Our Roots
The Department of Social Work (SFS) was established in 1999. The two-year program of Master of Arts in Social Work (PM & IR) affiliated to the University of Madras was started in the year 1999 with 21 students and 2 staff members. In 2002, M.A (Social Work) was renamed as Master of Social Work (PM & IR) and it acquired a dynamic nomenclature of Master of Social Work (HRM) from the year 2003. The Self-financed Stream, which was under the University of Madras pattern, gained autonomy from the academic year 2003 – 2004 and CBCS was also implemented.
The Master’s programme is an intensive two-year programme comprising of four semesters which is a combination of class room instructions and field practicum. The uniqueness of this programme is that the students are exposed to experiential learning and this gives an edge over other similar master’s programmes. The transition from a student to a professional is carefully monitored by a group of qualified and experienced teaching professionals and practitioners through a rigorous and continuous evaluation system. The alumni of the department are holding office of Vice President HR in various multinationals. The presence of our alumni are in countries like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Scandinavian countries, Malaysia, Singapore etc., and also across the Indian sub continent.
Madras Christian College introduced the under-graduation program in Social Work, in the Department of Social Work, Self –Financed Stream from 2005 onwards since there was a demand for the programme not only at the PG level but even at the UG level. The BSW students after their studies either proceed to do higher studies (either in Social Work or developmental domain) or join work. Those who pursue higher studies join our department itself for MSW or Madras School of Social Work, Stella Maris College, Loyola College and other city colleges or Delhi School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Xavier’s College, Mumbai, Christ University or across the globe like London School of Economics, Georgian College, Canada etc.,
Another milestone of the Department is the commencement of M. Phil (Social Work) program from the year 2012. Till date close to 20 scholars have completed their M.Phil program at the department. The hallmark was the commencement of the Doctoral program in the Department from the year 2014 onwards. The Department is working towards obtaining recognition for offering Ph.D. as a full-time program.
The department which had a humble start in 1999 with 21 students, two faculty and one programme is now a grown to teach close to 300 students, 10 faculty and four programmes. True to the latin motto found in the emblem of our college, ‘With the sign of God in our banner we will (march on) win’.
