New Student Orientation Schedule 2025
All times are listed in central standard
At a Glance Schedule 2025
Click on an event to see full description.
Wednesday, August 20th
| 8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Check in | Clark–Fox Forum | |
| 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Dean’s Welcome | Required | Clark–Fox Forum |
| 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Introduction to Your Degree Program | Required | Various Locations |
| 11:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Brown Social Policy and Social Work Policies, Professionalism, and Ethics | Required | Clark-Fox Forum |
| 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Lunch & Learn with the Second Years | Required | Clark-Fox Forum |
| 2:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. | Introduction to Concentrations and Specializations Sessions Session One: 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Session Two: 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Session Three: 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. | Required | Various Locations |
| 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. | Chill Zone | Optional | Goldfarb Commons |
Thursday, August 21st
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | Check in (pick up Bear Bucks Lunch Card) | Goldfarb Commons | |
| 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Field Education: Tips and Tools Session (MSW, Advanced Standing, and MSP) | Required | Various Locations |
| 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. | Student Panel | Required | Brown 100 – 1st floor of Brown Hall |
| 12:15 p.m. -1:30 p.m. | Lunch on your Own | Various Dining Locations | |
| 1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Brown School Resource Fair | Required | Goldfarb 135, Goldfarb 132, and Goldfarb 124 |
| 1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Brown School Tours | Optional | Meet in Goldfarb 37 |
| 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Happy Hour | Optional | Goldfarb Commons |
Wednesday, August 20th
Check-In
8:15 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Clark-Fox Forum Upon arrival, incoming students will check in at the tables outside Clark-Fox Forum inside of Hillman Hall.
Dean’s Welcome
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Clark–Fox Forum
Please join Dean Traube, Associate Dean Tyler De Shon and Assistant Director of Student Engagement Da’Shaun Scott for an official welcome to the Brown School community and kickoff to New Student Orientation.
Introduction to your Degree Program
9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Various Locations
Join associate deans, assistant deans, and faculty and staff who will review expectations and information needed to successfully complete your Brown School degree, answering any questions you have about your degree program.
Sessions tailored to each Brown School degree program will be offered in the following locations:
| Brown School degree program | Location |
|---|---|
| MSW | Hillman 60 |
| MSP | Hillman 200 |
| MSW/MPH Dual Degree | Hillman 120 |
Brown School Social Policy and Social Work Policies, Professionalism, and Ethics
11:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Clark-Fox Forum
- Introduction to the Code of Ethics and the Student Handbook
- Understand the academic and professional integrity policies
- Explore the role of effective communication in and out of the classroom
- Learn the different support resources we have for graduate students
Lunch & Learn with Second Years
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Various Locations
Incoming Brown School students are invited to a catered lunch with some of our Second Year Students in the Clark-Fox Forum in Hillman Hall. Food will be catered by the School Catering Services (Sodexo), featuring sandwiches and salad with gluten free and vegan options.
First year students will be broken up into different rooms hosted by a second-year student.
If you don’t want to eat with the first years, you can eat at the tables near the Clark-Fox Forum or Outside the Clark-Fox Forum.
You may bring your own lunch and keep in the community fridge in Goldfarb Commons where there are microwaves to heat up your food.
Introduction to Concentrations and Specializations
2:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Various Locations
These curriculum breakout sessions will be hosted by MSW faculty. You will learn in depth about the concentrations and specializations offered in the MSW degree programs. During Session One, please go to the room that aligns with your intended concentration. If you are interested in learning more about another concentration, you can attend the other concentration session during Session Two.
MSW Concentrations
Session One: 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Session Two: 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
(Session Two is a repeated presentation of Session One)
| MSW Concentrations | Locations |
|---|---|
| American Indian & Alaska Native – Manasseh Begay | Goldfarb 37 |
| Children, Youth, & Families – Brett Drake | Hillman 270 |
| Health – Wendy Auslander | Goldfarb 135 |
| Mental Health – Ryan Lindsay | Hillman 130 |
| Social & Economic Development – Domestic – Molly Metzger | Hillman 120 |
| Social Impact Leadership – Barry Rosenberg | Hillman 110 |
| Social & Economic Development – International – Brad Tucker | Hillman 200 |
| Individualized – Janelle Gibson | Goldfarb 124 |
MSW Specializations
Session Three: 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
(Session Three is MSW Specializations)
| MSW Specializations | Locations |
|---|---|
| Management – Barry Rosenberg | Hillman 110 |
| Older Adults and Aging Societies – Sojung Park and Vanessa Fabbre | Hillman 270 |
| Policy -Anna Shabsin | Hillman 200 |
| Research – Brett Drake | Hillman 120 |
| Sexual Health and Education – Joshua Rusow | Goldfarb 124 |
| Social Entrepreneurship – Heather Cameron | Goldfarb 135 |
| System Dynamics – Ellis Ballard | Goldfarb 38 |
| Violence and Injury Prevention – Melissa Jonson-Reid | Goldfarb 37 |
Chill Zone
3:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Goldfarb Commons Area
If you don’t have a second concentration and you’d like to learn more about during session two, feel free to head over to the Chill Zone in Goldfarb Commons. It’s a relaxed space to unwind, grab a snack, and hang out until Session Three begins.
Thursday, August 21st
Check-In
(Pick up Bear Bucks Lunch Card)
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Goldfarb Commons
Upon arrival, incoming students will check in at the Goldfarb Commons. Students must check in during this time to receive their meal card for lunch. Also during this time, students who would like an alcoholic beverage at the Happy Hour may pick up their wristband. To receive one, you must be 21 or older and present a physical state-issued ID or passport. Digital copies of IDs will not be accepted for bar access.
Field Education: Tips and Tools Session
(MSW, Advanced Standing MSW, and MSP)
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Various Locations
| Degree Program | Room |
|---|---|
| MSW Students | Brown 100 |
| Advance Standing Students | Goldfarb 124 |
| MSP Students | Goldfarb 135 |
Student Panel
11:10 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Brown 100, 1st floor of Brown Hall
This panel will offer new students an opportunity to ask questions to current Brown School students and hear about their experiences.
Lunch on Your Own
12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
At check–in you were given a pre-loaded Bear Bucks meal card with $15 to use at any of the open campus dining locations. Groups led by current Brown School students will be walking to the various dining locations on campus from Brown 100 starting at 12:15 p.m.
We encourage you to bring a water bottle, as there are several water fountains around campus and in Brown School buildings. See information on dining including hours of operation, menus, and more here.
You may bring your own lunch and keep in the community fridge in Goldfarb Commons where there are microwaves to heat up your food. Students are not required to stay on campus during lunch.
Brown School Resource Fair
1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Goldfarb 135, Goldfarb 132, and Goldfarb 124
Come learn about Brown School, academic advisors, and campus wide resources and services and find out how they can support you during your academic journey!
Brown School Tours
1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Meet in Goldfarb 37
Tour one: 1:45 a.m.
Tour two: 2:30 p.m.
This is an opportunity for new students to tour the Brown School and learn where classes and departments are located. If you are interested in a tour of the entire WashU campus, please visit here for more information.
Happy Hour
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Goldfarb Commons
This Happy Hour is a chance to mix and mingle with fellow incoming students, current students, faculty, and staff. Enjoy light refreshments, make new connections, and start building your Brown School community in a fun and informal setting.