Global Programs
The Brown School has long been a leader in global social work research and education. The addition of social policy has expanded the scope of global engagements in teaching and scholarship.
Faculty at the Brown School lead research on a wide variety of research topics including asset building, poverty reduction, child and adolescent mental health, gender, disability, HIV/AIDS, and refugees and the displaced. They partner with institutions and communities around the world to apply research results in impactful ways.
The Brown School’s degree programs offer avenues for students to understand complex global issues and develop skills to create solutions to that improve lives in a global context. Students can study global social development in the Brown School’s top-ranked Master of Social Work program through the International Social and Economic Development Concentration. Students can also engage in global learning in the Master of Social Policy program and at the doctoral level. Student learning is enhanced through global practica, global immersion courses, and through speakers, conferences, and cultural events.
Global teaching and scholarship offer significant opportunities to synergize across disciplines, expand bi-directional learning between the Global South and the Global North, and forge connections between St. Louis and the world.
This program provides opportunities for students to drive the learning experience for fellow students through cultural celebrations, focus group interviews, mentoring programs, and coffee chats.
“For over a decade, the Global Programs Office (GPO) at the Brown School at WashU has been at the heart of efforts to improve social well-being and health among the world’s most vulnerable populations. Through groundbreaking faculty research, scholar-practitioner education, enduring partnerships, emerging technologies, and strategic policy influence, GPO has helped shape more just, equitable, and healthy societies across the globe. This vital work has been carried forward by a dedicated group of faculty and staff, each leaving an indelible mark on the program’s history.”
Tammy Orahood, Director of Global Programs
Our Vision
To improve the social well-being and health of the most vulnerable populations by conducting groundbreaking research, educating scholar-practitioners, building enduring partnerships, deploying emerging technologies, and influencing policy makers, in order to promote just, equitable, and healthy societies around the world.
Our Goals
- Investigate and address the social and environmental conditions underlying development and around the world
- Integrate social and economic development and policy
- Focus on community engagement and capacity development—recognizing the inherent strengths and resilience that exist in communities
- Achieve sustained positive impacts through programming and policy
International Practicum
An international practicum is a field placement that is completed in a Core Affiliated Practicum site outside of the United States. Through a guided process, eligible students will be able to select from a set of core affiliated international practicum sites—including opportunities with organizations such as Camp Group, Ugandan Developmental Health Organization, MINGA, Los Aliados, TERREWODE, Center for Infectious Disease Research Zambia , Maji Safi Group, Winrock International, and many local NGOs.
For the International Practicum Guidelines and online application, please click here.
Global Research
Our faculty and doctoral students lead research projects all over the globe, often hiring students as research assistants to partner in their work.