MYRON B. THOMPSON SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK Navigation

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General Information

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Undergraduate Program

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Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work

After receiving his MSW from UH in 1953, Myron "Pinky" Thompson went on to become a noted humanitarian and leader in the struggle for the preservation of the Hawaiian culture. From 1962 to 1967, he was the executive director of the Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Trust. During this time, he helped to create changes in the way social work was performed with Native Hawaiian children and families. In consultation with colleagues and the late Mary Kawena Puku'i, the classic two-volume publication of Nana I Ke Kumu was produced. It is still in use today.

In 1975, he helped start Alu Like, Inc. to obtain federal funding for Native Hawaiians in job training, health, housing, education, and Native Hawaiian rights. He is also credited with the creation of Papa Ola Lokahi, a clearinghouse for data and information associated with the health status of Native Hawaiians. Aside from other positions, he was the first chairman of the State Land Use Commission and served as a key advisor on matters of Hawaiian affairs in the John A. Burns administration. For two decades, he served as a trustee for the Bishop Estate. During his tenure, he placed an emphasis on developing parental skills and early intervention as strategies for improving learning outcomes. His son, Nainoa Thompson, now serves as a trustee.

He was co-founder and served as president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. In 1979, his son, Nainoa Thompson, was the navigator of the voyaging canoe Hokule'a as it retraced ancestral migration patterns in the Pacific using ancient Polynesian methods of way finding, or, navigation. The canoe has since made many such voyages.

Thompson had been described as wise, compassionate, a lover of music, full of life and laughter, a warrior against social injustice, and never satisfied with the status quo or the status of Native Hawaiians. He passed away on Christmas Day in 2001. The UH Board of Regents approved naming our school after him in 2008.

General Information

Social work, one of the fastest growing occupations in the State of Hawai'i, is a profession concerned with the prevention and resolution of problems for individuals, families, groups, and communities. Those who are committed to social justice, social change, and improving the quality of life for society's most vulnerable citizens would find this curriculum stimulating. Students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and values that facilitate the prevention or resolution of such problems as mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, crime and delinquency, and poverty.

The school has been providing quality social work education in Hawai'i for over 74 years. It has a bachelor's, master's, and doctoral program. The BSW and MSW programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). It is recognized nationally and internationally for its award-winning faculty, research and publications, and specialty areas that focus on the expressed needs of the community (health, mental health, child and family, and gerontology). Our graduates often assume leadership roles (e.g., Chief of Police, Chair of OHA, legislators, heads of agencies, etc.). The school has a training academy, the ability to provide program evaluation, a distance education MSW option, a focus on Asian and Pacific Islanders, a focus on indigenous issues, and opportunities for international practicum placements.

Mission

The mission of the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work is to contribute to the advancement of social work practice in its many forms for the purpose of preventing or resolving the most critical social problems. Within this general purpose, the school reaffirms social work's historic commitment to increase social justice and availability of opportunity for underrepresented and oppressed groups.

The principal responsibility of the school is the generation, transmission, and application of knowledge that will benefit the state of Hawai'i. In addition, it is the school's responsibility to contribute to knowledge for use by the profession as a whole. In particular, it is the goal of this school to increase comprehension of the ways in which social policy, social work practice, and research can be improved through the understanding of Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander and Asian cultures of our communities, state, and the Pacific region.

Advising

Freshmen and sophomores who are interested in applying to the BSW program should consult with a BSW advisor who can assist them with academic planning and provide information on career opportunities. Contact sswadmit@hawaii.edu.

The school's bulletin contains information on admissions and degree requirements for the BSW, MSW, and PhD programs. For a copy of the bulletin or additional information, write to the School of Social Work at Henke Hall #230, 1800 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822, telephone (808) 956-7182, email sswadmit@hawaii.edu, or visit the website at www.hawaii.edu/sswork.

Note: All three programs require the completion of an application.

Financial Aid

There are a number of opportunities for financial aid, including scholarships, stipends, and limited tuition waivers. Log onto www.hawaii.edu/fas/.