History of the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, courses have been offered in social work for over 100 years. Below, see some of the major milestones at UW-Madison and learn about the establishment of the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work.
1896:A new field emerges
In 1896, the Economics Department at UW began to offer courses in Charities and Corrections.
1920:Professional Program
The Economics Dept recruited Professor Helen I. Clarke in 1920 with the aim of developing a Social Work professional program.
1944:Graduate Studies
The UW appoints Arthur Miles to first be chair, then director of the School.
1946:Gaining Independence
The Board of Regents establishes the Department of Social Work, with a 2-year master’s.
1950:A Legacy
The School hired Professor Alfred Kadushin, whose works continue to be the standard for SW education worldwide.
1952:Becoming Accredited
The School was admitted as a charter member of the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).
1954:American SW Theory
Arthur Miles authored American Social Work Theory in defense of a social science approach to Social Work.
1966:IRP Established
Social Work professors were early contributors to the Institute for Research on Poverty.
1967:Autonomous Worker
Professor Virginia Franks published The Autonomous Social Worker. The School’s Library was later named after her.
1972:Commitment to SPMI
School faculty members contribute to the founding of PACT at Mendota Mental Health Institute.
1973:Dorothy Pearson
Dorothy M. Pearson became the first African-American to earn a PhD from the School.
1973:Institute on Aging
The UW Institute on Aging was established in part by School faculty member Martin B. Loeb.
1973:SW Practice
Professors Allen Pincus and Anne Minahan publish the standard practice text throughout the US and internationally.
1973:Waisman Center
Faculty in the School have been instrumental in the operations of the Waisman Center since its establishment.
1980:New Concentration
In the 1980s, the School developed a concentration in Severe and Persistent Mental Illness, one of the first in the field.
1990:Sheldon Rose
Professor Emeritus Sheldon Rose published Social Skills Training in Short-Term Groups, a book with an international impact.
1990:Child Support
Professor Daniel Meyer led a team of researchers evaluating innovative, experimental child support policy.
1991:Field Education
Dean Schneck, Director of Field Education, was a tireless leader and advocate for the importance of field education.
1999:Title IV-E
The Federal Title IV-E Public Child Welfare Training Program was established, and has graduated hundreds of MSWs and BSWs since.
2000:Welfare Reform
Evaluating Comprehensive State Welfare Reform: The Wisconsin Works Program is published with contributions from School professors.
2009:Part-Time MSW
The Part-Time MSW Program was developed in 2009 to meet non-traditional students’ needs, seeking to broaden their opportunities.
2010:Ada Deer
Ada Deer, Distinguished Lecturer Emeritus, was recognized by NASW as a Social Work Pioneer.
2014:Maria Cancian
Maria Cancian, Assc Dean and School professor, was nominated by President Obama to be Asst Sec for Children and Families.
Sandra Rosenbaum
In 2020, thanks to a gift from Joel Berman, the school was renamed after his late wife and our alumna, Sandra Rosenbaum.