Department of Social Work

Gartley Hall 203
2430 Campus Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7182
Fax: (808) 956-5964
Email: sswadmit@hawaii.edu
Web: manoa.hawaii.edu/thompson/dsw/

Faculty

*R. Stotzer, MSW, PhD—Department Chair, Director of Distance Education, prejudice, stereotypes and hate crimes
*S. Hong, MA (MSW equi.), PhD—Chair of Doctoral Program, neighborhood contexts, immigration, health/mental health, health disparities, and research methodology
*F. Julien-Chinn, MSW, PhD—Chair of MSW Program, organizational and workforce issues in child welfare; child welfare outcomes including: permanency; well-being; kinship; and foster care
*M. DeMattos, MSW, PhD—Chair of BSW program, youth and families, substance abuse, training
N. Ariyoshi, MSW—recidivism in Hawaiʻi and the intersection with ethnicity, gender and cycles of abuse and trauma; narcissism and impacts on relationships and healing
R. Arndt, MSW—technology in practice and education, professional development, reflective practice; leadership, and interprofessional education
*C. Bersamira, PhD—substance use disorders, addiction services, social policy, behavioral health policy
*K. Braun, MPH, DrPH—social behavioral health sciences, gerontology
*R. Burrage, PhD—indigenous peoples, mental health, resilience, collective trauma, historical trauma, trauma-informed social work practice, culturally-grounded social work practice
A. Chung, MSW—power-based personal violence, child welfare, oppressed and differently-abled populations
*M. Godinet, MSW, PhD—delinquency prevention, social and adjustment issues of Pacific Islander youth, multi and cross-cultural issues
*J. Guo, MA, PhD—social welfare policy, child and family issues, international and comparative social welfare
*M. Ibrao, MSW, MPH, PhD—health in Indigenous communities, with a particular focus in culturally relevant geriatric care
*B. Kawaii-Bogue, MSW, PhD—multiracial microaggressions; antiracism & mental health; mental health policy and advocacy; multiracial, Black, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander populations
*S. Lau, MSW, PhD—determinants of health, health promotion, chronic disease and mental health disparities with interest in Asian American populations
J. Kishida, MEd—Department of Social Work Program Assistant
T. Kreif, MSW—Assistant to the Dean, administration, community-based practice and engagement, International Social Work - Geographic Region of Micronesia
*Y. J. Lee, MA (MSW equi.), PhD—gerontology and productive aging; health equity and disparities among disadvantaged older adults; quantitative research; social work education
W. Lum, MSW—immigrant and refugee rights, equity and social welfare, international/global social work
A. Lwin-Maluo, MSW—indigenous education, reconciliation & decolonization, social welfare policy, child & family, field education & experiential learning
*S. Marshall, MSW, PhD—substance use prevention among NHPI youth; Social, behavioral, and cultural determinants of health among NHPI populations; Indigenous CBPR methodologies that promote the decolonization of social work research
M. McGee, MSW—severe mental illness; substance use disorders; homelessness; clinical social work; adolescent and transition aged youth; social work policy and history; professional development and mentorship
S. Muneoka, MSW—intergenerational wellness, aging and later life, kānaka maoli population
D. Nisthal, MSW—community development and education, sexual assault and domestic violence prevention, restorative justice with juveniles, healthy masculinity, indigenous ways of knowing and being, child wellbeing
P. Paul, MSW—child and adolescent mental health
*D. Phillips, MSW, PhD—health equity among historically marginalized and diverse populations using intersectional and strengths-based approaches to social policy analysis and intervention development
*C. Rasmussen, MSW, PhD—issues of accountability, restorative and transformative justice, and the intersections of social work and abolition

Emeritus Faculty

P. Adams, MA, MSW, DSW
C. Browne, MSW, DrPH
L. Lister, MSW, DSW
N. Mokuau, MSW, DSW

* Graduate Faculty

General Information

Social work, one of the fastest growing occupations in the nation, is a profession concerned with the prevention and resolution of problems for individuals, families, groups, and communities. Those who are committed to social justice and improving the quality of life for society’s most vulnerable citizens would find this curriculum stimulating. Students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and values that facilitate the prevention or resolution of such problems as mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, crime and delinquency, and poverty.

The school has been providing quality social work education in Hawaiʻi for over 80 years. The Department of Social Work has a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral program. The BSW and MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and our PhD program is approved by UH Mānoa Graduate Division. Our school is recognized nationally and internationally for its award-winning faculty, research and publications, and specialty areas that focus on the expressed needs of the community (health, mental health, child and family, and gerontology).

Mission

The mission of the Department of Social Work is to provide educational excellence that advances social work with its focus on social justice for diverse populations. The principal responsibility is the generation, transmission, and application of knowledge for the global enterprise with special attention to Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and Asian populations in our state and region.

Advising

Freshmen and sophomores who are interested in learning more about the social work profession and/or our BSW program have several ways to do this: (1) The Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center is a walk-in resource center staffed with advisors trained to help students clarify career goals, select a major, plan course work, research professional programs, gain relevant experience, and apply to schools. See: manoa.hawaii.edu/undergrad/pac/. (2) Social Work faculty advisors are available by appointment to assist with pre-admissions academic advising. Contact the Department of Social Work Admissions Office for more information: sswadmit@hawaii.edu or (808) 956-7182. (3) Online resources for BSW, MSW, and PhD programs, admissions, and degree requirements: Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health website (manoa.hawaii.edu/thompson/dsw/); Thompson School Publication (manoa.hawaii.edu/thompson/about/).

Financial Aid

It is important that students seek out information on financial aid, including scholarships, stipends, student employment, etc., as early as possible. Deadline dates can vary and may require additional documentation and/or interviews.

The UH Mānoa Financial Aid Services is dedicated to making it possible for degree-seeking admitted students to attend UH Mānoa regardless of their economic circumstances. See www.hawaii.edu/fas/. Please review this website thoroughly as it contains many links to additional and outside sources for financial aid.

The Department of Social Work also has a limited number of scholarships available to social work students. This information can be located on the Department of Social Work website: manoa.hawaii.edu/thompson/financial-aid/.

Undergraduate Program

Bachelor of Social Work Program Mission

The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work Program is to provide students with the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes of the social work profession, integrated with a liberal arts education. Utilizing a generalist framework, the BSW Program provides the basis for practice within the context of a multicultural environment to help alleviate suffering and promote social and economic justice. Special attention is given to Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian communities of our state and the Pacific region, as they interact within a global context.

BSW Program Goals

Graduates of the BSW Program are prepared to be competent, beginning level professionals and generalist practitioners capable of integrating the knowledge, skills and values of social work, based on a liberal arts foundation. Additionally, graduates are also prepared for the challenges and rigor of advanced social work education.

At the completion of classroom and field education, graduating BSW students:

1. Are grounded in generalist practice and prepared for advanced social work education;
2. Recognize the intersectionality of diversities in ourselves and others as central to successful social work practice;
3. Are educated in the unique role our island home plays in the lives and well-being of its people—particularly for Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Asian populations; and
4. Are prepared to serve individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities and to function as leaders of social justice and social change utilizing the knowledge, values and skills of the social work profession

Admission Requirements

The applicant must: (a) have been admitted to UH Mānoa; (b) have completed UH Mānoa’s General Education Core requirements (special consideration is given to second semester sophomores for early admission); (c) have completed the knowledge-base courses identified by the school; (d) have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5; and (e) provide evidence of motivation for and commitment to social work education (e.g., personal, volunteer, and/or social-work-related experience).

Application Deadlines

Students are admitted to the BSW program in the fall and spring semesters.

February 1 for the fall semester; October 1 for spring.

Distance Education Delivery Option (BSW)

Application Deadline

February 1 for fall admission

The BSW degree is available to Hawaiʻi residents via distance education technology. Classes are delivered asynchronously online. For more information, call (808) 956-9470, visit the website at manoa.hawaii.edu/thompson/distance-education/, or email sswde@hawaii.edu.

Graduate Programs

Master of Social Work

Please see “Programs” section below for more information about this program.

Distance Education Delivery Option (MSW)

Application Deadline

February 1 (MSW admission occurs in the fall only).

The MSW degree is available statewide via distance education technology. Classes include instruction via interactive television, computer-based delivery, face-to-face onsite, and hybrid or blended approaches. It is a 3-year program.

For more information, call (808) 956-9470, visit the website at manoa.hawaii.edu/thompson/distance-education/, or email sswde@hawaii.edu.

PhD in Social Welfare

Please see “Programs” section below for more information about this program.

Programs

• Social Work, BSW: Track A
• Social Work, BSW: Track B

• Social Work, MSW

• Social Welfare, PhD [currently not admitting]