The Mack Center is a subdivision of the Berkeley Risk-Resilience lab that examines how individual and structural factors influence peoples’ risk of violence and other criminal behavior — and the viability and effectiveness of policy solutions.
People at risk are disproportionately poor and members of ethnic minority groups. Many have experienced victimization and “routine” forms of childhood adversity. Virtually all are exposed to hotly debated forms of social control shaped by shifting political, cultural and legal forces. Historically, these forces shaped the war on drugs and crime. Now, they are shaping the Black Lives Matter movement, justice reform efforts and “evidence-based practice” paradigms.
Join Berkeley Social Welfare
The School of Social Welfare Admissions Office guides prospective graduate applicants via online resources, in-person and phone advising, group presentations and recruitment events. Find out more about Berkeley Social Welfare’s application requirements and admission process.
The School of Social Welfare is a place that brings together people with some incredible aspirations and connects them with knowledgeable, profound professors and incredible staff.
- James Orlando (MSW ’11),
Berkeley Social Welfare Alumni
Academic Programs
Berkeley Social Welfare trains our students for a range of leadership, research, teaching and practice roles in the profession. Students are prepared to practice at specific intervention levels and are thoroughly grounded in the knowledge of social and psychological concerns, social welfare policies and social service organizations.
The collaborative opportunities both within and outside the School of Social Welfare are outstanding, the academic environment is rich and challenging and the location can't be beat.
- Aron Shlonsky (PhD ’02),
Berkeley Social Welfare alumni
Campus Life
Berkeley Social Welfare promotes diversity, social justice, equity, leadership and lifelong learning.
As students develop their applied mastery in one of over 350 carefully selected field placements, Berkeley Social Welfare field education consultants provide them with individualized assessment, support and coaching throughout their academic journey.
My internships at the School helped me realize that I had the skills to be a leader, a manager and a systems-thinker. I learned as much about myself at UC Berkeley as I did about social welfare.
- Ericka Leer (MSW ’05),
Berkeley Social Welfare alumna
Research
UC Berkeley’s world-class faculty and research units can be leveraged to conduct studies that make a difference. Berkeley Social Welfare faculty lead a number of research units, and the School houses the California Child Welfare Indicators Project and the California Social Work Education Center. To learn more about the important work and cutting-edge research taking place at the School of Social Welfare, explore our specialized Research Areas and Research Units.
Berkeley Social Welfare houses several programs designed to provide educational and training opportunities to social work students and professionals; contribute impactful research informing service delivery; and foster relationships among institutions, students and service providers in California, the United States and throughout the globe.
The UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare's pre-eminent faculty rank top in the nation in per capita productivity. Nationally and internationally recognized as leaders in their fields, our senate faculty conducts cutting-edge research on the major issues facing California, the US and the world. Berkeley Social Welfare field faculty represent a diversity of experience and talents, training and preparing our students to excel as the next generation of social work practitioners, professionals and educators.
The UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare's pre-eminent faculty rank top in the nation in per capita productivity. Nationally and internationally recognized as leaders in their fields, our senate faculty conducts cutting-edge research on the major issues facing California, the US and the world. Berkeley Social Welfare field faculty represent a diversity of experience and talents, training and preparing our students to excel as the next generation of social work practitioners, professionals and educators.
Resources available to Berkeley Social Welfare students, faculty and staff. Forms for purchase, entertainment and travel reimbursements; honorarium requests; and recommendations-to-hire.