The College of Social Work is committed to advancing the mission of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville as the state's land-grant, flagship university, to provide a quality public education for the citizens of Tennessee through exemplary teaching, research, and service. The College of Social Work provides a professional social work education program that prepares students for social work practice and doctoral level graduate students for social work research and academia.
History
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville College of Social Work was established in Nashville as the Nashville School of Social Work in 1942 in a consortium arrangement with Vanderbilt University, George Peabody College for Teachers, and Scarritt College. Master of Science in Social Work degrees were awarded through Vanderbilt University from 1944 through 1951. When the school became a part of the University of Tennessee, it expanded to Memphis in 1951 and to Knoxville in 1958. Since 1973, the Office of the Dean has been in Knoxville. In 1986, the UT School of Social Work became a college, and the name was changed to the College of Social Work.
Vision
College of Social Work Vision Statement: We envision a socially just world that prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable.
Mission
College of Social Work Mission Statement: Grounded in social justice, we equip professional social workers with the skills needed to serve diverse and vulnerable populations. We build knowledge by conducting groundbreaking research that focuses on solving social problems. We engage with our communities through meaningful service.
The educational mission of the college is accomplished by faculty committed to the use of teaching methods that support critical thinking and life-long learning. The college's research mission embraces interdisciplinary collaboration and scholarship that seeks to increase knowledge for the benefit of individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Community outreach services are rendered by both faculty, staff, and students who seek to enhance the quality of life for people and human systems in Tennessee, with particular concern for improving life conditions and greater social justice for vulnerable populations.
Degrees Offered
The College of Social Work offers these academic degree programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Social Work (BSSW) Program (Knoxville campus)
- Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) Program (Knoxville, Nashville, and Online)
- Doctor of Social Work (DSW) in Clinical Practice and Leadership Program (Online)
- The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) with a major in Social Work Program (Knoxville campus)
Locations
On the main campus in Knoxville:
Knoxville Campus
1618 Cumberland Ave.,
401 Henson Hall,
Knoxville TN 37996
Phone:?865-974-3351
View address on Google Maps
At the Nashville offices:
Nashville Campus
193 Polk Ave., Ste. E
Nashville, TN 37210
Phone: 615-256-1885
View address on Google Maps
Accreditation and Organizational Structure
The Bachelor's and Master's degree programs of the UT College of Social Work are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). The MSSW program is the state of Tennessee's first and oldest CSWE accredited program. Though CSWE does not accredit doctoral programs, the college's Doctoral programs consistently receive strong, positive reviews from the University and national recognition from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
The offices of the Dean, Knoxville M.S.S.W. Program Director, B.S.S.W. Program Director, Ph.D. Program
Director, D.S.W. Program Director, and faculty and staff of the Knoxville campus are located in Henson
Hall on The University of Tennessee campus. All facilities on the University of Tennessee,
Knoxville campus are available to the College including the University of Tennessee Libraries, the
Student Union, and the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Also located in Knoxville are the Office
of Social Work Research and Public Service and the Center for Behavioral Health Research.
The offices of the Associate Dean, the Nashville and Online M.S.S.W. Program Director, and faculty and staff of the Nashville and Online campus are located in the Polk Center at 193 Polk Avenue, Suite E. The Polk Center also houses offices and facilities of the Institute for Public Service, Social Work Office of Research and Public Service, and the UT Health Science Center's College of Pharmacy. In addition to its full-time faculty members, the Nashville campus draws upon the research and teaching resources of 16 universities and colleges within the Nashville-Davidson County area. Students have access to the educational, cultural and social resources of Nashville and middle Tennessee. Students have access to all resources of the University of Tennessee Libraries through online access to all library catalogs and databases, instant access to ejournals and rapid inter-library loan.
Click here to view the UT CSW Organizational Chart.
Ethics
The College of Social Work subscribes to the code of ethics of each of the following organizations:
National Association of Social Workers https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
International Federation of Social Workers http://www.ifsw.org
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office of the Dean
The University of Tennessee
College of Social Work
1618 Cumberland Ave.
402 Henson Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-3333
(865) 974-6693
(865) 974-4803 (fax)
Interim Dean: Dr. David Dupper
ddupper@utk.edu
Office of the Associate Dean for Academics
College of Social Work
193 Polk Ave, Suite E
Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 256-1885
(615) 248-8823 (fax)
Dr. Sherry Cummings, Associate Dean for Academics
scumming@utk.edu
Office of the Associate Dean for Research
College of Social Work
1618 Cumberland Ave.
306 Henson Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-3333
(865) 974-3802
Dr. William Nugent, Associate Dean for Research
wnugent@utk.edu
Knoxville Campus
The University of Tennessee
College of Social Work
1618 Cumberland Ave.
300 Henson Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-3333
(865) 974-3351
(865) 974-4803 (fax)
- BSSW Program Interim Director:
Dr. Robert Mindrup
rmindrup@utk.edu - Knoxville MSSW Program Director:
Reverend Dr. Ragan Schriver
rschriv1@utk.edu - DSW Program Director:
Dr. David Patterson
dpatter2@utk.edu - PhD Program Interim Director:
Dr. William Nugent
wnugent@utk.edu
Director of Budget, Finance, & Operations
Tiffany Harmon
(865) 974-3136
tharmon2@utk.edu
Director of Communications
Elizabeth R. DeGeorge
(865) 974-8638
edegeorg@utk.edu
Coordinator, Student Recruitment
Susan Bryant
(865) 974-3996
sbryan27@utk.edu
Nashville Campus & Online MSSW Program
The University of Tennessee
College of Social Work
193 Polk Ave, Suite E
Nashville, TN 37210
(615) 256-1885
(615) 248-8823 (fax)
Kate McClernon Chaffin, Nashville & Online MSSW Program Director
kmcclern@utk.edu
IT Manager & Webmaster
Ken Wagner
(615) 782-6152
kwagner@utk.edu