Created in 1965, the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare offers an extensive cross-disciplinary program serving students with interests in social work and criminal justice & criminology. Named for Helen Bader, a dedicated community advocate and graduate of the school’s master's in social work program, the school serves about 1,100 students in two academic units, the Department of Social Work and the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology. The school offers more than 300 field placement opportunities and is home to the only Social Welfare PhD with a specialization in criminal justice & criminology in the state of Wisconsin. Students who are interested in both social work and criminal justice and criminology can earn both master's degrees concurrently. The school is the first in the state to offer crime analysis programs to undergraduate, graduate, and returning students. Graduate certificates in applied gerontology, cyber crime forensics, and trauma-informed care provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in these in-demand areas. Our graduates work as victim advocates, policy analysts, federal probation and parole officers, police officers and police chiefs, program administrators, medical social workers, child protection social workers, crime analysts, school social workers, clinical social workers, court liaisons, adoption specialists, and more. They work in county and state settings, nonprofit organizations, the justice system, police departments, healthcare settings, and district attorney’s offices. Together, they are working to make a difference.
