Background

A Partnership was established in 2004 with the University of Washington, in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. to support the development of a new Department of Social Work. This new Department will begin enrolling its first class of students in the academic year 2008-2009.

The new Department of Social Work has begun to develop linkages with multiple organizations to offer placement opportunities to students. An integral part of the Bachelor of Arts degree are three separate experiential learning opportunities. In the second year of the program, students spend four hours a week within a community setting to learn about the mission of the agency and be exposed to direct service. They attend a seminar that accompanies this experience. In years three and four, students spend two days a week within an agency developing social work skills through a supportive and supervised experience.

International Social Work faculty and specialists are assisting with course development, workshops and courses, including faculty from the University of Washington, EWHA.