2024 Commencement

Please visit our commencement page for all information regarding the 
ceremony for Class of 2024 PhD, DSW, MSW and MSN graduates. 

Apply Now for 2024

Fall 2024 On-Campus MSW Application FINAL Deadline: July 16, 2024

News Archive

  • Dorian Traube, assistant professor of the USC School of Social Work, became the first researcher to receive access to an expansive collection of data on the mental health of children in foster care in Los Angeles County after securing a pilot grant from the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute.

    The $30,000 award will enable Traube to partner with county mental health and child welfare officials to explore data on how well children in foster care are screened and treated for mental health issues.

  • Michael Hurlburt, an assistant professor at the USC School of Social Work, has been named Public Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers-California Chapter for his discipline-crossing work that uses social and psychological research to implement treatments for families and children, particularly those involved in the child welfare system.

  • Eric Rice, assistant professor of the USC School of Social Work, has been recognized with the John B. Reid Early Career Award from the Society for Prevention Research for his innovative research on HIV and substance abuse prevention among homeless youth.

    The award is given annually to honor a promising new investigator in the field of prevention research, which focuses on the prevention of social, behavioral and physical health issues as a path to promoting overall well-being.

  • A theory not backed up by cold, hard facts is just that—a theory.

    But in the realm of social work, securing strong evidence to reinforce an assumption is not always an easy task. Variables are numerous and often difficult to measure. Investigators typically examine specific groups rather than the general populace, further complicating the process.

  • Mental health disorders in active-duty servicemembers have increased 65 percent since 2000, according to the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center. While federal agencies have dedicated more resources to screen and treat combat troops in recent years, incidents such as the U.S. Army sergeant allegedly murdering 16 civilians in Afghanistan raise serious questions if it is enough.

    USC School of Social Work student Sarah Duncan doesn’t think so.

  • Maria Aranda, an associate professor at the USC School of Social Work and the USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, has been elected a fellow in the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), as part of its Social Research, Policy and Practice Section.

  • Memorial Day can be an emotional time, especially for those whose lives have been touched by war. But for Eugene Durrah, a Master of Social Work student visiting an American military cemetery in Europe, the meaning of the day hit home in a whole new way.

  • A summer funding program at the USC School of Social Work is proving valuable to both students who need real-world research experience and faculty members who benefit from additional assistance on research projects.

    During the past five years, the Hamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services has provided nearly $250,000 worth of funding to support student research assistants during the summer months, including $70,000 in funding this year.

  • A new $1 million, three-year grant from First 5 LA will enable the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC to provide underprivileged children with oral health care and help them see a dentist regularly, as well as allow the USC School of Social Work to assist families in implementing this kind of health care at home.

  • Master of Social Work students Victoria Torres and Kyra Haglund are the first recipients of the Pamela and Mark A. Mischel Family Endowed Scholarship, which supports students pursuing studies in military social work at the USC School of Social Work.

    A $50,000 gift from Pamela and Mark Mischel, parents of Alyson Mischel, MSW ’00, established the scholarship for students pursuing the school’s Military Social Work and Veteran Services sub-concentration.