Social work is both an academic field and a practice-based profession focused on addressing basic human needs. It improves the well-being of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society. Psychology, sociology, health, politics, community development, law, and economics are fields from which social workers take inspiration while conducting assessments, designing interventions, and improving social functioning and personal accountability. There are three models of social work. Providing one-on-one counseling or treatment, or helping a family navigate the service system, are examples of the kind of "micro-work" that falls under this category. Work in the mezzo sector typically requires interacting with larger social units, such as in the context flow of group therapy or community service. Advocacy, social policy, research development, nonprofit and public service management, and working with government agencies are all examples of macro-level activity.  Some colleges and universities began offering social work management programs in the 1980s to educate future leaders in the human services sector outside the traditional social work curriculum.

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Columbia University in the City of New York
• Washington University in St Louis
• University of Chicago
• The University of Texas at Austin
• Boston University
• New York University
• University of Washington-Seattle Campus
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

• Washington University in St Louis Curriculam
• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Curriculam
• University of Pennsylvania Curriculam
• University of Washington-Seattle Campus Curriculam
• New York University Curriculam
• Boston University Curriculam
• The University of Texas at Austin Curriculam
• University of Chicago Curriculam
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Curriculam
• Columbia University in the City of New York Curriculam