PHILADELPHIA
A diverse, world-class city rich with opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
The School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a diverse and dynamic city ripe with opportunity for students pursuing careers in social work and social policy.
Philly is a big place grappling with big challenges. It’s home to nonprofits, hospitals, and social service agencies doing innovative work, and SP2 is an important part of this ecosystem. Our students are everywhere—honing their skills and doing their part to take action against inequities of all kinds here in the city and beyond.
Faculty News
Faculty Making a Difference
Our world-renowned faculty are dedicated to making a difference in our own backyard, from conducting innovative research on how to better serve the city’s homeless population to how policy can be re-envisioned to protect Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ youth.
Student Stories
Students Impacting Philly
Our students are making big changes here in Philadelphia—from working one-on-one with domestic violence survivors to conducting innovative research on how social systems impact the health of marginalized community members.
Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy
This SP2 initiative empowers students and faculty to help state and local governments collaborate and responsibly leverage data to improve lives in Philadelphia and beyond.
Tracking COVID Relief Funding
The Center for High Impact Philanthropy has established a regional COVID response dashboard to help funders in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey plan beyond initial relief efforts.
Field Education
Our students build important skills and professional connections at hospitals, community centers, hospice agencies, and more – here in Philadelphia and beyond. Take a look at some of the agencies where our students are connecting theory with practice while making real-world impact.
Events
02/01
Beyond America’s Racial Fault Line
Join us for an in-person event at the Kelly Writer’s House as we feature Ben Jealous in dialogue about his new book Never Forget Our People Were Always Free: A […]
Events
02/07
The Challenges of Reforming the Criminal Justice System – Taylor Pacheco
Taylor Pacheco is the Deputy Director of Philadelphia lawyers for Social Equity. She has a wide range of experience assisting clients in the criminal legal system including at Community Legal […]
News
Faculty & Research
01/26
Former SP2 dean John L. Jackson, Jr. named Penn’s next provost
University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill announced that John L. Jackson, Jr. — formerly dean of Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) from 2014 to 2018 — has […]