School of Social Work
Preparing Leaders in Social Work
Founded in 1904, Simmons was the nation's first school of social work and enjoys a rich history of training clinical social workers.
At Simmons, you will develop and advance psychotherapy skills as a social worker — through a social justice lens and in line with social work values. You'll join providers who are delivering crucial treatment in the areas of mental health, child welfare, healthcare, and advocacy, and who are committed to social justice in the United States and beyond.
Visionary Leadership
“Thanks to its outstanding practice and social justice-oriented faculty, the School has a longstanding reputation as a leader in clinical social work education and scholarship.” — Michael LaSala, Dean
Embrace Our Mission
The Simmons University School of Social Work will prepare you to practice social work in a complex, multicultural world. Our programs focus on the development of strong skills, career preparation, and readiness for the field.
Take the Next Step
Join a community of students who share a passion for scholarship, a dedication to community, a vision for change, and a commitment to social justice and human rights.
Answer Your Calling: Tap into Your Potential
Our program offers the opportunity to hone your skills in government and non-profits, hospitals, home visits, private practice, and schools. Your work will acknowledge and respond to the impacts of institutional racism, sexism, and homophobia on clients.
Get Involved, Get Inspired
Take advantage of resources and training provided by The Center for Innovation in Behavioral Health Education and Research (CIBER). The center advances research, practice, and teaching in behavioral health.
You will have the opportunity to integrate classroom learning into clinical practice. You'll learn to apply clinical skills with clients and become familiar with the many roles social workers play in agencies and communities.
Our programs will prepare you for a successful career in social work. You can pursue many roles, such as practitioner, policy expert, scholar, teacher, or leader.
What Makes Us Different?
As the oldest school of social work in the nation, Simmons School of Social Work offers a one-of-a-kind focus on clinical practice and psychotherapy skills. Employers recognize and trust the exceptional expertise our graduates bring to the field.
Our faculty are highly specialized in direct clinical practice — close to 90% of the faculty are engaged in practice within their community, and they take pride in mentoring and teaching students.
“I was learning interventions in class that I could practice with a client the next day.”
Rebecca McDermott ’24
MSW
“I like that Simmons values clinical experience and scholarship. It’s about making sure the research informs the practice, and the practice informs the research. You don’t find that in a lot of programs.”
Stephanie Wladkowski ’14
PhD
120 Years of Impact
Hear from some of our students and alums about what sets the Simmons School of Social Work apart: clinical simulations, role playing, the alum network, and more.
Applied Learning in Social Work Education
Discover innovative ideas and insights in our online journal. The School of Social Work created this publication to promote knowledge exchange among the social work field education community.
Note: ALSWE was previously known as Field Educator.
Spotlight on Social Work Students and Alums
Finding Purpose in School-Based Social Work
Diana Pelaez ’24MSW is a clinical social worker for the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) — the largest voluntary school-integration program in the country.
Alumna Delivers Trauma-Informed Care at Boston Children’s
Rachel Nyakako is a clinical social worker in the Children’s Hospital Primary Care Center (CHPCC) at Boston Children’s Hospital. She serves as a link for patients and families in need of mental and behavioral healthcare and resources.
Simmons Student-athletes Excel On and Off the Field
Early mornings and late evenings. Long practices and rigorous academic courses. Team bonding and unforgettable moments. These are just a few of the hallmarks of the student-athlete experience at Simmons, according to field hockey player Sydney Gonyea ’25 and softball pitcher Piper Kinney ’26.
Integrating Forest Spirituality into a Social Work Mindset
Grant Pike ’18MSW ’24DSW shares how the vitality of nature can be combined with social work and social justice, with a positive impact on humans and the planet.
Advocating for Others
Anne Villano ’22MSW says her decision to enroll in Simmons’ School of Social Work was influenced by two key factors that also shaped volunteer service she engaged in while earning her degree – and her path since graduating: life experience and an affinity for advocacy.
Social Work Alum on Oncology Social Work at Dana-Farber
Josh Ozer ’24MSW is a clinical social worker at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston where he provides one-on-one counseling to patients as well as psychosocial support to their families and caregivers.
Simmons Welcomes New Cohort of Bonner Community Leaders
The Bonner Community Leaders Program is a unique opportunity for students who want to combine a strong commitment to service with personal growth, teamwork, leadership development, and scholarship. We spoke with Ellie Foss ’28, Jocelyn Miranda Landaverde ’28, Bridget Swezey ’28, and Soraya Timas ’28 about what drew them to the program.
Mother and Daughter Alumnae Reflect on Shared Simmons Pride
To commemorate Simmons’ 125th anniversary, we spoke with Karen MacKenzie ’10, ’12MSW and her daughter Jennifer “Jen” DiRico ’12MBA about graduating alongside one another, Simmons’ spirit of inclusivity, and the formative power of a women’s-centered education.
School of Social Work Highlights
Accredited Programs
Our BSW (On-ground and online) and MSW programs are fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
Hands-on experience
Our MSW students get more hands-on experience in the field than any other program in the Boston area.
High Rate of Licensure and Employment
Simmons students excel with their high pass rates on the licensing exam and high rates of employment within 6 months of graduation.
School of Social Work in the News
Social Work Professor Honored as Legacy Maker
Professor and MSW Program Director Gary Bailey was featured in Portraits of Pride 2025, a recognition of LGBTQ+ leaders in the Greater Boston area.
Digitizing the History of the First US School of Social Work
Simmons School of Library and Information Science students in Assistant Professor of Practice Mollie Metevier’s “Digitization Project Planning and Management” course recently presented a project showcase of the digitization of the Jeffrey R. Brackett Papers, the first dean of Simmons School of Social Work (SSW). This project was done in collaboration with the Simmons University Archives.
The Simmons Six: Meet the Deans
Meet the new deans of Simmons’ School of Library and Information Science; School of Sciences and Health Professions; Gwen Ifill School of Media, Humanities, and Social Sciences; School of Social Work; School of Management; and School of Nursing.
Associate Professor’s Research Links Drinking and Depression
School of Social Work Associate Professor Christina Sellers was quoted in an article, "Retirement and drinking don't mix."
Two Simmons Faculty Members Receive North Star Fellowships
Samuel Odom from the School of Social Work and Don Simmons from the School of Library and Information Science, have been named fellows by the North Star Collective Faculty Fellowship, which is designed to promote supportive community and racial healing for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) faculty members across New England.
Honoring the National Day of Racial Healing
January 21, 2025 — the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day — is the ninth annual National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH). Created by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, NDORH "is an opportunity to engage in collective action to create a more just and equitable world."
Simmons School of Social Work Welcomes New Faculty
Simmons University’s School of Social Work Programs welcomed four new faculty members this academic year, with expertise in addiction treatment, hospice and bereavement support, racism-based trauma, and military social work.
Women in Leadership and Social Justice
Local leaders recently gathered at Simmons University to discuss what it means to lead in today’s world. The event was part of the Unpacking Series and was hosted by the Simmons Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in collaboration with the Institute for Inclusive Leadership, the School of Management, the School of Social Work, and the Stephen D. London Center for Community Engagement and Social Justice.
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