Top 5 Reasons to Choose UB’s Social Work Programs
At the UB School of Social Work, you will gain essential skills to help people rediscover their strengths and transform their lives. Our academic programs prepare you to take action at all levels of practice — from working one-on-one with individuals, to researching new interventions, to making change at a macro level.
As a medium-sized professional school within the largest and most comprehensive research university in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, the UB School of Social Work provides you the opportunity to join a diverse community with flexible academic programs to meet your unique goals.
Why join the UB School of Social Work
1. Personalized social work education for your goals
Our affordable MSW program — offered both online and on campus — allows you to tailor your advanced year coursework and practicum experience to the populations and practice areas that interest you most.
Looking to expand your impact and increase your marketability? Earn two degrees in less time and for a lower overall cost through our MSW/PhD, JD/MSW, MBA/MSW, MPH/MSW and BA/MSW dual degree options.
At the doctoral level, PhD in Social Welfare students can create an interdisciplinary course of study by taking classes from UB’s 13 schools and colleges. For their capstone project, UB DSW students pursue a problem of their choice and implement an intervention with their target population.
2. Trauma-informed perspective to meet relevant social needs
Instead of asking, “What is wrong with you?” trauma-informed social workers ask, “What happened to you?”
At UB, we recognize the significant role that trauma and human rights violations play in a range of social issues — and we infuse trauma-informed and human rights perspectives across the curriculum, in every program.
3. Top-ranked social work master’s and doctoral programs
Our CSWE-accredited MSW program is consistently ranked in the top 10% of social work programs, according to U.S. News & World Report. Meanwhile, our part-time, online DSW program was the first in SUNY — and one of just a few dozen DSW programs nationwide.
As a UB student, you will join New York State’s flagship and one of the nation’s leading public research universities, recognized for our excellence and impact.
4. Real-world impact through critical social work research
UB has been changing the world through research for decades and continues to innovate every day for a safer, healthier and brighter future.
From understanding trauma and treating addiction, to reducing inequality and building healthy futures for our youth, our faculty make critical discoveries through their research. And, with the active involvement of students, our Buffalo Center for Social Research facilitates the advancement of social work knowledge through community partnerships and interdisciplinary research.
5. World-class degrees in social work at an affordable price
Named one of the best values in higher education by Kiplinger’s, UB is consistently recognized as one of the world’s most exceptional, most affordable universities. Our students fund their graduate education through a variety of sources, including federal and state aid, scholarships, fellowships, research stipends and other sources. It’s hard to find a better value than UB for your social work degree.
In the UB School of Social Work, we live our values and actively work to solve social problems we are passionate about. Whether you’re beginning your social work career or seeking advanced training to become a social work practice leader, we have a program for you.