MASTER OFSOCIAL WORK

SP2 is guided by a mission to advance social innovation, social impact, and social good. Within the MSW program, this mission informs our curriculum, field education, research, and partnerships with communities, and reflects our commitment to preparing social workers who are equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively respond to evolving societal needs and advance meaningful social change.

Ranked in the top 8 social work programs in the U.S., our MSW program is grounded in the core values of the social work profession—service, social justice, dignity and worth of the individual, the importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence. These values shape how we teach, learn, and engage as a community.

At SP2, you will join a collaborative environment where your ideas and experiences matter. Learning is grounded in close mentorship and partnership among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community organizations. You will be known, supported, and challenged throughout your educational journey.

Our faculty are nationally recognized scholars and practitioners whose work advances evidence-informed practice and drives policy and systems change across diverse fields. Our research is deeply interdisciplinary, spanning medicine, nursing, education, law, business, public health, and the behavioral sciences, ensuring that your training reflects both rigorous scholarship and real-world relevance.

We are committed to preparing students across the full continuum of social work practice, including clinical, macro, and policy practice. Students receive rigorous, evidence-based training while developing clinical skills in assessment, engagement, and intervention; macro practice skills in program design, implementation, and evaluation; and policy skills in analysis, advocacy, and systems-level change. Across all areas, students learn to address the social and structural determinants of health across the lifespan.

A defining strength of our MSW program is its integration within SP2 and the broader University of Pennsylvania ecosystem. In addition to MSW-specific coursework, students may take courses within SP2 in the Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership and Social Policy programs, as well as across the University’s professional schools. Students may also pursue dual degree and certificate programs that offer advanced interdisciplinary training and specialization aligned with their professional goals.

Field education and community partnerships are central to the MSW experience. We work alongside community organizations as collaborators, ensuring that learning is grounded in lived experience and responsive to community priorities. Our high-quality practicum placements connect classroom learning with real-world practice.

We ensure that our graduates are not only exceptional practitioners, but also leaders equipped with the skills needed to do this work effectively in complex and evolving practice environments—strengthening systems of care, improving outcomes, and expanding opportunities for individuals, families, and communities.

We are equally committed to holistically supporting our MSW students throughout their educational journey. More than 90% receive financial aid, and students benefit from a comprehensive suite of advising and wellness, and professional development resources, ensuring they are supported academically, personally, and professionally from matriculation through graduation.

As Faculty Director, I am committed to building on SP2’s longstanding tradition of excellence while advancing innovation in social work education, research, and practice. Together, we prepare social work leaders to address society’s most pressing challenges and advance social change rooted in equity, opportunity, and community partnership.

Wherever you are in your professional journey—whether entering the field, deepening clinical expertise, or broadening your impact in macro practice or policy—I hope you will consider joining our community. Together, we can advance social justice, improve well-being, and create a more equitable future for individuals, families, and communities.

We’d be delighted to hear from you! Please contact the Admissions Office at apply@sp2.upenn.edu. I look forward to welcoming you to SP2.

Warmly,
Abigail (Abby) M. Ross, LICSW, MPH, PhD
Faculty Director, MSW Program