
kim_lewis_howard_university_headshot
Apr 7, 2026

Physicist Kim Lewis Brings Energy and Experience to Help Shape Howard University’s ‘R1’ Vision