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Best Grad Schools U.S. News Social Work 2023 #28

Established in 1937, the University of Utah College of Social Work is a leader in social work education in the Intermountain West.

We offer an inclusive and challenging learning environment where BSW, MSW, and PhD students are encouraged to collaborate with faculty, peers, and community partners in analyzing and resolving critical social challenges.

The University of Utah College of Social Work is currently seeking dynamic tenure-track and career-track faculty candidates to contribute to the strategic growth of the College.

Photo of the University of Utah campus at dusk

The College of Social Work

The Grand Challenges for Social Work require us to develop innovative, evidence-based solutions in partnership with various stakeholders. At the College of Social Work, we are building upon a foundation of big IDEAS—Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Sustainability—in our collective efforts to tackle “wicked problems” in our communities and society. We honor our professional responsibility to generate and advance enduring solutions to a myriad of social problems. The IDEAS framework will inform these efforts and provide criteria for evaluating the impact of our work.

  • Inclusion means developing and/or expanding opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.
  • Diversity means meaningfully involving people from a range of different social, racial, and ethnic identities, and of different abilities, ages, gender identities, and sexual orientations.
  • Equity means ensuring equal and just treatment, affording everyone opportunities for success.
  • Accessibility means enacting strategies and strengthening infrastructure that increase students’ ability to accomplish their academic goals—financial support, program delivery options, and solutions that address the continuum of human abilities and experiences.
  • Sustainability means planning for our collective futures by advocating for policies and practices supporting social, economic, and environmental resources and justice.

The University of Utah—the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education—has been classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education into the highest category of research universities: “Doctoral/Very High Research Activity,” often referred to as “R1” institutions. The College of Social Work houses three nationally-recognized research centers:

National Ranking #1 DOD (Army) Grants National Ranking #18 NIH Grants National Ranking #19 Publications Per Author
National Ranking #21 Number of Grants National Ranking #21 Citation Count National Ranking #23 Publication Count

Land Acknowledgement

Photo of a Ute performer in traditional dress, standing on the field of Rice Eccles Stadium, surrounded by other Ute dancersThe University of Utah has both historical and contemporary relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Given that the Salt Lake Valley has always been a gathering place for Indigenous Peoples, we acknowledge that this land, which is named for the Ute Tribe, is the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Goshute, and Ute Tribes and is a crossroad for Indigenous Peoples. The University of Utah recognizes the enduring relationships between many Indigenous Peoples and their traditional homelands. We are grateful for the territory upon which we gather today; we respect Utah’s Indigenous Peoples, the original stewards of this land; and we value the sovereign relationships that exist between tribal governments, state governments, and the federal government. Today, approximately 60,000 American Indian and Alaska Native peoples live in Utah. As a state institution, the University of Utah is committed to serving Native communities throughout Utah in partnership with Native Nations and our Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.

Salt Lake City & Utah

Situated along the east bench of Salt Lake City, the University of Utah is nestled into the foothills of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.  At the edge of campus—which encompasses the state arboretum—a natural stream winds its way through Red Butte Garden and a well-maintained hiking and biking trail crosses paths with the Natural History Museum of Utah.  

Ariel view of the University of Utah campus and the stunning Wasatch Mountains

Salt Lake City offers a spectacular mix of city life and nearby natural solitude, with plenty of family friendly activities throughout Utah’s four lovely seasons.  Utah’s capital city has an increasingly diverse population of approximately 200,000 and has become a welcoming destination city for refugees, fostering an exceptional variety of diverse community cultural events. 

Visitors are greeted by warm, friendly people, clean streets, and a relaxed but active atmosphere.  Walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods lend to the safe, small-town feel of one of the 50 largest metropolitan markets in the U.S.

Last Updated: 3/11/24