Tel no. (632)526-8421 local 181
E-mail: pssw@pwu.edu.ph

BRIEF HISTORY

The Philippine School of Social Work (PSSW) was established in 1950 with a gift from Col. Andres Soriano, a prominent philanthropist who endowed a professorial chair in Community Leadership at the Philippine Women's University. The first director of the School was Mrs. Josefa Jara Martinez.

A one-year graduate degree in social work administration was offered (SY1950-51). The following school term, a second year program was given to those who completed the one-year graduate course to qualify for the degree of Master of Science in Social Work, in accordance with the standards set by the International Association of Schools of Social Work. Since then, the degree of Master of Science in Social Work has been conferred on men and women holding executive and supervisory positions in leading welfare and social development agencies in the country.

With the passage of Republic Act 4373 in 1964, otherwise known as the cled esail title, Social Work Law, the academic and administrative responsibility for the undergraduate program in Social Work was transferred from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences to the Philippine School of Social Work and Master of Science in Social Work.

As part of the University re-structuring program, the University Community Outreach Program (UNICORP) was integrated in 1998 with the Philippine School of Social Work for a closer tie-up between theory and practice.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The first school of Social Work in the Philippines.
• The first to offer Social Work Review Course for the first Board Examination in Social Work as provided by R.Ra. 4373.
• Played a major role in the First Population and Family Planning Educational Program for Asia and the Pacific, sponsored by IASSW and implemented by SSWAP.
• Established the Center for Advanced Studies in Social Development in Asia (CASSDA).
• The first Social Work School to be accredited by PASSCU.
• Publication of the Guidelines for Social Work Practitioners entitled "Helping Street Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances" a project in cooperation with UNICEF, DSWD-NCSD.
• Established working relationship with PLAN International, World Vision CCF and ERDA.
• Undertaking an International Practicum Project in partnership with the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington, USA.
• Commissioned by the DSWD to conduct the training, "The Empowering Role of DSWD Social Workers in the 21st Century".

• Doctor of Social Development
• Master of Arts in Social Development
• Master of Science in Social Work
• Bachelor of Science in Social Work

• Community services and sustainable development
• Community organizing
• Advocacy and Social action and International social work
• Direct practice with individuals, families, groups and communities
• Counseling and/or clinical social work practice
• Social Administration, policy advocacy, agency management
• Program/project development, management, monitoring and evaluation
• Training, consultancy, human resource development, and research
• Social work practice according to setting/context
  (hospitals, courts, welfare institutions, schools, church, military, industrial/corporate, etc.)
• Social work practice with sector-based client populations
  (farmers, fisher folks, peasants, laborers, overseas/migrant workers, urban poor, etc.)