Graduate School of Social Service

Fordham University’s nationally recognized graduate programs in social work has an integrated approach to the future of the social work profession. Designed with your needs in mind, our graduate programs offer flexible scheduling as well as on-campus and online options. You’ll develop both professionally and personally from quality academics driven by a forward-thinking, skills-based curriculum.

Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, Fordham University's Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program is ranked in the top 10 percent of the nation. The Graduate School of Social Service has developed a dynamic, innovative curriculum that begins with a comprehensive foundational phase focusing on skills that are grounded in theory, practice, and ethics.. Whether your interest is in direct practice, organizational leadership, or social science research, you’ll graduate with a skill set that will be relevant to various populations and settings throughout your career.

Program Areas

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Mission

The mission of the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service is to educate students to promote human rights and social justice globally by advancing economic, political, social, physical, mental, spiritual, and educational well-being. The School strives to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities through teaching culturally competent evidence-based practice and engaging in research, policy advocacy, and community partnerships. The Graduate School of Social Service is dedicated to developing social workers who work toward the establishment of societies free from poverty, inequity, violence, oppression, and discrimination.

The School's commitment to excellence in education and scholarship is built on professional social work values and the Jesuit educational tradition with its focus on social justice. Located in the greater New York City metropolitan region, the School prepares students to build the competencies necessary to serve diverse populations.

History

For more than 150 years, Fordham University has been a part of the life of the community in and around New York City. In keeping with the tradition of the University, the Graduate School of Social Service was founded in 1916. It has been located in the Leon Lowenstein Center at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan since February 1969. The program expanded to the University’s Westchester campus at Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, in 1975 for the convenience of residents of Westchester County, counties north and west of Westchester, northern New Jersey, and southern Connecticut.

The Westchester campus is now located in West Harrison, New York. Since 1997, we have offered a collaborative program on Long Island with Molloy College in Rockville Centre. Students in this program have the option of completing coursework at the Molloy Campus in Rockville Centre and the Lincoln Center Campus in Manhattan. In 2014, the program expanded to include a hybrid model of study wherein students have the option of taking online courses as well as courses at Molloy College.

In 2011, Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service launched a fully online M.S.W. program. In 2018, this program expanded nationally and now offers live (synchronous) classes.

For a list of relevant GSS contacts, please consult our website.