Western Michigan University has a long-term investment in social work education through its undergraduate program, which began in the 1940s with social work courses offered through the Department of Sociology. The School of Social Work was formally established in 1969, offering both the bachelor of social work (B.S.W.) degree and the master of social work (M.S.W.) degree.
The School of Social Work continues to offer the B.S.W. and M.S.W. today, as well as a social work undergraduate minor. The M.S.W. program was first accredited by the Council on Social Work Education in 1969 and is currently accredited through 2016. The B.S.W. program was first accredited in 1975 and is also accredited through 2016.
In 1976, the university added the College of Health and Human Services to its administrative roster, of which the school became a member, to recognize the integral relationship between physical and mental and emotional health and well-being.
