School of Social Work

The School of Social Work (SSW) is distinguished in many ways — with nationally acclaimed faculty, a strong emphasis on clinical practice, alumni who are leaders in their fields, and innovative teaching practices that set our graduates above the rest. Our campus location in Boston is embedded in world-renowned teaching hospitals and research facilities, which provides inspiration for our faculty locally and across the country.

Make a difference in the world with our social work programs.

For over a century, Simmons has been a leader in innovative social work education. From cutting-edge simulations (the use of actors to simulate real world practice), to our renowned practicum education program, to our PhD and DSW programs which have strong mentoring components and value practice expertise, the School of Social Work provides students with a one-of-a-kind social work education.

Our faculty love being in the classroom and use their experience as practitioners to inform their research and teaching. Simmons values teaching excellence and our faculty make the real world of practice come alive in the classroom. As the cradle of social work education, Simmons School of Social Work prides itself on engaging in innovative teaching and experiential learning opportunities. Since 1904, our faculty have led the way in creating new knowledge for the social work profession, blazing the trail for our alumni to become the best clinical practitioners, educators, and social work leaders in the country.

For students interested in immersing themselves in the Boston community, we offer state-of-the-art education in our BSW and MSW programs. Our reach extends across the country through our innovative online BSW, MSW, PhD, and DSW programs. Whether you’re interested in a BSW, MSW, DSW or PhD degree, we prepare you for careers as exceptional practitioners, clinicians, leaders, educators, and scholars.

About the School of Social Work

Founded in 1904, Simmons was the nation's first institute of higher learning to offer training for clinical social workers.

Students in class

On-Campus Social Work Programs

At Simmons, we prepare our grads for what’s next. Our BSWs, MSWs & PhDs are highly competitive in their respective job markets and have high pass rates on national exams. The social work world knows that Simmons grads will make a difference.

Simmons Academic Campus

Online Social Work Programs

Our immersive, fully online MSW and PhD programs bring the transformational Simmons education to you in a format that fits your lifestyle.

Student sitting in the library

Career Development and Alumnae/i Networks

Our programs prepare graduates for successful careers in social work, as practitioners, policy experts, scholars, teachers, and leaders.

Admission Requirements for Social Work Programs


Social Work Graduate Programs

Learn more about our admissions guidelines for our graduate and PhD level social work degrees. Embark on the next chapter of your career today!

Undergraduate Social Work Degrees

Learn more about our admissions process and deadlines for our undergraduate social work degrees. Start your one-of-a-kind social work education experience by applying today!

Simmons professor teaching in class

Center for Innovation in Clinical Social Work

Prioritizing social justice, human rights, and community engagement, the Center for Innovation in Clinical Social Work serves as the intellectual hub for developing innovative clinical social work research and accelerating dissemination into practice communities.

CICSW

Suzanne Sankar photo

SSW Field Educator

The Field Educator was created to promote communication and knowledge exchange among field educators in academia and in the practice community. It offers a variety of presentations of innovative practicum education practice and research, using an online format for maximum accessibility.

Current Issue

School of Social Work in the News

Anna Rodriguez

Anna Rodriguez ’23MSW: Bridging Hearts and Minds as a Mental Health Therapist

Anna Rodriguez is a mental health therapist at Cartwheel Care, a behavioral healthcare company that partners with K-12 schools to provide mental health services to children and adolescents.


Ilana Feldman ’23MSW

Ilana Feldman ’23MSW: Empowering Communication and Connection with the Special Needs’ Population

Ilana Feldman is a social worker in the Deafblind School at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts—the oldest school for the blind in the U.S.


Dr. Michael C. LaSala

Dr. Michael C. LaSala, PhD, LCSW selected as Dean of the School of Social Work

Simmons University is pleased to announce that it has selected Dr. Michael C. LaSala, PhD, LCSW to serve as Dean of the School of Social Work. Dr. LaSala will begin the transition to Simmons during the week of February 5, 2024, and his term will officially begin on July 1, 2024.


An aerial view of the Simmons University academic campus

Simmons University Receives more than $400,000 in a grant from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Simmons University has received grant funding from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to address health needs in the communities the hospital serves. The $416,000 grant awarded to Simmons University will help support mental and behavioral health at Fenway High School located in Mission Hill.


The ingterior of the Massachusetts House of Representatives

Associate Professor offers Testimony on Act Prohibiting Body Size Discrimination

A clinical social worker and an Associate Professor of Practice in the Simmons University School of Social Work, Olivia Montgomery offers talks on anti-fat bias and health care in her community. In her virtual testimony, she related an experience visiting a new primary care physician.


B Boy executing a freeze, circa 2014, Wikimedia (public domain)

Professor of Education Daren Graves Co-Edits Forthcoming Book on Hip Hop Education

In January 2024, Bloomsbury Publishing (London) will release The Bloomsbury Handbook of Hip Hop Pedagogy, co-edited by Daren Graves, Professor of Education and Social Work at Simmons, and Dr. Lauren Leigh Kelly, an Associate Professor of Education at Rutgers University. This collection is “the first reference work to cover the theory, history, research methodologies, and practice of Hip Hop pedagogy.”


A group of students in a classroom

Simmons School of Social Work Welcomes New Cohort to the Survivor Link Public Health AmeriCorps Program

October is National Domestic / Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month. This semester, Simmons University welcomes twelve Master’s in Social Work students into the Survivor Link + Public Health Americorps program, which trains Social Work students to work with survivors.


The 2023 faculty award winners

Simmons Celebrates Exemplary Research, Teaching, and Service at the 2023 Faculty Awards

On October 11, the Simmons community gathered to honor the outstanding achievements of six faculty members representing five disciplines. This year’s awardees received recognition for superlative undergraduate and graduate teaching, research, service, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.


Upcoming School of Social Work Events

50 Days to Commencement

  • Mar 28, 2024
  • 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
  • Linda K. Paresky Conference Center

Info Session: On-Campus MSW Program

  • Mar 30, 2024
  • 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
  • Kotzen Room, Ground Floor, Lefavour Building

Virtual Info Session: On-Campus MSW Program

  • Apr 18, 2024
  • 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
  • Virtual