“ What I hope to do is influence social policy for those who need it most.” Sara Pilgreen Master of Social Welfare, Ph.D. Candidate
AT UCLA LUSKIN
NE PLACE
Social justice. It is more than simply a belief. It is the force by which we meet the critical needs of the most vulnerable members of society. From child welfare and foster care to mental health and services for the elderly, the demand for transformation can be found at every age, in every community. As a social welfare practitioner, you can effect change beginning with the individual and spanning entire populations.
The diverse ethnic and cultural nature of Los Angeles gives our students the unique opportunity to experience the complexity of urban communities today. This complexity is reflected in our student body, with 57 percent of our students coming from diverse backgrounds. Our distinguished faculty are active in research as varied as the world we live in, pursuing social change in welfare reform, mental health, HIV and drug abuse, and more. In turn, they provide real-world experience along with impeccable scholarship to help better prepare our graduates.
Founded in 1947, UCLA Luskin’s Department of Social Welfare seeks to: • train the next generation of practitioners and leaders • lead the development of knowledge for the profession • strengthen social institutions and services in Los Angeles and beyond
Right now. Right here. Discover the power of one to empower the lives of many. Only at UCLA Luskin.
“ We’re here to create a better world —one person, one project, one place at a time.” Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr., Dean, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
luskin.ucla.edu
M ASTER O F SO C I A L W E L FAR E
The Power of One
SOCIAL WELFARE
At UCLA Luskin, we believe in the power of one to empower the many.
ONE PROGRAM UCLA Luskin’s Master of Social Welfare is a full-time, two-year program. In addition to our core curriculum, you can participate in an advanced research course or research project focused on an issue of interest to you. Two field placements with social work agencies let you put into action what you have learned in the classroom, providing invaluable real-world experience. Your core curriculum encompasses: • Social welfare policy and services • Human behavior and social environment • Methods of social work practice • Social welfare research methods
Collaborate with faculty recognized as scholars and leaders in: • Adolescent issues • Aging • Child welfare • Immigration • Mental health • Poverty
ONE PASSION Social work is one of the nation’s fastestgrowing professions. Our alumni serve in such varied roles as government administrators, clinical social workers, service providers to the elderly, and therapists in private practice. Many choose to contribute as educators, holding faculty positions at prestigious universities in the U.S. and abroad. Where are UCLA Luskin graduates? • Alzheimer’s Association • California Department of Public Health • Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services • Eating Disorder Center of California • Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall Department of Mental Health • Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center • Providence St. Joseph Medical Center
SOCIAL WELFARE GRADUATES Working in:
47%
Nonprofit Sector
Higher Education
Public Sector
employed within 3 months of graduation
9
%
Private Sector
43%
found employment through a connection built at UCLA Luskin
FUNDING YOUR UCLA DEGREE As a UCLA Luskin student, you have a variety of financial aid options, including merit-based fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research appointments. All eligible students are guaranteed a need-based fellowship award from the department. Additional funding is available from both the UCLA Graduate Division and Financial Aid Office. For further information, visit our website.
“ We are here because it has become time for us to start making history.” Stephanie Hair Master of Social Welfare
3250 Public Affairs Building Box 951656, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656 310.825.4025 swinfo@luskin.ucla.edu luskin.ucla.edu/social-welfare
M ASTER O F SO C I A L W E L FAR E
42%
72%
impact
2%
ONE PERSON: MICHELLE TALLEY Social welfare field faculty member Michelle Talley works with the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services to help some of Southern California’s most vulnerable victims: foster children that have been pulled into the sex trafficking industry. Talley brings together former victims, law enforcement, social workers, and Social Welfare students to find justice for the young girls in the system—most of whom live below the poverty line and have suffered abuse. “We need to be genuine, caring, and willing, and display a non-judgmental attitude when working with others. Understanding and empathy are essential skills to have in working with youth,” Talley says.
THE POWER OF ONE: ONE PERSON. ONE PROJECT. ONE PLACE AT A TIME.