Master of social work is a postgraduate degree instituted by Solapur University, Solapur to the students who satisfactorily completes a two years course of studies prescribed by the university & passes the examination. The medium of instruction & examination shall be in English. This course shall provide specialization in

Group A :- Human Resource Management (HRM)

Group B :- Urban & Rural Community Development (URCD)

Group C :- Family & Child Welfare (FCW)

Group D :- Medical & Psychiatric Social Work (MPSW)

This professional course has been started in 1970. SAPDJ Pathashala has been pioneer in the vicinity of Shivaji University, Kolhapur to start the professional course of social work. During last 36 years around 1800 trained social workers have been placed all over India and abroad. This course has been recognized by Govt. of India, Ministry of Labour, New Delhi as well as Govt. of Karnataka.

This course is based on field  practicum. The students are expected to work in the field for complete 2 days (15 hours) in a week. Besides, the students are taken for educational tours, field visits for learning through real life situations. There are about 100 fieldwork agencies, which are treated as laboratories for practical training. The "Summer Placement" for 40 days and "Block Placement" training practical training for minimum 2 months is compulsory for the the students.

Social research as a partial fulfillment of academic requirement is encouraged. During last 36 years the students have done the research & produced 702 project reports. We have well qualifies and experienced faculty members, well equipped infrastructure with separate audio visual unit and library with 6852 number of books amounting to Rs. 3,02,864.48/-, 46 periodicals, 16 news papers etc.

University Grants Commission, New Delhi has sponsored the minor project, a research study on communal riots in Solapur City(2003). The study is under completion.

We have field action projects for practical training to out students. i.e.

1. CHILDLINE project : Childline is 24 hours, free phone, emergency outreach service for children in need of care and protection from all over India. The project is sponsored by Ministry of Women & Child Development in association with UNICEF, Ministry of Telecommunication and NGOs & corporate sectors. Walchand College, Dept. of Social Work is working as Nodal Agency for Solapur district CHILDLINE project from 2003.

2. Tathapi project : Dept. of Social Work and Tathapi trust, Pune jointly working on project called "Towards Equality" : working with men. This is pilot phase of the project focused on issues of gender, masculinity, sexuality and violence against woman in urban population. This project has been financed by Tathapi trust, Pune.