University of Wisconsin–Madison

1896: A New Field Emerges

In 1896, the Economics Department at UW began to offer courses in Charities and Corrections, courses designed to educate students in activities related to Scientific Philanthropy.

The program was small – UW’s enrollment per year in the late 1800s was under 500 students a year. Today, around 550 students are enrolled in the five degree programs at the School of Social Work.

North Hall in 1885 in black and white
North Hall, circa 1885, the first campus building