A formal curriculum in social work was first offered by the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, in 1921.

[1][2] In 1951, the School of Social Work was established to offer a professional educational program on the graduate level leading to advanced degrees, and the program moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor, with Fedele F. Fauri acting as dean until 1970.

The school was first located in a small house on Washington and Thayer, before moving into the Frieze Building, where it remained until 1998, when the school moved to a new dedicated building on the corner of South and East University.

[1] During the School of Social Work's first year, 91 full-time and 96 part-time students were enrolled.

The Curtis Center offers research consultation, educational programming and training, and program evaluation training and services for students, postdocs, and outside organizations.