SSW students holding advocacy posters while attending LEAD Day at the New York State Capitol SSW students holding advocacy posters while attending LEAD Day at the New York State Capitol

School of Social Welfare

Advancing social and economic justice through engagement, research and service.

Making an Impact with Our Communities

The University at Albany School of Social Welfare (SSW) is dedicated to the realization of a fair and just society and institutions that are diverse, inclusive and equitable. Our students have educational and research opportunities to improve human well-being on local, national and global levels. 

SSW prepares students for successful careers in social work through coursework and research with internationally known faculty, hands-on experience with our community and state partner agencies, and study abroad opportunities.

 

Interested in Applying?

Interested in learning more about the programs offered at the SSW? Have questions on any part of the application process? Register to attend an online information session.

Attend an Online Session

A Message from the Senior Vice Dean, and Director Victoria Rizzo

I am thrilled that you are interested in the School of Social Welfare. You are joining us at an exciting time - our 60th Anniversary! We have been reflecting on all we have accomplished over the years, but we are also excited about what is next for the school as we join the new College of Integrated Health Sciences.  

There are many reasons why you might be considering entering our program and becoming a social worker. Whether you want to work at the macro level to pass legislation to improve public health or provide direct clinical care, you will find that social workers at all levels collaborate with different stakeholders for the best interest of the client.  

The idea of interdisciplinary collaboration is why entering the School of Social Welfare now is so exciting. Societal issues cannot be addressed by one discipline, but by a multipronged approach. Students need to be trained using an interdisciplinary approach to best serve them once they enter the field. Thus, our structure had to evolve so that this collaborative approach was intertwined into the research and academic programs in the new college.   

As you explore our website, you will see opportunities for interdisciplinary course offerings, research, and experiential learning. Learning how to interact with a variety of professionals across fields will ensure that you are well prepared to collaborate, innovate and succeed in your future career.    

I hope that you consider joining us for this new chapter. 

  

Victoria M. Rizzo, PhD, LCSW-R, FNAP, FNYAM   
Professor, Senior Vice Dean, and Director  
School of Social Welfare  
College of Integrated Health Sciences 

Research

Our nationally recognized faculty conduct research that attends to the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of individuals and communities. Collectively, our scholarship accelerates innovations in social work practice and policy in a wide range of areas, including child welfare, aging and gerontology, health disparities, and mental and behavioral health.

Five people working at a table together.
A group of students engaging in conversation while outside on UAlbany campus
Commitment to Social Justice

The SSW is dedicated to the realization of a fair and just society and institutions that are diverse, inclusive, and equitable. Through our research, teaching, and community engagement, on local, national and global levels, we promote social, economic, and environmental justice, human rights, and the improvement of human wellbeing. We are committed to eliminating oppression, especially against vulnerable and historically and emerging marginalized groups. We strive to embody principles of equity in our interpersonal behavior as well as organizational structures and culture.

$10M


Annual External Grant Funding

7,500+


Alumni Worldwide

400+


Field Education Partners

Recent News
Contact the School of Social Welfare
135 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12222
Phone
Fax
518-442-5380
Office Hours

On-Site: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Virtual: By Appointment

Degree Programs

Undergraduate

Social Welfare BS | +MS Option |

Social Welfare BS | +MS Option |
Master's

Social Work MSW | +PhD Option | Part-time Option | Fully Online Option | +CGS Option |

Social Work MSW | +PhD Option | Part-time Option | Fully Online Option | +CGS Option |
Social Work MSW | +PhD Option | Part-time Option | Fully Online Option | +CGS Option |
Social Work MSW | +PhD Option | Part-time Option | Fully Online Option | +CGS Option |

Social Work / Criminal Justice MSW / MA | +CGS Option |

Social Work / Criminal Justice MSW / MA | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Criminal Justice MSW / MA | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Criminal Justice MSW / MA | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Criminal Justice MSW / MA | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Criminal Justice MSW / MA | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Criminal Justice MSW / MA | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Criminal Justice MSW / MA | +CGS Option |

Social Work / Juris Doctor MSW / JD | +CGS Option |

Social Work / Juris Doctor MSW / JD | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Juris Doctor MSW / JD | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Juris Doctor MSW / JD | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Juris Doctor MSW / JD | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Juris Doctor MSW / JD | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Juris Doctor MSW / JD | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Juris Doctor MSW / JD | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Juris Doctor MSW / JD | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Juris Doctor MSW / JD | +CGS Option |

Social Work / Public Health MSW / MPH | +CGS Option |

Social Work / Public Health MSW / MPH | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Public Health MSW / MPH | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Public Health MSW / MPH | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Public Health MSW / MPH | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Public Health MSW / MPH | +CGS Option |
Social Work / Public Health MSW / MPH | +CGS Option |
Doctoral

Social Work PhD | +CGS Option |

Social Work PhD | +CGS Option |

The UAlbany SSW Continuing Ed Program is paused, with no new workshops currently being scheduled, effective August 1, 2023. We have been grateful to serve you and to bring you together with some great presenters. We hope to resume workshops in the future. We will, of course, remain available to you at [email protected] to answer any questions about prior certificates. 

Research

Faculty at the School of Social Welfare are leading research in diverse areas such as child welfare, veterans services, aging, integrative mind-body-spirit practice, mental and behavioral health, health disparities, and evidence-based interventions. They engage in community partnerships to conduct research that advances social justice at individual, organizational, and societal levels. Faculty bring lessons from their research directly into the classroom to prepare a workforce with the knowledge and skills to address the most urgent human needs of the 21st century and practice effectively in rapidly changing environments. Students have opportunities to conduct research alongside faculty at the School, and in research centers and institutes across the University.

 

A group of students collaborating together and discussing project documents

 

New York State Social Work Education Consortium
Overview

Dr. Eunju Lee, Director

The New York State Social Work Education Consortium - which includes state and New York City agencies, county social services commissioners, associations, and many others - aims to improve the quality, status, and stability of the public sector child welfare workforce. The primary goal is to identify and implement programs with a forward-looking approach to training and education.

The Social Work Education Consortium was established in 2000 as a formal partnership between the Office of Children and Family Services, Bureau of Training, the New York State Dean’s Association, the social work education community and local social services designed to impact the child welfare workforce. Sixteen graduate and 28 undergraduate social work programs participate in the Consortium, along with 57 county social service districts and NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services.


Email: [email protected]

Goals and Priorities

The primary goal of the consortium is the identification and implementation of programs and activities, which promote a forward-looking approach to training and education, emphasizing workforce stabilization and professionalization. This goal is achieved through a wide array of activities including:

  • Raising awareness about the importance of recruitment, selection and retention of a professionally trained workforce
  • Regional collaborations between local social service districts and social work education programs across New York State which implement programs to achieve our goal. There are seven active regional groups operating currently, which are open to all local social service districts.
  • Research and evaluation activities designed to develop knowledge about approaches that facilitate retention and support workforce professionalization and implement effective strategies to achieve the goal.

 

The Social Work Education Consortium promotes:

  • Public sector-university collaborations that support the education and training of child welfare staff. 
  • Research driven practice and policy innovations in workforce recruitment and retention. 
  • Policy and program partnerships with OCFS, the legislature and local district leaders in child welfare. 
  • Professionalization activities and workforce development for child welfare workers and those interested in a child welfare career.

 

Programs

  • Six Regional Groups develop region-specific programs designed to promote workforce professionalization and stabilization activities appropriate to their area.
  • Tuition Support provides tuition funding to cover tuition and fees for MSW and BSW courses for current employees in Child Welfare Services.
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute
Overview

Website: National Child Welfare Workforce Institute

Nancy Claiborne and Mary McCarthy, Co-Principal Investigators
The $21.5 million National Child Welfare Workforce Institute is increasing child welfare practice effectiveness through diverse partnerships that focus on workforce systems development, organizational interventions, and change leadership, using data-driven capacity building, education, and professional development.

National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services
Overview

Website: National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services

Heather Larkin and John Records, Co-Directors
The National Center for Excellence in Homeless Services strengthens homeless services by creating partnerships, supporting leaders and sharing excellence. The Center identifies, creates and teaches state of the art, evidence-based and emerging approaches to transform the lives of all homeless children and adults.

Center for Innovation in Mental Health Research
Overview

Eric Hardiman, Director
The Center for Innovation in Mental Health Research focuses on evidence-based direct practice, service delivery, and social welfare policy that support individuals who face behavioral health issues.

Have Questions?

For more information about research at SSW, contact Professor Carmen Morano, [email protected].

People

Faculty and Staff
Victoria M. Rizzo
Victoria M. Rizzo
Professor, Senior Vice Dean, and Director
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
facultystaff
Katharine H. Briar-Lawson
Katharine H. Briar-Lawson
Dean Emeritus and Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Makisha Brown
Makisha Brown
Assistant Director of Field Education
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Nancy Claiborne
Nancy Claiborne
Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Elizabeth Crowe
Elizabeth Crowe
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Field Education and Programming
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Lisa DeLaMater
Lisa DeLaMater
Assistant Dean & Director of Field Education
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Lindsey Disney
Lindsey Disney
Assistant Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Heather Dora
Heather Dora
Assistant Director of Field Education
School of Social Welfare
Cara Duffy
Administrative Assistant to the Senior Vice Dean & Director
School of Social Welfare
Eric R. Hardiman
Eric R. Hardiman
Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Julia F. Hastings
Julia F. Hastings
Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior; School of Social Welfare
Jenny Leighty Horn
Jenny Leighty Horn
Assistant Director, Community and Public Service Program
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Heather K. Horton
Heather K. Horton
Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Monique Ivey
Monique Ivey
Assistant Director of Field Education
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Lani V. Jones
Lani V. Jones
Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare; Department of Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Dawn Knight-Thomas
Dawn Knight-Thomas
Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Heather Larkin Holloway
Heather Larkin Holloway
Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Catherine Lawrence
Catherine Lawrence
MSW Program Director & Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Hal A. Lawson
Hal A. Lawson
Vincent O'Leary Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Eunju Lee
Eunju Lee
PhD Program Director & Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Wonhyung Lee
Wonhyung Lee
Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Barry M. Loneck
Barry M. Loneck
Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Alyssa Lotmore
Alyssa Lotmore
Assistant to the Dean for Communications and Engagement
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Mary L. McCarthy
Mary L. McCarthy
Instructor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Linda Mertz
Linda Mertz
Special Projects Coordinator
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Robert L. Miller Jr.
Robert L. Miller Jr.
Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Carmen L. Morano
Carmen L. Morano
Professor & Director of the PhD Program
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Sarah Mountz
Sarah Mountz
Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Adhelia Peña
Adhelia Peña
Assistant to the Dean for Student Services and Retention
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Loretta Pyles
Loretta Pyles
Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Nelia M. Quezada
Nelia M. Quezada
SUNY PRODiG+ Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Blanca Ramos
Blanca Ramos
Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare; Department of Africana, Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies
Cheng Ren
Cheng Ren
Assistant Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Crystal Rogers
Crystal Rogers
Associate Dean for Academic Programs
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Patty Scott
Administrative Assistant
School of Social Welfare
Caroline N. Sharkey
Caroline N. Sharkey
Visiting Assistant Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Sheri Stevens
Sheri Stevens
Director of Community & Public Service Program
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Jildyz Urbaeva
Jildyz Urbaeva
BSW Program Director & Associate Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Lynn A. Warner
Lynn A. Warner
Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Angie Wootton
Angie Wootton
Assistant Professor
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Alanna Yanneck
Alanna Yanneck
Admissions, Recruitment, and Assessment Coordinator
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare

School of Social Welfare Emeriti/ae Faculty

Julie Abramson 

Bonnie Carlson

Anne E. "Ricky" Fortune

Jan Hagen

Shirley Jones

Salome Raheim 

Bonita Sanchez

Carolyn Smith

Ronald Toseland 

Starr A. Wood

 

PhD Students

The following PhD students have defended their dissertation proposal

Tola Seng
Tola Seng
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
Chiaoyu Yang
Chiaoyu Yang
College of Integrated Health Sciences; School of Social Welfare
phdstudent

Field Education

The University at Albany School of Social Welfare partners with over 400 agencies to provide graduate and undergraduate students with a variety of social work practice experiences in many specialist fields. The School’s location in one of Upstate New York’s metropolitan areas, as well as proximity to state government, offer unique opportunities for social work learning. The educational experience is further enhanced through the collaborative partnership between the field education office and teaching faculty. Field education is designed to expose students to new and emerging areas of social work practice. Students are supervised by experienced professionals competent in a variety of social work practice skills.

 

Our Field Team:

Lisa DeLaMater, Assistant Dean & Director of Field Education

Heather Dora, Assistant Director of Field Education

Makisha Brown, Assistant Director of Field Education

Monique Ivey, Assistant Director of Field Education

Elizabeth Crowe, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Field Education and Programming

 

 

student with client
Becoming a Field Instructor
Benefits of Being a Field Instructor

For You: 

  • Tuition waiver for credit-bearing courses 
  • Résumé enhancer 
  • Reduced cost to attend continuing education programs 
  • Networking opportunities at Annual Field Institute 
  • Eighteen (18) free CEUs upon completion of Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) 
  • Unlimited access to UAlbany’s libraries 
  • Access to UAlbany’s SEFCU Fitness Center 
  • Opportunity to contribute to BS and MSW curriculum development 
  • Help shape the next generation of social workers 

For Your Agency: 

  • Build the next generation of your workforce 
  • Enthusiastic interns to help move agency goals forward 
  • Recruitment channels for new employees 
  • Networking opportunities for professional staff 
  • Promotion at our Annual Field and Career Fair to recruit new employees 
  • Deepen a relationship as a community partner of the University at Albany
Requirements

Requirements: 

  • MSW degree from a CSWE-accredited social work program and two years post-graduate social work experience. 
  • Complete an 18-hour Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI), or have proof of completion of a training at a comparable institution. 
  • Adequate time for student supervision, documentation review, evaluations, and meetings.
Request a Student

Request for BSW or MSW Student(s) (Accepted through Sept. 30, 2024)

Specialized Field Opportunities
Internships in Aging Project (IAP)

The School of Social Welfare at UAlbany has partnered with a consortium of local agencies to provide MSW students with the opportunity to specialize in macro or clinical practice with aging populations.

IAP features rotations within an expanded internship to expose students to a range of aging issues as well as both macro and clinical practice interventions. This three day per week internship includes financial assistance to allow expanded time in field. Students also participate in a specialized curriculum within the MSW program and integrative seminars to bridge classroom instruction and hands-on internship experience. For more information, email [email protected]

 

MSW Full Time Curriculum

MACRO

Fall

  • Research Methods in Program Evaluation for Social Welfare Management
  • Practice with Mature and Aging Adults
  • Human Service Organizations in a Changing Environment
  • Community Building
  • Integrative Seminar for Internship in Aging Project
  • Field Instruction III

Spring

  • Social Gerontology: Policies, Programs, and Services
  • Management Systems in Human Service Organizations
  • Advanced Macro Practice: Select one course as advised
  • Integrative Seminar for Internship in Aging Project
  • Field instruction IV

 

Clinical

Fall

  • Research Methods in Program Evaluation for Social Welfare Management OR Evaluation of Clinical Practice
  • Practice with Mature and Aging Adults
  • Human Service Organizations in a Changing Environment
  • Advanced Clinical Practice: Select one course as advised
  • Integrative Seminar for Internship in Aging Project
  • Field Instruction III

Spring

  • Social Gerontology: Policies, Programs, and Services
  • Management Systems in Human Service Organizations
  • Advanced Clinical Practice: Select one course as advised
  • Integrative Seminar for Internship in Aging Project
  • Field Instruction IV

 

Application to the Internships in Aging Project (IAP)

Full-time students apply to IAP in the spring semester of their foundation year.

If you intend to enter the MSW program with advanced standing, you need let us know that you want to be considered for this opportunity when you apply for admission to the MSW program. 

Part-time students should apply during their second year to avoid missing required classes.

To apply to IAP, email [email protected].

Albany Internships in Mental Health (AIMH)

Funded in partnership with the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH), the Albany Internships in Mental Health (AIMH) is a competitive internship opportunity available to full time MSW students in either the clinical or MACRO concentrations. Students accepted into the AIMH program will receive specialized training in the use of evidenced-based mental health interventions for adults in the community. AIMH students are placed through a matching process in community-based field placements that have been selected and certified by NYSOMH. Examples of evidence-based practices include: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), Personalized Recovery-Oriented Services (PROS), Wellness Self-Management (WSM), Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques. Students in the AIMH program are also required to take the advanced clinical practice course “Evidence-Based Practice and Mental Health” and participate in a special colloquium series.

Financial stipends are provided to AIMH students upon completion of the requirements along with a certificate of completion from the New York State Office of Mental Health. The program seeks to help build the state workforce of MSW graduates who hold specialized training in the use of evidence-based mental health practices. The colloquium series provides students with additional opportunities to integrate classroom and field placement experiences in advanced mental health practice.

For more information email Dr. Eric Hardiman ([email protected]) or [email protected].

 

Application to the Albany Internships in Mental Health (AIMH)

Full-time students apply to AIMH in the spring semester of their foundation year.

To apply to AIMH, email  Dr. Eric Hardiman ([email protected]) or [email protected].

Admissions

MSW Program Admissions FAQs
When is the application deadline?

The application deadline for Fall Semester MSW program will be January 31, 2025 .

How long will it take to find out whether or not I got in?

We start releasing decisions to degree applicants in early February. Starting in early February, you will receive an answer approximately 3-4 weeks after submission of your complete application.

My undergraduate GPA is below a 3.0. Is that OK?

When looking at GPA, we also take into consideration trajectory, coursework, and other life events.  For students who have a GPA of 3.0 or below, we recommend you mention this in your personal statement and discuss how you have grown. Students with a lower GPA may also consider taking graduate level classes as a non-matriculated student to show how they can meet the academic rigor of the MSW program.

Do I need transcripts from only the school I got a degree from, or other schools I attended as well?

We require transcripts from all schools attended after you graduated from high school.

What are the scholarship and assistantship opportunities?

There are scholarships and assistantships available both within the Graduate School and the School of Social Welfare.
Learn more about opportunities available to all graduate students

The School of Social Welfare additionally offers over 40 different scholarships, and several assistantships. Scholarships for the School of Social Welfare open in Mid-Spring, and close in early summer, and applications for assistantships can be found within the application.

In the application, there is a space to upload the writing sample. Do I have to do a writing sample too?

We only require the “Statement of Background and Goals”. We do NOT require a writing sample.

More information on the “Statement of Background and Goals.”

MSW Program Coursework & Field FAQs
What does a typical schedule look like?

Class schedules vary for each individual.  Generally, classes are offered once a week for 3-hour periods. Part-time students take 2 classes in the Fall and Spring semesters and 1 during the summers, along with field placement in the 2nd and 4th year of the part-time program. A Full-time student takes 3-4 classes a semester, along with field in both years of the full-time program.

What times are classes offered, and how many classes are offered online?

Classes are offered at a variety of times (morning, afternoon, evening, weekend) and in various modalities. Modalities include in-person, online and hybrid (mixture of in-person and online). Classes during the week are usually offered at a few different 3-hour time blocks, for example morning, afternoon, and evening. Additionally, we offer weekend classes, which meet every other Saturday from 9:00am-5:00pm. Online classes are offered through the Brightspace platform. Though we do not offer a fully online program, many students are able to meet the needs of their schedule by taking a variety of online, evening, or weekend classes.

When do I enroll for classes and field?

If you are accepted into the program, we will begin communicating with you about signing up for classes and field instruction in mid-to-late March.

How many credits transfer over for Advanced Standing credits?

Advanced Standing is a program available to BSW graduates to complete their MSW in a shortened period. Up to 21 credits from your BSW studies can transfer to your MSW Advanced Standing program. Advanced Standing students are informed at the time of their admission regarding the number of credits they receive.

Can I get a field placement near where I live, or outside of Albany?

The field office places many students in and around the Capital Region. You will let the field office know your preferred counties of interest and the field office will do its best to place you within a reasonable distance from your residence. We help students find placements in areas such as Plattsburgh, Kingston, Utica, Western Massachusetts and Connecticut, Vermont, and more.

I’m working full-time, have family I take care of at home, and/or have many other commitments. How can I work with the school to make the program best fit my needs?

Classes are offered at a variety of times to help students meet their needs for flexibility. We have a variety of class offerings, including in-person, online, hybrid (mixture of in-person and online), evening, and weekend. The field office understands that students need to balance class, field, work, and other responsibilities. The learning opportunities that comprise quality field placements with appropriate supervision are mainly available on weekdays during regular business hours. 

As a MSW student, you will be required to be available on two weekdays during regular business hours, and you will have the opportunity to alert us of how your responsibilities may impact your ability to engage in a field internship on your field application. The academic and field team members are always willing to meet with you to discuss further questions.

What is the LMSW, LCSW and how does UAlbany’s SSW support students in the licensing process?

There are several levels of licensing that graduates of the MSW are qualified to obtain. When you graduate from UAlbany with an MSW, you are eligible to take the LMSW exam. We offer weekend workshops in the spring for graduating MSW students, in order to help prepare for the exam. The next step after the LMSW is the LCSW. This involves working under an LCSW in a clinical setting for 3 years, and then taking another test.

I have a criminal conviction in my history. What is the process of reporting this and how will this impact my eligibility for field practicum and licensure?

The School of Social Welfare has a commitment to social justice, equity, and human dignity. Based on these values, we are committed to acknowledging and doing our part to reverse systemic oppression, including the disproportionate targeting and sentencing of people of color in the criminal justice system. We are committed to this systemic change, and part of our commitment is shown by supporting individuals with a criminal history to pursue meaningful education and employment in social services. We understand that some applicants' criminal history may have been the inspiration that led them to pursue an MSW. It is important and in your best interest that the School of Social Welfare be transparent about the challenges students with criminal histories may face in their social work education and career.  

  

Process in Admissions and Enrollment at the School of Social Welfare  

All applicants who are offered admission to the School of Social Welfare are asked if they have ever been convicted of a felony as an adult.  Response to this question is a condition of enrollment. In New York State, a felony is defined as a crime for which more than one year in prison may be imposed. If you report that you have been convicted of a felony as an adult, further documentation about that felony will be requested. The School requires disclosure of criminal background in order to evaluate and enable your successful completion of the field placement requirement of your degree and continued success in the social work profession.  
  

Impact on Field Practicum 

After you enroll, students with a felony history will need to work directly with the Field Office regarding the field practicum requirement of the MSW degree.  Students with criminal histories may be precluded from participating in some field education experiences, which are required to graduate; the Field Office will work directly with these students to attempt to place them with a qualified field practicum.  While the School will make every reasonable effort to assist students in securing an appropriate field placement, the School cannot guarantee a field placement.  If a student is unable to be placed into a field practicum, the Field and Academic Offices will work with the student to determine feasible steps toward degree completion. 

  

Impact on Licensure  

MSW graduates with a criminal history may find additional challenges getting licensed. In New York State, you may need to provide additional documentation about your criminal history when applying for licensure. View more information on how criminal history may impact licensure in New York State. Each state has different policies and procedures regarding criminal convictions, ethical violations and eligibility for a social work license. Students are responsible for investigating the licensure requirements in the state(s) in which they plan to practice.  

Alumni & Community

SSW Alumni Network

Thank you for your interest in the School of Social Welfare alumni community. You can remain connected with the school and other alumni, and support current students – your future colleagues!

Stay Informed

For more information, please contact Alyssa Lotmore at [email protected].

Stay Involved

Help a Student in Their Career Path


Connect with Other Alumni


Connect with a Professor

Interested in Job Postings?

Subscribe to the MSW Alumni Listserv for job postings and other announcements from our alumni and community partners.

  1. Compose a message to: [email protected]
  2. No subject line
  3. In the body of the email, type the following: Subscribe MSWSUNYA First Name Last Name
  4. Send the email
  5. You will get a response from the LISTSERV with a link to click on. Click on the link, and you are registered.
Stay Invested

Please consider supporting SSW and students - Every gift counts!

For more information, please contact Alyssa Lotmore at [email protected].

School of Social Welfare Alumni at the Saratoga Race Track

Pictured: Marcia Rabinowitz '79 '82Doris Ramirez-Romero ‘85 ‘87, Yvette Milillo ‘82 ‘84, Sheena MacGregor-Pilz ‘07 ‘08 (center), Alyssa Lotmore ‘07 ‘08, at the UAlbany Alumni Day at the Races, July 2022.

Student Profiles and Awards

As a student in the School of Social Welfare, you earn more than a degree. You become part of a community of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Our students are doing great things in the classroom and in the community.

Scholarship Awardees

The generosity of donors makes lives brighter, provides meaningful opportunities, and makes the dream of higher education possible for many students at UAlbany.

During the scholarship application period, accepted and current students may apply for scholarships online.

 

Meet a few of those social welfare students (below) as they share heartfelt words of gratitude for their scholarships. 

 

Shalini Barrow
Shalini Barrow

 

"I am truly grateful to have been awarded the Stephanie Wacholder Scholarship. This generosity ensures that I can purchase the necessary textbooks, subscriptions, and equipment I need to succeed in my academic endeavors. I have not been in a classroom setting in over 6 years and admittedly, I was nervous about how well I would manage with working full-time, attending school part-time, and the cost associated with graduate studies. Financial support from community partners makes the journey easier and makes my dream of becoming a social worker more tangible."

 

 

 

 

Brendan Boehm
Brendan Boehm

 

 

"Receiving this scholarship gives me a feeling of validation for the hard work I've put into revitalizing my academic career. When I was failing out of community college, the idea of grad school was beyond ridiculous. To be recognized with a scholarship definitely feels good."

 

 

 

 

 

Mahamadu Sillah
Mahamadu Sillah

 

 

"I cannot say 'thank you' enough for the generous scholarship I was awarded. This scholarship has helped me tremendously. I look forward to someday being able to give back to students who are trying to further their education like myself."

 

 

 

 

 

 

See a list of the 2024-2025 SSW Scholarship Awardees

Student Profiles

Some of our students, both past and present, have been on our radio show and shared their experiences about being in the program. 

Sebastian Vidal

 

 

Listen: Sebastian Vidal, BSW '20

 

 

 

Jessica Rogers

 

 

Listen: Jessica Rodgers, BSW '20, MSW '21

 

 

Awards

2021 University at Albany Lavender Awards

Several members of the School of Social Welfare family were honored with 2021 Lavender Awards. The Lavender awards celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and allied faculty, staff and students for their work in promoting LGBTQ+ equity at UAlbany. Read more about the Lavender Awards

Lavender Awards SSW 2021
Community Engagement
Social Workers Radio Talk Show
The Social Workers Radio Talk Show logo

The School of Social Welfare has a radio show. The Social Workers Radio Talk Show airs live on UAlbany's WCDB 90.9FM in Albany, NY. Our mission is to use the medium of radio to educate and enlighten our university and extended communities about social work trends and current practices provided by social workers.

Hosted by Dr. Eric Hardiman and Alyssa Lotmore, LMSW.

For all episodes, visit the show's website.

 

Community and Public Service Program (CPSP)

For more than 35 years, the Community and Public Service Program (CPSP) has been central to community engagement efforts at the University at Albany. Find out more about this credit-bearing undergraduate community service initiative.

Social Justice
The Gathering

“The Gathering” is a group in the School of Social Welfare that openly discusses social justice issues about race, ethnicity, social work activism, sexual orientation, gender, religious affiliation, physical and mental ability, and immigration status.

The Purpose of “The Gathering”:

  • To bring a deeper understanding of social justice issues in social work practice.
  • To make inclusiveness a habit practiced by everyone in the School of Social Welfare and beyond.
  • To raise participants’ awareness of their own privilege and power, and acknowledge the impact of this privilege and power in their lives.
  • To create a positive and inclusive campus climate for all.
  • To help participants gain a better awareness of, and challenge their own assumptions, about diversity, equity, and inclusion.   

For more information and the semester meeting schedule, contact Dawn Knight-Thomas.

The Katharine Briar-Lawson Lecture

To honor and pay tribute to Dr. Katharine Briar-Lawson, this lecture series is designed to educate the campus and surrounding communities on a broad range of topics related to the research and practice of social work. Currently a professor of social welfare and dean emerita of the School of Social Welfare, Dr. Briar-Lawson has been a leader in social work for over 40 years, spearheading innovative university partnerships with public, private, and non-profit sectors at local, national and international levels. Dr. Briar-Lawson has received multiple awards and honors in recognition of her service to UAlbany, the Capital District, and the social work profession.

Examples include the University at Albany's Academic Laureate Award, the highest honor for a faculty member; the Sage College Award for Higher Education Leader in Character Education; the Outstanding Social Work Dean for Aging from the John A. Hartford Foundation; the National Association of Social Workers' International Rhoda G. Sarnat Award; the Council on Social Work Education’s Lifetime Achievement in Social Work Education Award; and the NASW Social Work Pioneers Award. 

 

Support Our Initiative

 

 

SSW Faculty at Katherine Briar-Lawson Lecture

Pictured: Stephanie Wacholder, Katharine Briar-Lawson, and Hal Lawson at the Inaugural Katharine-Briar Lawson Lecture in 2017. 

Past Lectures
2023

Algorithms in social work: Data-driven practice or dystopian future?

by Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW

Watch the recording of the 2023 Lecture

 

Bio:

Melanie Sage

Melanie Sage, PhD, MSW, conducts research at a Fortune 100 company, where she informs strategy about how to increase equity, safety, and trust for the public. Formerly on the faculty at University at Buffalo School of Social Work, she has numerous publications about the impact of social media and resilience with technology in child welfare. She is a co-author of the book Teaching Social Work with Digital Technology, a trauma-informed motivational interviewing consultant and trainer, and a goldendoodle mom, which isn't offensive at all to her grown children.

 

Media coverage via UAlbany News

2022

"Calling In the Calling Out Culture: Lessons from a Lifetime of Feminist and Anti-Racist Activism"

Loretta Ross 

Watch the recording of the 2022 Lecture 

 

Bio:

Loretta Ross

Loretta Ross is an award-winning, nationally-recognized expert on racism and racial justice, women's rights, and human rights. Her work emphasizes the intersectionality of social justice issues and how intersectionality can fuel transformation.

Ross is a visiting associate professor at Smith College (Northampton, MA) in the Program for the Study of Women and Gender, teaching courses on white supremacy, race and culture in America, human rights, and calling in the calling out culture.

She has co-written three books on reproductive justice: Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice, winner of the Outstanding Book Award by the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights; Reproductive Justice: An Introduction, a first-of-its-kind primer that provides a comprehensive yet succinct description of the field and puts the lives and lived experience of women of color at the center of the book; and Radical Reproductive Justice: Foundations, Theory, Practice, Critique. Her current book, Calling In the Calling Out Culture, is forthcoming in 2021.

Ross appears regularly in major media outlets about the issues of our day. She was recently featured in a New York Times piece, "What if Instead of Calling People Out, We Called Them In?"

She was a co-founder and the National Coordinator, from 2005 to 2012, of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, a network of women of color and allied organizations that organize women of color in the reproductive justice movement. Other leadership positions have included:

  • National Co-Director of the April 25, 2004 March for Women’s Lives in Washington D.C., the largest protest march in U.S. history with more than one million participants.
  • Founder and Executive Director of the National Center for Human Rights Education (NCHRE)
  • Program Research Director at the Center for Democratic Renewal/National Anti-Klan Network where she led projects researching hate groups and working against all forms of bigotry with universities, schools, and community groups
  • Founder of the Women of Color Program for the National Organization for Women (NOW) in the 1980s
  • Leading many women of color delegations to international conferences on women's issues and human rights.


Ross is a rape survivor, was forced to raise a child born of incest, and is a survivor of sterilization abuse. She is a model of how to survive and thrive despite the traumas that disproportionately affect low-income women of color. She is a nationally-recognized trainer on using the transformative power of Reproductive Justice to build a Human Rights movement that includes everyone.

Ross serves as a consultant for Smith College, collecting oral histories of feminists of color for the Sophia Smith Collection which also contains her personal archives.

She is a graduate of Agnes Scott College and holds an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law degree awarded in 2003 from Arcadia University and a second honorary doctorate degree awarded from Smith College in 2013. She is pursuing a PhD in Women’s Studies at Emory University in Atlanta. She is a mother, grandmother and a great-grandmother.

2021

“White Supremacy: Psychological and Social Impacts in the U.S."

 

Dr. Joy DeGruy Biography

Dr. Joy DeGruy

Dr. Joy DeGruy is a nationally and internationally renowned researcher and educator. Her pioneering publication, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS): America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing, addresses the residual impacts of trauma on African descendants in the Americas.

With this book, and decades of research and practice experience, Dr. DeGruy has established a framework for understanding how the past has influenced the present. She has developed multiple evidence-based interventions for communities of color that eliminate non-productive attitudes, beliefs and behaviors and build upon the strengths gained from the past to heal.

For over two decades, Dr. DeGruy served as an Assistant Professor at Portland State University’s School of Social Work and now serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Joy DeGruy Publications Inc. She holds Master’s degrees in Social Work and Clinical Psychology, as well as a PhD in Social Work and Social Research.

 

Lecture Resources

Dr. DeGruy spoke about the psychological and social impacts of white supremacy in the United States, and the responsibility of social work to mitigate these impacts.

Below are some of the resources mentioned in Dr. DeGruy’s lecture:

Hounmenou, C. (2012). Black settlement houses and oppositional consciousnessJournal of Black Studies, 43(6), 646-666. Retrieved April 29, 2021.

Little, B. (2021, March 26). How the Nazis were inspired by Jim Crow. History.

McDermott, S.P. (2018, August 22). Jane Addams, Ida B. Wells, and racial injustice in America. Jane Addams Papers Project.

Philippe Shock Matthews. (2017, May 31). The axiological journey of the African-American with Dr. Edwin Nichols. YouTube.

Ross, A. (2018, April 23). How American racism influenced Hitler. New Yorker.

Skloot, R. (2011). The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks. Broadway Paperbacks.

Smith, D.L. (2012). Less than human: Why we demean, enslave, and exterminate others. St. Martin’s Griffin.

Stevenson, H.C. (1994). Validation of the scale of racial socialization for African American adolescents: Steps toward multidimensionality. Journal of Black Psychology, 20(4):445-468.

Swetlitz, I. (2016, April 4). Some medical students still think black patients feel less pain than whites. STAT.

Washington, H.A. (2006). Medical apartheid: The dark history of medical experimentation on Black Americans from colonial times to the present. Doubleday.

2020

“A Transformative Approach for Social and Economic Integration of Vulnerable Communities: Project TELEMA”

*Postponed due to COVID-19

 

Dr. Aybe Tasse Biography

Dr. Abye Tasse

Dr. Tasse currently serves as Chief of Mission, Ministry of Social and Humanitarian Affairs, Republic of Congo, where he is leading the development and expansion of social work education. This assignment follows and builds upon his leadership in development of social work education and social development in Ethiopia, Mauritania, and Comoros. In each of these positions, Dr. Tasse demonstrated exceptional leadership in both academic and management skills that enabled the transfer and contextualization of knowledge to create sustainable social work education systems. His capacity to navigate complex systems and bring together academicians, policy-makers, and practitioners from many cultures to achieve the goals of social work and social development is unsurpassed.

Dr. Tasse has provided leadership in social work and social development globally for many years, including as past president of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW). An especially impactful aspect of Dr. Tasse’s work with IASSW has been his leadership of the Global Agenda, which unites the work of three international bodies: IASSW, International Federation of Social Workers, and International Council on Social Welfare. Dr. Tasse’s work has been widely recognized internationally with an Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences and Social Work from the VID Specialized University in Norway and the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Academiques for contributions to the Ministry of Education by Decree of the Prime Minister of France.

Dr. Tasse’s personal story is as compelling as his professional accomplishments. Born in Ethiopia, at an early age he was forced to flee amid great civic turmoil after the overthrow of the Emperor Haile Selasse. He made his way to France where he claimed asylum and eventually gained French citizenship. These personal challenges have informed his scholarship. Dr. Tasse is one of the foremost scholars on migration and social work. He has published extensively and provided numerous lectures around the globe on this topic. The massive movement of peoples around the world in recent years due to civil unrest, war, and persecution based upon race, culture, religion, and poverty, and the challenges experienced by receiving countries including the United States, is a compelling and timely topic. Dr. Tasse has a unique perspective on the historical global experience of migration, the current challenges, and informing the path forward to address the many aspects of this phenomenon.

2017

“Vulnerable Families and Social Justice: The Professional Challenge”

 

Dr. Carol Wilson Spigner Biography

Carol Spigner

Carol Wilson Spigner, DSW, retired from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice after having served as associate professor/clinician educator for a decade. At Penn, Spigner directed the social policy program and taught policy and macro practice. Prior to her arrival at Penn, Dr. Spigner had been the Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau at the U.S. Department of Health and  Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and was responsible for the administration of federal child welfare programs. As part of that work, Spigner provided leadership in developing guidelines to the states on maltreatment and oversight of research and demonstration programs focused on neglect.

Dr. Spigner has served on the Pew Commission for Children in Foster Care, the Mayor’s Child Welfare Review Panel for the City of Philadelphia, and the Workgroup for the Michigan Racial Equity Task Force. She was a senior associate at the Center for the Study of Social Policy, Washington, DC, and the director of the National Child Welfare Leadership Center.

She has held professorships at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Spigner has published articles in the areas of cultural competency, permanency planning and relative care.

Dr. Spigner has received numerous awards including: the University of Pennsylvania’s 2008 Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching; The Black Administrators in Child Welfare’s 2008 George Silcott Award for Lifetime Achievement; University of Southern California’s Award for Lifetime Contributor to the Development of Policies and Programs for Underserved Populations; the National Association of Black Social Workers’ Outstanding Contributors Award; and the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators’ Award for Leadership in Public Child Welfare.

A native of Los Angeles, Dr. Spigner began her career working for the Los Angeles County Departments of Adoption and Probation and received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Riverside and her graduate degrees from the University of Southern California.