Social Work is
a profession devoted to the enhancement of human well-being and
to the alleviation of poverty and oppression. This is accomplished
through the promotion, restoration, maintenance and enhancement
of the social functioning of individuals, families, groups, organizations
and communities. The expansion of human service programs and areas
of practice that utilize social work knowledge and skills has created
a demand for professional social workers. Social Work offers a challenging
and exciting career for the individual who is motivated to help
others and has a personal commitment to the advancement of social
justice.
History of the School of Social Work
The first course in Social Work, then titled Social Service,
was offered at the University of Oklahoma through the Department
of Sociology in 1917. The School of Social Service remained a
division of the Department of Sociology until 1935. During the
eighteen-year span with the Department of Sociology, other social
service courses gradually were added to the curriculum. The early
1920's brought an introduction of the first course designed for
social casework titled "Method of Social Casework" and the first
course related to children titled "Child Welfare". As early as
1921, the study of community organization was added to the social
service curriculum.
Faculty additions to the Department of Sociology during 1927
included J.J. Rhyne, as a professor. In 1929, Dr. Rhyne was to
become the first director of the School of Social Service, which
was renamed the School of Social Work in 1935. The contributions
of Dr. Rhyne are felt today with the structure housing the current
School of Social Work, Rhyne Hall, bearing his name. Dr. J. J.
Rhyne continued to serve as Director of the School until 1950.
Existence as a separate unit within the larger University for
three years allowed the school to apply for membership in the
accrediting body of the American Association of Schools of Social
Work. Conditional membership for the graduate program was granted
in 1938, with full accreditation being received for the two-year
graduate program in 1952. The American Association of Schools
of Social Work later merged with the Council on Social Work Education
(CSWE). The University of Oklahoma School of Social Work graduate
program has maintained continuous accreditation by CSWE since
1952. The undergraduate program gained approval in 1970 and has
been continuously accredited since the inception of undergraduate
accreditation in 1974.
Throughout
the history of the School of Social Work, students have been actively
involved in the undergraduate and graduate student organizations
and activities within the School and University. The first student
social work organization began in 1929 and held the name of "The
Social Work Club" with membership including both undergraduate
and graduate students. Since that time student organizations have
continued to be sponsored within the School of Social Work, although
they have separated into graduate and undergraduate organizations.
Each organization represents the undergraduate and graduate students
in the University of Oklahoma Student Senate and Graduate Student
Senate. Social Work students are also active in many other organizations
on campus, including the Honors Program, American Indian and Minority
Student Organizations, and sorority and fraternity organizations.
From the onset of development of social service and social work
at the University, faculty and students volunteered services in
many capacities in a wide variety of agencies and organizations.
Today both the faculty and students continue to participate actively
in the community by providing services to those individuals and
groups in need. In the days, weeks, and months following the bombing
of the federal building in Oklahoma City, students and faculty
of the School provided numerous volunteer services to survivors,
families of survivors, and other rescue workers.
Enrollment at the School of Social Work has continued to grow
from the introduction of the curriculum. Following a small decrease
during World War II, increasing enrollment has continued over
the years. Currently the School has an average of 80 undergraduate
students, 80 full-time graduate students, and 80 part-time graduate
students.
