Welcome from the Interim Dean
Welcome to the Columbia School of Social Work. Explore our school’s website in depth to learn more about our longstanding commitment to human rights and excellence.
Our Mission
The mission of the Columbia School of Social Work is to promote dignity and well-being among individuals, groups, families, and communities, locally, nationally, and globally; and to foster social work education, practice, and research that drive societal transformation, expand opportunities and resources, and strengthen the capabilities of all persons, especially those who face the greatest barriers, to achieve their full potential.
Our Education Is Second to None
We are proud to be the first school of social work in the U.S. and even prouder to continue leading the profession in pedagogy. Our educational programs are nationally recognized for being cutting edge, whether in direct practice, advocacy, social entrepreneurship, or policy. For example, our most recent program in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy is the only one located in a school of social work.
Our Research Is Relevant, Innovative, and Rigorous
CSSW researchers are engaged in research focused on major contemporary challenges including opioid addiction, child and family policy, refugee displacement, healthcare access, AI implications for society, and the human and societal consequences of racism. Much of this research is community informed and community involved. Our view is global recognizing that worldwide systems are increasingly interconnected, and lessons learned in one part of the world can inform our strategy in others. Our approach to discovery is interdisciplinary, because tackling society’s most complex challenges requires diverse toolkits. All the applied research is evidence-based and rigorously tested.
Our Community Reflects our World
CSSW students, faculty, and staff come from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, and have a wide range of lived experiences. We embrace our differences because they help make us be better listeners, communicators, practitioners, and scholars.
Our Environment is One of Engagement
We learn by being receptive to new ideas and approaches; by an openness to respectful disagreement and dialogue; and by mutual esteem and support. We are fully committed to these principles, as they are pre-conditions for creativity and successful collaboration. We are a vibrant community that welcomes anyone with a commitment to the core values of social work.
Julien O. Teitler
Interim Dean & D’Elbert and Selma Keenan Professor of Social Work
Columbia School of Social Work