Firsts

The University of Maryland School of Social Work was established as the first graduate school of social work in Maryland, marking a major milestone in advancing professional social work education across the state.

UMSSW became the first school in the United States to establish a Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) fellows program, connecting social work education with national service and community engagement.

UMSSW became the first school of social work to provide hearing-impaired students with the opportunity to earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree through its Center for the Graduate Social Work Education for the Hearing Impaired.

UMSSW established the first training center in the United States dedicated to addressing poverty and the challenges facing inner-city communities.

Following the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., UMSSW became the first school in the United States to establish a communications center connecting families and friends affected by the civil unrest.

UMSSW pioneered the first intercampus social work program in the United States through a collaboration between the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).

UMSSW became the first school in the United States to offer both a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree and a Master of Clinical Psychology degree.

UMSSW became the first school in the United States to offer a post-master's certificate in social administration and the first to establish a clinical/social administration concentration.

UMSSW became the first school in the United States to offer a concentration certificate in aging and an aging administration program, preparing professionals to serve the growing older adult population through agencies and organizations supported by the Older Americans Act.

UMSSW developed the first and largest Master of Social Work specialization program in the world focused on employee assistance programs, expanding opportunities for social workers to address workplace and employee well-being.

UMSSW established the Financial Social Work Initiative, the first program of its kind in the United States, to prepare students, faculty, staff, and social work professionals to address the financial realities affecting individuals, families, and communities.

UMSSW became the first school of social work to host a Public Allies (AmeriCorps) program, creating opportunities for emerging leaders to engage in community service and leadership development.

UMSSW became the first school of social work to host a federally recognized Promise Neighborhood, supporting collaborative efforts to improve educational and community outcomes for children and families.

UMSSW established the first center in the United States dedicated to evidence-based practice in child welfare, advancing research-informed approaches to improving outcomes for children and families.

UMSSW became the first school of social work in the Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., region to establish a dedicated office of diversity, equity, and inclusion, supported by an associate dean and full-time staff.

UMSSW established the LEAD (Leading for Equity, Anti-Racism, and Diversity) Institute, the first diversity, equity, and inclusion training institute housed within a school of social work.

UMSSW became the first school in the United States to offer a dual-degree pathway combining a Master of Social Work (MSW) with a postbaccalaureate certificate in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics.

UMSSW became the first school of social work in the United States to host a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion summit in response to the closure of DEI offices and the rise of anti-DEI legislation nationwide.

In partnership with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, UMSSW established the first workplace-focused opioid response program in the United States, advancing efforts to address opioid-related challenges in workplace settings.