PSU School of Social Work

10/16/2026

The PSU School of Social Work, Asian Health & Service Center, and Heatherington Foundation have built an innovative partnership to address behavioral health shortages.

Through a new initiative AHSC staff accepted into PSU's master of social work program can receive tuition assistance and stipends, provided they continue to work in AHSC's behavioral health program after graduation. The first staff member to take advantage of the support graduated in June, and a second is starting this fall

Learn more at:

On a recent morning, the Asian Health & Service Center in Portland's Lents neighborhood filled up with regulars. Every Tuesday, the Cantonese Community Group draws more than 100 Cantonese-speaking seniors for exercise, a health presentation and lunch. That day, the topic was lung cancer risks and sc...

10/15/2026

During the first week of Fall term, the Family Studies & Human Services (FSHS) program was honored to host students and faculty from the Hochschule für Soziale Arbeit und Pädagogik (HSAP), the University of Applied Sciences for Social Work and Education.

Eight students and faculty members led by Dr. Erika Alleweldt, and the University Chancellor Thomas Hänsgen, visited the PSU School of Social Work as part of an educational exchange between our two institutions. Our guests participated in site visits with partner organizations, classroom observation/participation, and community hour talks, among other things.

Special thanks to Dr. Ben Anderson-Nathe and Provost Robert Williams for welcoming this group of delegates!

10/14/2026

Are you free Saturdays? Join the Student Community Engagement Center at Blanchet House to serve a hot lunch meal! This is a great opportunity to make connections and get to know the community!

When: Saturday, October 17th - Saturday, November 21st, 11 AM to 1 PM (6 shifts total)

Link: https://givepul.se/p7rbaw

10/13/2026

Your next step in Social Work and Social Research starts here!

Applications for the PhD in Social Work and Social Research program are now open!

Learn more at a PhD Info Session via Zoom:
● Monday, October 19th at 10:00 AM
Applications are due by January 15th, 2027.

Learn more and apply at: pdx.edu/social-work/phd-admissions
RSVP for a PhD Info Session at: pdx.edu/social-work/info-sessions

10/12/2026

Apply now for the Master of Social Work Program at Portland State University!

Choose between our options in Portland, Eugene, Central Oregon, or Online, and qualifying students can fast-track their degree through our Advanced Standing option!

Learn more at an MSW Info Session via Zoom:
● Thursday, October 22 at 4:00 PM
● Friday, November 6 at 12:00 PM
● Friday, November 20 at 12:00 PM
Applications are due by January 7th, 2027.

Learn more and apply at: https://wwwpdx.edu/social-work/msw-admissions
RSVP for an MSW Info Session at: https://apply.pdx.edu/portal/socialwork?_gl=1*g7mb2a*_gcl_au*NzYyNzkxNDEwLjE3ODkxNTkyNzQ.

09/28/2026

Happy Fall Term to all of our new and returning students! We are excited to welcome you all to the start of a new academic year!

This week we are thrilled to be hosting special Community Hour Talks, which are open to all students, faculty, and staff!

Join us today for a Pizza Lunch & Welcome from 12:40 to 1:30 PM in ASRC 650!

Check out our most recent post to learn more about other events that will occur during community hours throughout the rest of the first week of Fall Term!

09/24/2026

The Family Studies and Human Services program is excited to host visiting students and faculty from the Hochshule für Soziale Arbeit und Pädagogik (University of Applied Sciences for Social Work and Education) in Berlin, Germany.

As part of their visit, we will be hosting special Community Hour Talks, which are open to all PSU students, faculty, and staff! Please see the details below on all of the events we have planned!

• Monday, 9/28 - Pizza Lunch and Welcome
• Tuesday, 9/29 - Doctoral Candidate, Grace Pappas, MSW, will host a discussion on Child welfare, anti-racist social work, and adoption discourses
• Wednesday, 9/30 - Doctoral Candidate, Joseph Vera, MA, MPH, will host a discussion on Neurodiversity + youth; neuroaffirming care
• Thursday, 10/1 - Doctoral Candidate, Meghan Perry and her team of undergraduate researchers will host a discussion on exploring somatic practices in youth work / human services education
• Friday, 10/2 - Assistant Professor of Practice, Dr. Staci B. Martin will host an interactive arts project on arts-based participatory research with refugee youth and communities

All talks will be held from 12:40 - 1:30 PM in ASRC room 650. No RSVP required.

We’re excited to see you all there!

09/11/2026

Apply now for the Master of Social Work Program at Portland State University!

You can choose between our options in Portland, Eugene, Central Oregon, or Online, and qualifying students can fast-track their courses through our Advanced Standing option!

If you are interested in learning more, please consider attending one of our upcoming MSW Info Sessions via Zoom. Our next session will be held on Tuesday, September 22nd.

Applications are due by January 7th, 2027.
Learn more and apply at: https://www.pdx.edu/academics/programs/graduate/msw-social-work
RSVP for an MSW Info Session at: https://www.pdx.edu/social-work/info-sessions

09/02/2026

PSU's Human Services program graduated its first cohort in June, and graduates have stepped into behavioral health roles across Oregon's social service agencies!

The fully online program was built for working adults already employed in the field and features maximum flexibility to enable students to complete coursework while balancing full-time jobs, parenting and, in some cases, running their own businesses.

Designed to reduce barriers, the online program offers intensive faculty support, a virtual practicum and credit for prior learning!

Read the full story by Lauren Valenti at: https://www.pdx.edu/social-work/news/psus-first-human-services-cohort-graduated-launching-careers-leadership-advocacy-and-community

Learn more about the Human Services degree at: https://www.pdx.edu/academics/programs/undergraduate/human-services

08/31/2026

Professor Stephanie Wahab's recently published article, ‘“Oxygen is not for the dead”: critical and radical social work in Palestine,’ has been selected for the Critical and Radical Social Work Student Reading List collection.

This is a curated collection of social work scholarship to support course leaders when updating their reading lists. All articles in the collection will be free to access through September 2026!

Read the full Student Reading List collection at: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/subject/Journals-SocialWork