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.Bravo, Nesley, "Icing on the Cake" , The UW Daily The School's graduate program became independent in 1934 under the direction of Arlien Johnson"General Series". Catalogue Number for 1936-1937 Sessions. University of Washington, 1936, No. 450, p. 190 and was formally accredited by the Council on Social Work Education during the same year. Ernest Witte becomes the school's director in 1939, adopting a two-year masters program, and expanding the curriculum and fieldwork opportunities.
