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University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice

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Coordinates: 39°57′09″N 75°11′51″W / 39.95247°N 75.19753°W / 39.95247; -75.19753
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University of Pennsylvania
School of Social Policy and Practice
Arms of the University of Pennsylvania
MottoLeges sine moribus vanae
TypePrivate
Established1908 (1908)
Parent institution
University of Pennsylvania
PresidentM. Elizabeth Magill
DeanSara S. Bachman
Students477
Address
Caster Building, 3701 Locust Walk
,
Philadelphia
,
PA
,
19104
,
USA

39°57′09″N 75°11′51″W / 39.95247°N 75.19753°W / 39.95247; -75.19753
CampusUrban
Websitewww.sp2.upenn.edu

The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, commonly known as Penn SP2, is a school of social policy and social work in the United States whose vision is "The passionate pursuit of social innovation, impact and justice."[1] The School was founded in 1908[2] and is a graduate school of the University of Pennsylvania. The School specializes in research, education, and policy development in relation to both social and economic issues.[3][4] Penn SP2 is currently ranked as one of the leading schools for social policy and social work graduate education.[5][6] SP2 offers degrees in a variety of subfields of social policy and social work, in addition to several dual degree programs and sub-matriculation programs.[7][8][9]

History

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SP2 has long been known for its commitment to social justice and educating students committed to taking an active role in fighting oppression. It began in 1908 when a “Course of Training in Child Helping” was developed under the direction of the Children’s Bureau of Philadelphia. Carl Kelsey was a consulting director in the 1908-09 academic year, and his colleague, James P. Lichtenberger, had full control in 1909-10. At the time, Kelsey and Lichtenberger were the only Sociology faculty members at the University. They co-taught the two-year, core course, “Theory of Sociology,” as well as “American Race Problems,” “Social Debtor Classes,” “Standards of Living,” and “Sociological Field Work."[10] In 1910, the School greatly expanded. Its “Committee of Direction” was increased to fifteen members and its faculty, including group instructors, to sixteen.

In 1914, the School changed its name to the Pennsylvania School for Social Service.[11] In 1918, Virginia P. Robinson was named Supervisor of Field Work and, within a year, Associate Director of the School. Over the next thirty-five years, Robinson twice served as acting head of the School. In 1919, Kenneth L.M. Pray joined the School's faculty and became the School’s first full time Director in 1922, and later became Dean in 1935. Jessie Taft also joined the faculty in 1919. Taft was an educational theorist and practitioner in psychiatric social work who was then Director of the Mental Hygiene Clinic at the Seybert Institution. Working closely with the world-renowned psychiatrist Otto Rank, she developed the “functional school” of social work, the philosophy which guided the School for fifty years.[12]

In 1933, the School was renamed the Pennsylvania School of Social Work, and in 1935 the Trustees approved the formal affiliation of the School with the University. In 2005, the School changed its name to the School of Social Policy and Practice to reflect the inclusion of graduate programs in policy, leadership, and philanthropy, as well as expanded joint degree programs in public health, bioethics, government administration, and criminology.[13]

Programs

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SP2 offers five degree programs: Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership (MSNPL), Master of Science in Social Policy (MSSP), Clinical Doctorate in Social Work (DSW), and PhD in Social Welfare and eleven dual degree programs.

Notable alumni

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Notable faculty

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  • Peter Frumkin, Mindy and Andrew Heyer Chair in Social Policy
  • Richard James Gelles, Joanne and Raymond Welsh Chair of Child Welfare and Family Violence
  • Jessie Taft, educational theorist, professor, and practitioner of psychiatric social work

Research centers

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  • Center for High Impact Philanthropy
  • Center for Mental Health & Aging (CMHA)
  • Center for Social Impact Strategy (CSIS)
  • The Evelyn Jacobs Ortner Center on Family Violence
  • Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice & Research
  • National Center on Homelessness among Veterans (NCHAV)[14]

References

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  1. ^ "About SP2". University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice.
  2. ^ "Timeline of University History". www.archives.upenn.edu. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "SP2 Vision".
  4. ^ "SP2 School of Social Policy & Practice". Graduate Guide. 10 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Graduate School Rankings". U.S. News & World Report.
  6. ^ "Ranking of U.S. Social Work/Welfare Programs". Social Psychology.
  7. ^ "SP2 Programs".
  8. ^ "Peterson's National Guide University of Pennsylvania SP2". Petersons.
  9. ^ "About the Programs | School of Social Policy & Practice". www.sp2.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  10. ^ "A Centennial History of the School of Social Policy & Practice". repository.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  11. ^ "A Centennial History of the School of Social Policy & Practice". repository.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  12. ^ "A Centennial History of the School of Social Policy & Practice". repository.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  13. ^ "A Centennial History of the School of Social Policy & Practice". repository.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  14. ^ "SP2 Centers". School of Social Policy & Practice.
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