Schools of Human Services

Neal DeChillo, Dean

Salem State’s Schools of Human Services focuses on the college’s five service-oriented programs: Criminal Justice, Education, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, and Social Work. Each program carefully balances academics with field experience so students are well-prepared to join the workforce and/or to pursue advanced degrees. Graduate programs are also available in each discipline.

Our Mission

The Schools of Human Services’ mission is centered on the educational preparation of students who are grounded in theory, research and practice in the fields of education, nursing, social work, criminal justice and occupational therapy. Recognizing the unique interdisciplinary nature of our respective professions, we seek to promote a humanistic, caring environment, which maximizes student potential and instills sensitivity to current social problems and issues. The Schools of Human Services are committed to having our students, both at beginning and advanced levels, respond as knowledgeable professionals to changing social realities and concerns in a world of diverse cultures, to work cooperatively within and across disciplines and to seek opportunities which enhance the well-being of the public.

Our Goals

To provide students with requisite practice models, appropriate and current research to prepare them for beginning and advanced professional practice in their respective disciplines.
To prepare students to contribute to and utilize the knowledge base of their respective disciplines while recognizing the mutually interactive nature of this knowledge, especially as it applies to human concerns.
To stimulate students’ ability to critically analyze social problems and issues facing both the nation and the broader global society and to prepare them to evaluate professional and organizational responses.
To instill in students an understanding of the ethical standards of each discipline and to foster ethical decision making and professional behavior.
To stimulate and support scholarship and research and to facilitate efforts for interdisciplinary collaboration.
To instill in faculty and students the value and importance of lifelong learning and to accordingly provide professional development opportunities.
To serve as a resource and an advocate for the College and for the greater community in program development and in disseminating critical information related to current societal needs.
To foster appreciation and respect for a culturally diverse population and to promote effective working relationships in an increasingly multi-cultural society.
To encourage ongoing collaboration and collegiality in the School as well as within the College as a whole.