The Florida State University College of Social Work, is the social work college of the Florida State University. The College is the oldest in the state of Florida and was the first in the world to offer a Master of Social Work through an accredited online program. More than 1,100 students are enrolled, including undergraduates and graduate students, including Master of Social Work and Doctor of Philosophy students. The BSW and MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

U.S. News & World Report (2024 edition)

• #1 social work program in Florida
• #36 overall social work program in the U.S.
• #22 social work program among U.S. public universities

The College maintains relationships with more than 450 social service agencies throughout Florida, the U.S., and international placements; this also includes 18 Veteran Administration agencies.

Offered at FSU’s main campus in Tallahassee, Florida, and at the Panama City campus, the nationally accredited BSW program provides quality preparation and on-the-job experience for entry-level practitioners who will work with diverse client systems and problems. Areas of focus include Leadership, Administration, Advocacy and Human Rights, Children and Families, Criminal Justice, Gerontology, Health, Behavioral Health, Disability Studies, International Social Work, and Military Social Work.

The Tallahassee campus of the FSU College of Social Work offers the largest number of MSW program options:

• Clinical Social Work or Social Leadership concentration
• Full-time or part-time
• Traditional (for students with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline outside of social work) or Advanced Standing (for students with a bachelor’s degree in social work)
• Four Joint Pathways (provides qualified students the opportunity to earn two graduate-level degrees, one in social work (MSW) and the other in one of the following areas of study: business (MBA), criminology/criminal justice (MS), law (JD), or public administration (MPA)).

The Panama City campus offers a three-quarter time program, Clinical Social Work concentration, and Traditional or Advanced Standing programs.

The Online MSW program at FSU is the first of its kind in the nation and allows students to participate in asynchronous instruction online. Students are required to come to Tallahassee during their second and third semesters for Weekend Workshops to learn clinical skills with faculty and peers. The program offers a part-time program, Clinical Social Work concentration, and Traditional or Advanced Standing programs.

The College of Social Work Doctoral Program at FSU offers a Ph.D. and emphasizes training in research methods and teaching. The doctoral curriculum is methodologically rigorous and designed to nurture students’ success. Small class sizes and the availability of peer and faculty mentors provide opportunities for collaboration and ongoing professional relationships.

During the first year of the program, students learn the foundations for excellence in research and begin to develop a substantive area of interest. In their second year, students apply what they have learned in the first year to this individualized area of interest. Subsequent educational opportunities include a research practicum and a teaching practicum, and the opportunity to teach independently before they graduate.

Field education is the signature pedagogy of social work education, offering on-site training and experience across the globe. Students must complete field placement internships in the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work programs.

The Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW) was established in 2014 by the Florida Legislature under Section 1004.615. Florida Statutes. Through collaborative partnerships, research and evaluation, technical assistance and training, and policy analysis, the institute seeks to improve the safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for the children and families involved with Florida’s child welfare system, as well as to enhance the sustainability of the child welfare workforce.

Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children (CFC Center) was created by the Stoops Family Foundation, Inc. to generate and sustain translational knowledge development for effective policies, services, and usable research for the promotion of communities, families, and the children of Florida, the nation, and across the globe.

The Institute for Quality Children's Services (IQCS) advances the well-being of children in out-of-home care and their families by providing scientifically supported, high-quality practices that are accessible and actionable for federal, state, and local governments, as well as private nonprofit and for-profit child-serving organizations and caregivers.

The Institute for Trauma and Resilience Studies (ITRS) (formerly Institute for Family Violence Studies) is a national resource for trauma-informed services to improve safety and well-being for families and individuals across the lifespan.

The Institute for Justice Research and Development (IJRD) examines ways to achieve equity across the criminal justice system from an individual's first contact with law enforcement to their release from incarceration, collaborating with national networks of criminal justice professionals.

The Multidisciplinary Evaluation and Testing Center (MDC) was established in 1983 through a Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services grant. The center provides services, including diagnostic evaluation and consultation services for children and youth with complex medical, educational, emotional, and/or behavioral problems.

The Maura's Voice Research Fund (Maura's Voice) was established by Jeff and Margaret Binkley in memory of their daughter Maura Binkley, a young woman who dedicated her life to serving others. The fund aims to fulfill the vision of advancing scientific understanding and developing effective responses to the gun violence epidemic in America.

The College of Social Work offers a summer study abroad program in Prague, Czech Republic and two exchange programs during the fall and spring semester in Australia and Sweden. The College also offers Alternative Spring Break to Bachelor and Master students in Grenada and international field placements in the United Kingdom (London, England, and Belfast, Northern Ireland), the Republic of Ireland (Dublin), and Canada (Vancouver, British Columbia).

• Official website
• Online Master of Social Work