Graduate School of Social Service

GSS Programs

GSS provides a foundation in the traditions of the social work profession while meeting the challenges of the future with a sophisticated interdisciplinary curriculum. Ranked among the best in the nation, our social work graduate programs offer a flexible, experiential education that will prepare you to change lives and transform communities.

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Popular Pages

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2025 Graduation

Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue Vakalahi, CSWE President and CEO, Named 2025 GSS Diploma Ceremony Keynote Speaker

Dr. Vakalahi is a distinguished scholar, educator, and community advocate. She has contributed extensively to Pacific Islander knowledge, literature, and culture, and to elevating our understanding of the role and experience of Women in academia. She is currently the President and CEO of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), which accredits all social work programs across the United States.

Learn more about Dr. Vakalahi and 2025 graduation

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Course Overview

GSS offers a wide array of courses for students to pursue. Take a look at your options.

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Study Abroad

Spend a summer in London learning about the history of settlement houses.

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Scholarships and Fellowships

Learn more about opportunities to help fund your education.

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Non-Matriculated Study

Get a feel for graduate education. Take classes now; commit later.

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Advanced Standing M.S.W.

Earn your M.S.W. in as little as nine months, and for half the cost.

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Licensing Prep

Whether you plan to practice in NYC or beyond, know what you need to be prepared.

Leading The Change For a Better Tomorrow

Fordham University GSS offers a flexible curriculum that prepares students to promote positive changes in individuals and communities through collaborative community relationships, evidence-based culturally responsive practices, and public advocacy. Join an academic community that's as passionate about helping others as you are.

Apply Now

GSS Campus Locations

With three New York campus locations, the Fordham Graduate School of Social Service (GSS) has a place for you—whether you prefer a fast-paced urban campus, or the tree-lined suburbs. Whichever location you choose, you’ll be part of an exciting, diverse community that is making a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and societies across the country and around the world.

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Westchester, West Harrison, NY

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Lincoln Center, Manhattan

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Long Island Molloy University Partnership

GSS News

Class of 2025 Changemakers: Meredith Outwater – From Finance to Finding Purpose

Class of 2025 Changemakers: Meredith Outwater – From Finance to Finding Purpose

As part of the Graduate School of Social Services’ “Class of 2025 Changemakers” series, we’re spotlighting career-changers who are transforming their professional paths through the Master of Social Work program. Meredith Outwater’s first day in the Master of Social Work (M.S.W) program at the Graduate School of Social Service was filled with nerves. Despite having an […]

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Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue Vakalahi, CSWE President and CEO, Named 2025 GSS Diploma Ceremony Speaker

Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue Vakalahi, CSWE President and CEO, Named 2025 GSS Diploma Ceremony Speaker

The Graduate School of Social Service is proud to announce that Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue Vakalahi, Ph.D., M.S.W., M.Ed., will serve as this year’s Diploma Ceremony Speaker for the Class of 2025. The GSS Diploma Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 20, at 10 am. ET on Edwards Parade at the Rose Hill campus. Halaevalu F. […]

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Class of 2025 Changemakers: Jake Schefer’s Ultimate Research and Advocacy Experience

Class of 2025 Changemakers: Jake Schefer’s Ultimate Research and Advocacy Experience

As part of the Graduate School of Social Services’ Class of 2025 Changemakers series, we’re spotlighting graduating students transforming their professional paths through the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. What’s your hometown? I was born in Manhattan, but I grew up in Westchester County. What were your undergraduate studies? Film—screenwriting specifically.  Why did you […]

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Class of 2025 Changemakers: Lily Hammer Finds Her Calling in Aging Services

Class of 2025 Changemakers: Lily Hammer Finds Her Calling in Aging Services

As part of the Graduate School of Social Services’ Class of 2025 Changemakers series, we’re spotlighting graduating students transforming their professional paths through the Master of Social Work (MSW) program. Lily Hammer, GSS ’25, a full-time Master of Social Work (MSW) student at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service (GSS), has always felt drawn […]

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“You’re Giving Back to What You Were Given”: How One Fordham MSW Alumna Supports Future Social Workers

“You’re Giving Back to What You Were Given”: How One Fordham MSW Alumna Supports Future Social Workers

Joan Balfour, GSS ’77, wants others to have the same opportunities she did. As a student in Fordham’s Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program, Balfour was a single mother of two making $66 per week and had no way to afford tuition. She loved her studies, and it showed in her academic results—Balfour was an […]

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Fordham MSW Field Specialist on Finding Social Work, Remaining Open, and Learning by Doing

Fordham MSW Field Specialist on Finding Social Work, Remaining Open, and Learning by Doing

One undergraduate course changed the trajectory of Fordham GSS Field Specialist Natalie Alvarez’s life.  “I grew up wanting to do music,” she said. “I [went]to Skidmore College because it had a great music program. But I discovered social work through a core requirement course, Values and Populations at Risk, and it just clicked.” Alvarez’s lived […]

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GSS Cohosts Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations Conference

GSS Cohosts Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations Conference

On Friday, April 4, 2025, social workers, students, educators, and international delegates gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York City to celebrate the Annual Social Work Day at the UN. Under the theme “Looking Back to Move Forward,” this year’s program reflected on the profession’s global legacy while exploring pathways to a just and […]

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M.S.W. Student Using Degree to Help Artists Age with Dignity

M.S.W. Student Using Degree to Help Artists Age with Dignity

Aimée Hayes has spent her career in the theater as a director and producer, shaping narratives and bringing stories to life on stage. Now, she is using her passion for storytelling to advocate for an often-overlooked population: aging artists.  As Hayes and her husband Tim Sanford—both lifelong theater professionals—witnessed a decline in opportunities for older […]

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Fordham’s Her Migrant Hub: Four Years of Empowering Women Asylum Seekers and Building Community

Fordham’s Her Migrant Hub: Four Years of Empowering Women Asylum Seekers and Building Community

Forced migration is a complex and traumatic experience, particularly for women. They must navigate a new country, often without resources or support. For most, the experience is overwhelming.  Addressing these complexities is nuanced and challenging, and it doesn’t seem to be getting easier anytime soon. However, there is a clear place to start: the need […]

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How to Write a Personal Statement for Graduate School

How to Write a Personal Statement for Graduate School

We can’t say this enough: Your personal statement is a crucial component of your Fordham Master of Social Work (MSW) application! Not only does the personal statement showcase your writing abilities, it’s a window into who you are and why you want to do this work. That’s a powerful thing, but it can come with […]

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