USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

A variety of Social Work images.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is a leader in social work and nursing education and research. The school integrates the science of social work with real-world practice to improve the well-being of vulnerable individuals and communities and advance social and economic justice on a local, national and global scale. Photos by Wallis Photo LLC.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers programs of study leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in social work. These programs provide the student a broad background of knowledge about health and welfare problems, the meaning of programs past and present that have been established to meet them, and current issues and policy trends in the field.

At the same time, the student is helped to become a professional person through development of a philosophy in harmony with that of the profession: to prevent and mitigate severe social problems that challenge the viability of culturally diverse and complex urban settings; to build on the strengths of individuals, families and communities; and to lead the scholarly search for innovative, efficacious and just solutions.

Montgomery Ross Fisher
Building 214
Main: (213) 740-2711
Admissions: (213) 740-2013
FAX: (213) 740-0789
Email: sswadm@usc.edu
dworakpeck.usc.edu

Administration

John D. Clapp, PhD, Interim Dean

Janine Braun, EMBA, MEd, Associate Dean, Student Life

Carl Castro, PhD, Director, Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families

Monica Ellis, MA, Associate Dean, Academic Operations

Carmen Frierson, Vice Dean, Administration

John Gaspari, MSW, Executive Director, USC Center for Work and Family Life

Jeremy Goldbach, PhD, Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs

Michael Hurlburt, PhD, Director, Doctoral Programs

Charles Kaplan, PhD, Associate Dean, Research

Carrie Lew, EdD, Associate Dean, DSW Program Director

Sharon O’Neill, JD, DNP, Vice Chair, Nursing Department

Scarlett Powers Osterling, MSW, Vice Dean, Advancement

David Schonfeld, MD, Director, National Center on School Crisis and Bereavement

Cherrie Short, MSc, Associate Dean, Global and Community Initiatives

Marvin Southard, DSW, Director, DSW Program

Donna Toulmin, JD, Director, USC Center on Child Welfare

Joshua Watson, EdD, Director, Student Services

June Wiley, PhD, Assistant Dean, Virtual Academic Center

Leslie Wind, PhD, Senior Associate Dean, Learning Excellence

Terris Wolff, MBA, MSBA, Chief Technology Officer, Information Technology

Marleen Wong, PhD, Vice Dean, Field Education

Faculty

2U Endowed Chair in Educational Innovation and Social Work: Marilyn Flynn, PhD

Chinese-American Golden Age Association/Dr. Frances Wu Endowed Chair: Iris Chi, DSW

Dean’s Professor of Social Work and Business: Michàlle E. Mor Barak, PhD*

Margaret W. Driscoll/Louise M. Clevenger Professorship in Social Policy and Administration: Bruce Jansson, PhD*

Frances L. and Albert G. Feldman Endowed Professorship in Social Policy and Health: Lawrence Palinkas, PhD

Frances G. Larson Professor of Social Work Research: John Brekke, PhD*

John Milner Professor of Child Welfare: Jacquelyn McCroskey, DSW*

David Lawrence Stein/Violet Goldberg Sachs Professor of Mental Health: Marleen Wong, PhD

Richard M. and Ann L. Thor Professor in Urban Social Development: Suzanne Wenzel, PhD

Lenore Stein-Wood and Williams S. Wood Professor of School Behavioral Health: Ron Avi Astor, PhD

Professors: Ron Avi Astor, PhD; John Brekke, PhD*; Iris Chi, DSW; John Clapp, PhD; Marilyn L. Flynn, PhD; Yuri Jang, PhD; Bruce Jansson, PhD*; Jacquelyn McCroskey, DSW*; Michàlle E. Mor Barak, PhD*; Lawrence Palinkas, PhD; Avelardo Valdez, PhD; Suzanne Wenzel, PhD

Associate Professors: Maria Aranda, PhD*; Concepcion Barrio, PhD; Devon Brooks, PhD; Carl Castro, PhD; Julie Cederbaum, PhD; Alice Cepeda, PhD; Jeremy Goldbach, PhD; Erick Guerrero, PhD; Benjamin Henwood, PhD; Michael Hurlburt, PhD; Helen Land, PhD*; Karen Lincoln, PhD; Ferol Mennen, DSW*; Emily Putnam-Hornstein, PhD; Eric Rice, PhD; Dorian Traube, PhD; Shinyi Wu, PhD; Ann Marie Yamada, PhD

Assistant Professors: Cleopatra Abdou, PhD; Robynn Cox, PhD; Jordan Davis, PhD; Daniel Hackman, PhD; Elizabeth Kim, PhD; Jungeun Olivia Lee, PhD; Monica Perez Jolles, PhD

Clinical Professors: Eileen Abel, PhD; Rafael Angulo, MSW; Margarita Artavia, MSW; Judith Axonovitz, MSW; Annalisa Enrile, PhD; Stephen Hydon, MSW; Anne Katz, PhD; Paul Maiden, PhD; Murali Nair, PhD; Tyan Parker Dominguez, PhD; Renee Smith-Maddox, PhD; Doni Whitsett, PhD; Marleen Wong, PhD

Clinical Associate Professors: Rosamaria Alamo, MSW; Jane Allgood, PhD; Estela Andujo, MSW; Juan Araque, PhD; Kathleen Becker, DNP; Karra Bikson, PhD; David Bringhurst, PhD; Nikki Cavalier, MSW; Ruth Cislowski, MSW; Tory Cox, EdD; Kimberly Finney, PhD; Terence Fitzgerald, PhD; Amber Ford, MSW; Pamela Franzwa, MSW; Conrad Fuentes, MSW; Stephanie George, EdD; Kim Goodman, MSW; Bianca Harper, DSW; Mary Beth Harris, PhD; Suh Chen Hsiao, DPDD; Maria Hu, MSW; Nadia Islam, PhD; Dawn Joosten-Hagye, PhD; Seth Kurzban, PhD; Terri Lee, MSW; Jennifer Lewis, PhD; Omar Lopez, MSW; Martha Lyon-Levine, PhD; Shannon Mayeda, PhD; Renee Michelsen, MSS; Sam Mistrano, JD; Sharon O’Neill, JD, DNP; Christina Paddock, MSW; Elizabeth Phillips, PhD; Amber Ramirez, MSW; Michael Rank, PhD; Russana Rowles, MSW; Erik Schott, EdD; Michal Sela-Amit, PhD; Melissa Singh, EdD; Candace Smith, EdD; Fred Stone, PhD; Ruth Supranovich, MSW; Vivien Villaverde, MSW; Benita Walton-Moss, PhD; Deborah Waters-Roman, EdD; Eugenia Weiss, PsyD; Ruth White, PhD; June Wiley, PhD; Leslie Wind, PhD; Deborah Winters, MSW; Lisa Wobbe-Veit, MSW; Darlene Woo, MSW; Beverly Younger, PhD; Kristen Zaleski, PhD; Michalle Zappas, DNP

Clinical Assistant Professors: Elizabeth Bambgbose, PhD; Danielle Brown, MSW; Steven Bush, EdD; Laura Cardinal, MSW; Gabriel Crenshaw, PsyD; Kerry Doyle, MSW; Susan Edwards, MSW; Josephine Fava-Hochuli, MS; William Feuerborn, DSW; Umeka Franklin, MSW; Theresa Granger, PhD; Susan Hess, MSW; Tracie Kirkland, DNP; Brittani Morris, MSW; Jennifer Parga, MSW; Holly Priebe Sotelo, MSW; Shantel Vachani, JD, MSW; Kathleen Woodruff, DNP

Senior Lecturers: Sarah Caliboso-Soto, MSW; Alyson Mischel Ein, PhD; Marco Formigoni, MSW; Laura Gale, MSW; Iris Gonzalez-Thrash, MSW; Robert Hernandez, MSW; Susan Hess, MSW; Harry Hunter Jr., PhD; Jane James, JD, MSW; Stacy Kratz, MSW; Cheryl Macon-Oliver, MSW; Sara McSweyn, MSW; Rick Newmyer, MSW; Jan Nissly, PhD; Aimee Odette, MSW; Cynthia Rollo-Carlson, MSW; Lily Ross, MSW; Sara Schwartz, PhD; Shane’a Thomas, MSW; Andrea Witkin, MSW

Adjunct Professors: Lucia Aparicio, MSW; Vern Bengtson, PhD; Margaret Fetting, PhD; Michael Jackson, PhD; Wanda Jewell, MSW; Sheri Kelfer, MSW; Susan Lindau, MSW; Diane Meadow, PhD; Nancy Tkacs, PhD; Marcia Wilson, PhD; Mara Ziegler, MSW

Adjunct Associate Professors: Jill Davis, MSW; Laurel Davis, MSW; Rita Davis, MSW; Nancy Flax-Plaza, MSW; Herbert Hatanaka, DSW; Heather Halperin, MSW; Kristie Holmes, PhD; CarolAnn Peterson, PhD; Jodi Smith, MSW

Adjunct Assistant Professors: Golnaz Agahi, MSW/MPH; Amy Alexander, MSW; Christopher Atkins, MSW; Wayne Barnstone, MSW; Mary Baron, MSW; Debra Berl, MSW; Sherry Blair, MSW; Ann Marie Brown, MSW; John Bucholtz, MSW; Susan Bueker, MSW; Dana Caballero, MSW; Stephanie Carter, MSW; Linda Cox, MSW; Todd Creager, MSW; Marcia Cunha, MSW; Wilhelmina De Castro, MSW; Lorraine Demi, MSW; Julie Emmer, MSW; William Feureborn, DSW; Dan Field, MSW; Tina Fietsam, MSW; Terri Fong, MSW; Amy Giesler, MSW; Alan Gordon, MSW; Leah Hanzlicek, MSW; Jason Harley, MSW; Joseph Harper, MSW; Trang Hoang, PhD; Kenneth Howard, MSW; Jazmin Jackson, MSW; Lisa Kabot, MSW; Shawnmari Kaiser, MSW; Stephen Koffman, MSW; Karen Leaf, MSW; Eileen Lemus, MSW; Marsalee Malatesta, MSW; Sofia Martinez, MSW; Elizabeth Misener, PhD; Nadia Mishael, PsyD; Sheila Monaghan, MA; Helene Morgan, MSW; Brittani Morris, MSW; Debbie Murad, MSW; Sherri Nader, PsyD; Deidre Norville, MSW; Katherine November, MSW; Laura Owen, MSW; Michelle Parra, PhD; Thomas Peterson, MBA; Sofia Reddy, MSW; Evangelina Reina, MSW; Jennifer Roberts, MSW; Lily Ross, MSW; Samih Samaha, MSW; Heidi Schnell-Cisneros, MSW; Stacy Story, MSW; Rocio Martinez-Sanchez Terry, MSW; Arlene Tippy, MSW; Russell Vergara, MSW; Tessa Wallace, MSW; Matthew Wells, MSW; Sharon Wheeler, MSW; Victoria Winsett, MSW

Research Professors: Charles Kaplan, PhD; Haluk Soydan, PhD

Research Associate Professors: Donald Lloyd, PhD; Janet Schneiderman, PhD

Research Assistant Professors: Hazel Atuel, PhD; Sara Kintzle, PhD; Sonya Negriff, PhD; John Prindle, PhD; Harmony Rhoades, PhD; Sherrie Wilcox, PhD, Hsin Yi Hsiao, PhD

Emeritus Professors: Howard J. Parad, DSW*; Rino Patti, DSW*; Barbara Solomon, DSW*

Emeritus Field Education Faculty: Rhoda G. Sarnat, MA

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

Degree Programs

The Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers the Master of Social Work (MSW), the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), the Doctor of Social Work (DSW), the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the dual Master of Social Work/Doctor of Philosophy, Social Work (MSW/PhD) degrees. In addition, the school offers dual degrees with the schools of business; gerontology; law; medicine; public policy; and Hebrew Union College.

Dual Degree Programs

The Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work currently offers dual degree programs with a number of other USC professional schools. In addition, the school maintains a dual degree program at Hebrew Union College located adjacent to the USC campus.

The goal of these programs is to encourage graduate students to gain a recognized competence in another discipline which has direct relevance to the roles filled by social workers in society. Dual degree programs are based on the premise that some topics covered in the school are also addressed in the curricula of other departments, so that some credit toward an MSW degree may be given for specific courses in the cooperating department. Similarly, these departments have recognized that some credit toward their corresponding degree may be awarded for work completed in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. For this reason, students enrolled in dual degree programs can obtain both degrees with a reduced number of total units. Students wishing to enroll in dual degree programs must apply for and be admitted to both schools.

Master of Social Work/Master of Science, Gerontology

The MS/MSW dual degree offers the student interested in direct service or community organization the credentials most valued in clinical and therapeutic practice. Students enrolled in this dual degree receive an MSW as well as an MS in Gerontology. This dual degree requires completion of 73 units: 32 units of work in the Davis School of Gerontology and 41 units in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. The course work is usually completed over a 24-month period for full-time students.

Students must complete MSW course work in foundation, foundation field instruction and core courses specific to the AMHW or SCI departments.

See the Master of Social Work/Master of Science, Gerontology (MSW/MS) in the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology for course requirements.

Master of Social Work/Master of Public Administration, Public Policy

The Master of Public Administration/Master of Social Work (MPA/MSW) dual degree program provides those students interested in careers as administrators of social service agencies the opportunity to combine preparation in the substantive field of social work with the acquisition of the administrative capabilities necessary in the public sector. Students must complete 82 units: 54 units in social work and 28 units in public administration.

Dual degree students must complete MSW course work in foundation, field and core courses specific to the AMHW, SCI or CYF departments.

Most students complete both program requirements over a 24-month period for full-time students. See the USC Price School of Public Policy for course requirements.

Master of Social Work/Juris Doctor, Law

The Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work (JD/MSW) dual degree program with the USC Gould School of Law is a four-year program in which students complete a total of 121 units. This includes 45 units in social work and 76 units in law.

To earn the JD, all students (including dual degree students) must complete 35 numerically graded law units at USC after the first year. The associate dean may make exceptions to this rule for students enrolled in law school honors programs. Students must apply to both programs prior to matriculation. The program of study is as follows:

First and Second Years: Complete both the first year JD program of study and MSW course work in foundation, field and core courses specific to the AMHW, SCI or CYF departments.

Third Year: Complete the second year JD program.

Fourth Year: Complete the remaining required core department and field courses and one semester of field instruction and the final semester of the JD program in the spring.

The law school gives credit for the third semester in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, while the latter recognizes law courses as substitutions for a one-semester practice course, special topics courses, a third semester of social policy and one semester of field instruction (for which a clinical law semester is substituted).

Master of Social Work/Master of Business Administration, Business

The MSW/MBA dual degree develops knowledge and skills in working with individuals, families and groups, as well as organizational dynamics, marketing, decision sciences, accounting and human relations. Students interested in working in the management of human services and not-for-profit organizations will develop knowledge of human resources, philanthropic and corporate social responsibility, organizational development and information management.

Prospective students must apply to both the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the USC Marshall School of Business .

The MSW/MBA requires completion of a total of 96 units: 48 in the Marshall School of Business and 48 in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.

Students must select Department of Social Change and Innovation (SCI). Dual degree students must complete MSW course work in foundation, field and core courses specific to the SCI department.

Course requirements in the Marshall School of Business include all required courses in an MBA program and graduate business electives sufficient to bring the total units completed in the Marshall School of Business to at least 48. Dual degree students may not count courses taken outside the Marshall School of Business toward the 48 units. For MBA admission and degree requirements, visit USC Marshall School of Business .

The MBA and the MSW degrees are awarded simultaneously upon completion of all program requirements.

Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services

The Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services, located in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, serves as the administrative umbrella for the school’s centers of research excellence. These centers of interdisciplinary research include the areas of aging, behavioral health, child welfare, homelessness, severe mental illness, veterans and military families, and management and policy. The center hosts seminars and colloquia, which are open to the university and community.

Research projects are supported by federal, state, county and school resources. The center engages faculty in research, demonstration and application in building and testing theory, developing research instruments, testing models of service and treatment modalities, evaluating programs and service policy. The center also provides opportunities for doctoral students to acquire research training through ongoing and newly initiated faculty research projects. Doctoral students are encouraged to apply to participate in such projects which often lead to dissertation possibilities. Predoctoral fellowships and/or research assistantships for projects conducted at the center are sometimes available to incoming and ongoing doctoral students. The center also enables doctoral students to conduct their own research through the auspices of the center, including their dissertation research. All doctoral students are encouraged to attend and participate in the center’s colloquia and programs to enhance their involvement with and skills in research and knowledge development.

Programs

Master’s Degree

Dual Degree

Doctoral Degree

Courses

Nursing

Social Work

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