Field Instructor - University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work

What Field Instructor - University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work does

The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work is an academic unit within a public state-related research university, founded in 1918 and ranked #12 among 319 U.S. graduate schools of social work by U.S. News & World Report. It delivers three degree programs — a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW), a Master of Social Work (MSW) offered on-campus and online, and a PhD in Social Work — across multiple campuses spanning Pittsburgh, Bradford, Johnstown, and Mechanicsburg/Harrisburg. The unit runs accredited continuing education, including Pennsylvania Act 31 child-abuse recognition training, and supports specialized research and practice centers such as the Center on Race and Social Problems and the Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh initiative.

Core products are degree credentials, fellowship training pipelines, and externally funded research, with revenue sourced from tuition, state appropriations (as a state-related institution), restricted philanthropic gifts, and federal Title IV-E pass-through funding. Revenue mechanics rely heavily on the cooperative child welfare education partnerships CWEB and CWEL with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and the federal Administration for Children and Families, which underwrite specialized MSW concentrations in public child welfare. Built technology is largely off-the-shelf — Canvas for learning management, DocuSign for forms, and Teams/SharePoint for collaboration — with no proprietary platform or AI/ML capability disclosed.

Customers are individual students (BASW, MSW, PhD) and continuing-education professionals, while external counterparties include Pennsylvania DHS, the federal Administration for Children and Families, and a small set of named foundation and donor partners funding fellowships (Hartford Partnership for Aging Education, Marc Cherna, YBHW, Library Social Work, CREL). A 600+ site practicum network anchors the placement pipeline and locks in employer relationships across western and central Pennsylvania.

Name

Field Instructor - University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work

Legal name

University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work

Website

https://socialwork.pitt.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work is an academic unit, ranked #12 nationally, offering BASW, MSW (on-campus and online), and PhD programs across four Pennsylvania campuses, supported by Title IV-E child welfare partnerships and a 600+ site practicum network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Degree Program Tuition: The school generates revenue primarily through tuition for its BASW, MSW, and PhD degree programs. Tuition rates differ for in-state (Pennsylvania) and out-of-state students. Merit scholarships are available and automatically renewed for qualifying students.
2. Pitt2Pitt Graduate Scholarship: Graduating Pitt undergraduates and alumni can receive up to $7,500 tuition scholarship per year when enrolling in the MSW program, creating a pipeline from undergraduate to graduate programs.
3. Fellowship Programs: Various fellowship programs (CREL, Marc Cherna, YBHW, Hartford, Library Social Work) provide financial awards to students, funded through federal grants (Title IV-E), partnerships, and donations.
4. Donations and Endowments: The school receives charitable contributions through various funds including the School of Social Work Scholarship Fund, Practicum Support Fund, Center on Race and Social Problems, and others. Donors can give online, by mail, phone, securities, or planned giving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Field Instruction supports supervised practicum education and field placements for social-work students within the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. The school also delivers BASW, MSW, and PhD academic programs, with in-person and part-time online MSW options, access to more than 600 practicum sites, and child-welfare education and research programs.

Product overview

The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic degree programs (BASW, MSW, and PhD in Social Work), including both in-person and online delivery options. The school's product portfolio includes specialized fellowship programs (Hartford Partnership for Aging Education, Library Social Work Fellowship, CREL Fellowship, Marc Cherna Fellowship, Youth Behavioral Health Workforce Fellowship) designed to support students in specialized areas of practice. The institution also operates significant child welfare education and research programs (CWEB, CWEL, Child Welfare Resource Center) in partnership with Pennsylvania state agencies. Additional offerings include professional continuing education (Act 31 training), student support services (VanKirk Career Center, Writing Coach, Ombudsperson), and community initiatives (Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh). The school is ranked #12 nationally by US News and World Report and serves as a research partner tracking impact through its Center on Race and Social Problems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) Undergraduate program preparing graduates for entry-level generalist social work practice with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Master of Social Work (MSW) – In-Person and Part-Time Online Graduate program offering in-person and part-time online options for advanced social work education. The program is ranked #12 in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report ranking of graduate schools of social work.
• PhD in Social Work Doctoral program preparing students for leadership roles in social work research, social work education, planning, and administration.
• Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates (CWEB) Cooperative effort providing educational fellowships and tuition support for undergraduate social work majors preparing for employment in Pennsylvania public child welfare agencies.
• Child Welfare Education for Leadership (CWEL) Cooperative effort providing educational opportunities for current county child welfare employees enrolled in graduate social work programs in Pennsylvania.
• Child Welfare Resource Center (CWRC) National leader in child welfare providing training, technical assistance, and support for best practice to the child welfare workforce within Pennsylvania's 67 counties.
• Act 31 Online Training Free online training for LSW, LCSW, LPC, and LMFT professionals in Pennsylvania that meets Act 31 requirements for child-abuse recognition and reporting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #12 nationally among 319 graduate schools of social work
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles9 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Pennsylvania Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for CWEB and CWEL child welfare education programs. Cooperatively funds education opportunities for undergraduate and graduate social work students preparing for or currently working in Pennsylvania's 67 public child welfare agencies.
• Pennsylvania Child and Youth AdministratorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for CWEL program supporting graduate-level education for public child welfare personnel in Pennsylvania.
• Allegheny County Library AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Library Social Work Fellowship placing MSW and BASW students in public libraries. ACLA is a federated system of 46 public libraries delivering service in more than 70 locations, including Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's 19 locations.
• Institute of Politics (Pitt)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly administers the Marc Cherna Fellowship with the School of Social Work. IOP is a nonpartisan policy organization serving Southwestern Pennsylvania created in 1989.
• Allegheny County Department of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary placement site for Marc Cherna Fellows. DHS serves over 200,000 people through a network of providers. Cherna Fellows gain policy analysis, development, and advocacy experience.
• Bible Center Church / The CHAPEL ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCREL Fellowship partner agency providing community-engaged practicum placement opportunities for graduate students focused on racial equity.
• Operation Better Block, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCREL Fellowship partner agency for community-engaged programs and applied research projects focused on racial equity and community development.
• Homewood Community Engagement CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCREL Fellowship partner agency providing practicum opportunities in community engagement and neighborhood development.
• YWCA Greater PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCREL Fellowship partner agency offering practicum placements focused on racial equity and social justice programming.
• Center on Race and Social ProblemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal research center integral to the School of Social Work conducting applied social science research on race, color, ethnicity and their influence on quality of life. Also serves as CREL Fellowship partner.
• Veterans AdministrationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHartford Partnership Program for Aging Education practicum site providing gerontological social work experience in VA healthcare settings.
• UPMCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHartford Partnership Program for Aging Education practicum site. UPMC provides palliative care, senior services, and inpatient behavioral health placements for gerontology students.
• 22 Pennsylvania Undergraduate Social Work ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWEB program partners include: Alvernia University, Cedar Crest College, Commonwealth University (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield), Elizabethtown College, East Stroudsburg University, Juniata College, Lancaster Bible College, Messiah University, Misericordia University, Penn West University (California, Edinboro), Slippery Rock University, University of Pittsburgh, West Chester University.
• 13 Pennsylvania Graduate Social Work ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWEL program partners include: Bryn Mawr College, Penn West (California, Edinboro), Kutztown University, Marywood University, Millersville University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University, Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh, West Chester University, Widener University.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NYU Silver School of Social Work: Major private university graduate school offering online and on-campus MSW programs with extensive practicum sites. Comparable in scale, online modality, and competitive pressure on Pitt's online MSW.
• University of Washington School of Social Work: Top-ranked public university MSW program with multiple degree levels and an extensive practicum ecosystem. Comparable in public-university context and ranking band.
• Washington University in St. Louis Brown School of Social Work: Private research university graduate school offering MSW/MPH joint degrees and a wide practicum footprint. Comparable on degree portfolio and field-based learning model.
• UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare: Public research university graduate school offering MSW and PhD with macro and clinical specializations. Comparable on public-university governance and degree portfolio.
• University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work: Private research university graduate school offering AM and PhD programs in social work with strong practicum placements. Comparable on academic prestige and doctoral program structure.
• University of Michigan School of Social Work: Top-ranked public university MSW program offering BASW/MSW/PhD degrees and field practicum placements. Closely comparable to Pitt SSW in mission, structure, and public-university governance.
• University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work: Private research university with one of the largest and most established online MSW programs. Comparable on online MSW competition and degree scale.
• Columbia University School of Social Work: Elite graduate school of social work offering MSW/PhD with strong NYC practicum network. Directly comparable on academic mission, ranking tier, and degree portfolio.
• Boston College School of Social Work: Private research university MSW program consistently ranked among the top U.S. graduate schools of social work with strong field education. Comparable on academic mission and ranking tier.
• Case Western Reserve University Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences: Private research university graduate school offering MSSA and PhD with strong practicum network. Comparable on academic mission, ranking tier, and field-based training emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PittSSW_DSO
• Facebookfacebook.com/PittSSW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/field-instructor---university-of-pittsburgh-school-of-social-work
• Instagraminstagram.com/pittsocialwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Field Instructor - University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work