[3] Beginning in the early 1900s, the School developed from a single course to an independent department accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

[5][6] At the height of the Great Depression in 1934, UW established the graduate program at the School with funding from the Washington State Emergency Relief Association in response to the need for public agency social workers and administrators in the region.

[7] The School's graduate program became independent in 1934 under the direction of Arlien Johnson[8] and was formally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education during the same year.

[9] Ernest Witte becomes the school's director in 1939, adopting a two-year masters program, and expanding the curriculum and fieldwork opportunities.

[10] The undergraduate program was established in 1959[11] and formally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education in 1975.