Columbia School of Social Work
A professional program within Columbia University, the Columbia University School of Social Work's enrollment is over 900. It is one of the largest social work programs in the United States, which has lead to the School becoming a repository for much of the reference literature on the subject. It is also the nation’s oldest, with roots extending back to 1898, when the New York Charity Organization Society’s summer course was announced in The New York Times.
History
In 1898, the first Summer School in Philanthropic Work was established at 105 East 22nd Street in New York by the Charity Organization Society. Twenty-five men and women attended the first classes. The Summer School continued as the primary training source until 1904. That year, the first full-time course of graduate study was offered at the newly renamed New York School of Philanthropy.
The name of the School was changed in 1917 to the New York School of Social Work. The Landmark Bureau of Children's Guidance was established in 1922. In 1931 the School moved into the Russell Sage Building at 122 East 22nd Street. In 1940, the School was affiliated with Columbia as one of its graduate schools, and began awarding the MS degree. In 1949 the School moved to the Andrew Carnegie Mansion at 2 East 91st Street. It later moved to its present location at McVickar Hall on Columbia’s campus.
The first doctoral degree was awarded in 1952, raising the academic level of social work.
In 1963 the name was formally changed to Columbia University School of Social Work. In 1966, building on its pioneering work with children, the school launched a major longitudinal study of foster children, their families and the agencies serving them. This study was to have a profound impact on national policy.
The first fully endowed professorship was set up in 1991, followed by the full endowment of the Kenworthy Chair and nine additional endowed professorships. In 1997 an agreement was concluded with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to provide new program support and a fellowship. In that year, the school’s endowment surpassed $40 million.
In 2002 construction of new School of Social Work began on Columbia’s campus.