Department of Social Work

Established in 1967, the Department of Social Work was the first institute to offer Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) course in India. It started MA (Social Work) in 1976. The center developed an indigenous approach to social work education. It offers MA in Human Resource Management also. The department’s community outreach programme was instrumental in the setting up of the Zakir Husain Memorial Welfare Society and the Child Guidance Centre. The University Grants Commission accorded the department DSA status in 1991 and provided infrastructure support under UGC-ASHISS programme in 2005.

The department’s course design enables a student to get about 1200 hours of fieldwork experience for HRM,1440 hours for MSW and 1200 hours for BSW. Post graduate students work with NGOs, Government Social Welfare Agencies and business organizations for fifty days in a year.

The department has an active placement cell that organizes campus recruitment and placement. Most of its students are placed by the time they complete the course.

DSA Status (UGC)

In 1991, it earned the status of the Department of Special Assistance (DSA) from the University Grants Commission. It was the first department in Jamia, and the youngest Social Work department in the country, to earn this status. The (DSA) status enabled the department to develop academic, technical, administrative and infrastructure resources. It also conferred on the department higher responsibilities in developing teaching, research and extension in the chosen thrust areas of Social Development and Human Resource Management. In the first phase of the DSA, the department brought about trend-setting changes. The department started MA in Human Resource Management, incorporating its Social Work philosophy and its experience. Our students are much sought after in the Human Resource Management and Social Work areas in India and abroad. Incorporating the need of Developmental Social Work, the department also started two academic streams-Social Welfare and Social Development-within Social Work. The department is now in the third phase of the DSA status. The department has also initiated exchange programmes with other universities. The department got special assistance for infrastructure development in the form of ASHISS as recognition of extra ordinary service rendered by the department.

Courses Offered

Ph. D.
M.A. Social Work
M. A. (HRM)
B. A. (Hons.) Social Work
Post Graduate Diploma in NGOs Management (Evening course)
PG Diploma in Child Rights (Evening Course)

Strengths of the Department

Social Research in diverse areas has always been a major activity of the Department. A number of research and action projects are ongoing.

The exchange programme with Erfurt University, Germany has opened new windows of learning. It has mutually benefited students and teachers of both the Departments.

Addressing the emerging needs of professionals in the non-governmental organisations in the area of management, the Department introduced a Post-graduate Diploma in NGO Management in the year 2004. This is an evening course taught by both the internal and external faculty. The latter comprises practitioners and experts from various governmental and non-governmental organisations.

In the same vein, responding to a major area of concern for Social Work that is children, the department introduced a Diploma in Child Rights in 2006. It is an evening course which is run in collaboration with Save The Children Sweden.

The Department provides consultancy to a large number of NGOs and Corporate Sector and takes up Action and Research Project in various fields.

Thrust Areas for Doctoral Work

Gender Issues
Street Children/Child Labor
Human Resource Management
Gerontology
School Social Work
Medical Social Work
Rural Development
Disability
Social Welfare Management
Drug Abuse
Communication Issues
HIV/AIDS
Correctional Services
Minority Issues
Human Rights