Welcome to the School of Social Work and Criminal Justice at the University of Washington Tacoma. I am proud of our innovative and unique multidisciplinary school that is committed to pillars of academic excellence through research, instruction, and community engagement. Paramount is student success. Whether you are interested in pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice or Social Welfare or a Master of Social Work degree, you will find a community of diverse scholars and leaders who are deeply committed to your personal, intellectual, and professional growth.

The School of Social Work and Criminal Justice affirms social, racial, political, and economic justice and promotes equity and inclusion values. Through our three degree programs, we prepare students to empower individuals and communities to dismantle oppressive system policies and practices and address critical social problems to create a more just and equitable society.

The campus and online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice (BACJ) degree prepares students to engage with systems through a theoretical understanding using ecological systems and evaluative approaches to crime and justice. Our unique multidisciplinary Criminal Justice curriculum adopts a social justice lens that prioritizes diversity in populations and thought, progressive approaches to crime and justice, and differential impacts of crime on individuals and communities across social identities and locations. The Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare (BASW) degree prepares students to acquire competence in ethical, culturally responsive social work practice. Our BASW degree centers equity and a commitment to effective advocacy and empowerment of historically marginalized, economically disadvantaged, and underserved populations. Students in our BASW program are placed in generalist-focused agencies for real-world learning opportunities. The Master in Social Work (MSW) degree recognizes the importance of synergy between knowledge acquisition and action to develop student competencies in preparation for advanced practice. Our MSW curriculum provides generative and tailored learning for students to develop deep expertise in their interests and passions. Students assume advocacy and leadership opportunities in an array of cross-disciplinary public and private sectors and may choose specialized learning in pursuit of school social work, behavioral health, and child welfare careers.

Our society remains at a critical juncture that requires a steadfast commitment to social change and justice. We strongly believe our mission, integration of criminal justice and social work critical thought and values, and collective potential will foster a meaningful and sustained impact on our communities. We look forward to you joining us and advancing our mission, priorities, and values.

Keva M. Miller, Ph.D., LCSW

Dean and Professor