Social Work Department, 1970-Ongoing.

The Social Work has existed at this university since the founding of the Mankato State Normal College in 1868. The department’s courses were included in the institution’s early teacher training programs, and initially focused on the importance of understanding social issues, and human development. During the early to mid-20th century, the English Department expanded its offerings to reflect the shifting focus of higher education. In the 1920s and 1930s, as the college moved from a teacher-training institution to a broader liberal arts college, the Social Work department was able to add courses that broadened its focus: psychology, sociology, and community welfare. In the post-World War II period, the nationwide rise in social welfare programs resulted in trained social workers becoming of high demand. This led to Minnesota State to integrate more courses focused on societal issues and public welfare. Shortly after these additions, in the 1950s and 1960s, the social sciences formally became an academic area of study. At this time, specialized social work courses were being offered under the sociology department. In 1973, the growing professionalism of social work encouraged Mankato State created a dedicated department for the field. Along with this, the Bachelor of Science in Social Work officially became available at the institution, aligning with the standards of the Council on Social Work Education. (CSWE) The main focuses of the degree were, field education, ethics, and social inequalities, while simultaneously working towards getting students in touch with local agencies to gain practical experience. The program gained its first CSWE accreditation, thus strengthening its reputation for academic proficiency and professional preparation. With this development, students became eligible for licensure and competitive in the job market upon graduation. Later, in the early 2000s MSU launched its Master of Social Work program, designed to prepare students for leadership roles in social services, and clinical practice. The Grad program also gave students the opportunity to focus on their specialized areas of interest. In recent years, the department has continued to evolve with key developments such as online learning, diversity and equity, and community engagement.

Information for this finding aid was obtained from the Social Work department’s website, Minnesota State University, Mankato 1868-2018: A Sequential History, and information found in the accessions.