NYU Silver School of Social Work

The NYU Silver School of Social Work is the dedicated social work school of New York University, offering bachelor's, master's (MSW), post-master's, DSW, and PhD programs. Established in 1960 as NYU's Graduate School of Social Work, it added an undergraduate program in 1973 and was renamed in 2007 following a historic $50 million gift from alumni Constance and Martin Silver—the largest known donation to a U.S. school of social work at that time. Renowned for clinical excellence and a commitment to social justice, NYU Silver ranks among the nation's top graduate social work programs (U.S. News & World Report #12). Students train in mental health, family and children's services, school-based practice, healthy aging, palliative care, and emerging areas including data-informed practice. The school operates four campuses: Washington Square in Greenwich Village (Manhattan), Rockland County (Sparkill, NY), Westchester County (Bronxville, NY), and NYU Shanghai, with a network of 600+ field placement agencies. The school's main facilities occupy three historic townhouses bordering Washington Square Park, including Edward Hopper's preserved studio. More than 22,000 alumni work across clinical practice, policy, research, and leadership roles. The McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, established through the Silver gift, anchors the school's research on poverty and vulnerable populations.