CSWE Press is the publishing division of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). CSWE Press is a scholarly press committed to delivering publications that advance social work education and support social work educators and students on their professional journeys.
CSWE is committed to publishing the scholarship and stories of those who are addressing emerging issues and innovations in, as well as the traditional concerns of, the profession. CSWE Press is interested in scholarly works, textbooks, and reference works addressing the philosophy, theory, and practice of teaching; the process and evaluation of learning; and the organization and structure of social work education.
With a broad and expanding readership to serve, CSWE Press is also interested in practical works such as handbooks, professional development texts, and literary nonfiction that explore anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion; social justice; and lived experiences as they relate to or enhance social work curricula and field work education.
In addition to our own Bookstore (where CSWE members get a 10% discount on all purchases), you can also visit our Bookshop.org page! Bookshop.org is an online bookstore with a mission to support independent bookstores and organizations like CSWE that foster curiosity and a love of reading.
CSWE Members: Enjoy 10% Off Your Purchase
CSWE Press Services
Submitting a Proposal
CSWE is committed to publishing the scholarship and stories of those who are addressing emerging issues and innovations in, as well as the traditional concerns of, the profession. We welcome proposals for scholarly works, textbooks, reference works, handbooks, professional development texts, and select literary nonfiction that advance the knowledge, experience, and advancement of social work education.
Currently, we seek submissions for works related, but not limited, to:
- Anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in social work education
- Social justice in social work education and for the social work classroom
- Environmental justice in social work education and for the social work classroom
- Reproductive justice in social work education and for the social work classroom
- Decolonizing social work education and research
- Criminal justice and social work education
- Disability visibility and rights in social work education and for the social work classroom
- LGBTQ2S+ visibility and rights in social work education and for the social work classroom
- Human behavior and the social environment
- Community organizing and political social work
- Field education
- Interprofessional education
- Leadership development for social work practitioners and educators
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social work education
- Case studies for social work educators and students
How to Submit a Proposal
Send proposals via e-mail to Kristine Luecker, CSWE's Director of Publications. The following components, submitted in electronic format only, make up a complete proposal:
- An overview of the contents, including a discussion of the proposed work's purpose and format (textbook, handbook, instructional videotape, reference source, etc.); its contribution to the knowledge base; and its theoretical/conceptual underpinnings
- A detailed outline summarizing each chapter's coverage and the development of the work, or an otherwise well-articulated summary of the content and development of the work
- Two sample chapters that illustrate the scope of the proposed work and the writing style. One of the sample chapters must be substantive (i.e., not an introductory or summary chapter).
- Marketing information that discusses the intended audience (such as faculty, field instructors, students, researchers, practitioners), the timeliness of the material, publications in social work or other related fields that may compete with the proposed work, and ways this work will differ from these
- A time frame for completion of a draft for the proposed work
- CVs for all authors or editors
Please note that proposals must not be under consideration by any other publisher.
The Review Process
The Council on Publications (COP) reviews each proposal. If the proposal fits within the scope of CSWE Press's publications program, adequately addresses the topic area, and can be successfully marketed, a publications agreement may be offered. Accepted manuscripts receive review by knowledgeable peers in the field. The COP meets quarterly to review and respond to proposals and strives to publish accepted works within 12 months of a signed contract.
Ordering & Returns
Ordering Information: CSWE Press publications may be ordered directly from our fulfillment warehouse.
CSWE
c/o Ware-Pak LLC
2427 Bond Street
University Park, IL 60484
Telephone: +1.877.751.5053
Telephone (outside the U.S. and Canada): +1.708.587.4197
E-mail: cswe@ware-pak.com
Returns: All returns must be shipped to:
CSWE
c/o Ware-Pak LLC
2427 Bond Street
University Park, IL 60484
Telephone: +1.877.751.5053
Do not send returns to CSWE's headquarters. The cost of reshipping any returns sent to the CSWE office in Alexandria, VA, will be deducted from the shipper’s refund amount.
Individual Purchasers. If books are unmarked and in salable condition, they may be returned within 30 days of receipt for credit. No credit will be given for late returns.
Institutional Purchasers, Text and Trade Sellers. Books may be returned for credit only under the following conditions: (a) they do not constitute more than 50% of the original order, (b) they are unmarked and in salable condition, (c) they are returned within 6 months of purchase, (d) they are shipped postage paid to Ware-Pak LLC in University Park IL (see address under Returns, above), (d) they are accompanied by a copy of the invoice/payment record. A restocking fee of 10% of the requested refund will be deducted for all returns for refund. The minimum restocking fee is $10.
Desk Copies
CSWE Press is pleased to provide complimentary desk copies of any adopted required text for instructors at accredited colleges and universities. CSWE Press must receive a confirmed order for at least 25 copies of a title from your college or university bookstore before a complimentary desk copy can be requested. No more than three complimentary desk copies may be obtained with any single order (75 or more copies).
To request a desk copy, please call 1-877-751-5053 or e-mail cswe@ware-pak.com with the following information:
- Title and ISBN of publication
- Name and number of course and enrollment
- Bookstore name and telephone number
- Confirmation of an order placed by your university bookstore for at least 25 copies of the requested book.
Orders placed through third party distributors are not eligible for complimentary desk copies. DVDs are also unavailable as desk copies. Please note that CSWE Press cannot ship desk copies to residences; they must be mailed to your institutional address (valid U.S. addresses only).
Examination Copies
Evaluation copies of books that are being considered as required texts for classes may be provided to qualified academics and professionals. A copy of the book will be billed at a 50% discount plus shipping charges, payable in 90 days. If the book is adopted and an order of at least 25 new copies has been placed and confirmed directly with CSWE, the invoice will be canceled and the exam copy is complimentary. Alternatively, the book may be returned within 90 days in salable condition for full credit.
Permissions Request
CSWE holds copyright to all publications it produces, unless otherwise stated. If you are interested in reprinting or distributing copyrighted CSWE material, including material from CSWE Press books or from the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, please complete this form and e-mail it to books@cswe.org.
If the material will be used for a class, include the class title, number of sections, and expected number of students. If material will be reprinted in a commercial publication, include the title, author, print run, and expected publication date.
If you would like permission to reprint material from the Journal of Social Work Education, please contact the journal's publisher, Routledge/Taylor & Francis.
You may also fax your request to +1.703.683.8493, ATTN: Publications Permissions.
Copyright Definitions & Guidelines
The following general guidelines are taken from the circular Copyright Basics, produced by the U.S. Copyright Office of the Library of Congress. The full circular can be found here.
What is copyright?
Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) to the authors of “original works of scholarship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and unpublished works (Copyright Basics, p.1).
Copyright is secured automatically when a work is created; no publication, registration, or use of a copyright notice is required. Copyright registration is a legal formality that serves to make public the details of a particular copyright.
Holders of copyright for written works have the exclusive right to
- reproduce copies of a work,
- prepare derivative works based on a work,
- distribute copies to the public, and
- transfer copyright to someone else.
Who can claim copyright?
Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form. The copyright in the work of authorship immediately becomes the property of the author. Only the author or those deriving their rights through the author can claim copyright.
In the case of “works made for hire,” the employer and not the employee is considered the author. (Copyright Basics, p. 2)
A work made for hire is defined as (1) a work prepared by an employee within the scope of his or her employment; or, (2) if the parties have a written contract stating that the work is made for hire, a work specially ordered or commissioned for use, such as a contribution to a collective work, a translation, an instructional text, or a test.
Authors of joint works are co-owners of copyright.
Copyright in each piece of a collective work is held by the original author unless transferred and is distinct from the copyright in the collective work as a whole. For example, each author of each article in a scholarly journal retains copyright until it is transferred in writing to the publisher of the journal. However, there is a separate copyright owned by the publisher for the entire journal as a collected work.
Simple ownership of a book, manuscript, or other work does not give the possessor copyright.
What is not protected by copyright?
Some categories of material are not eligible for federal copyright coverage:
- works not fixed in tangible form, such as improvisational speeches;
- titles, names, slogans, listings of ingredients or contents;
- ideas, methods, or systems as distinct from description or explanation;
- works consisting entirely of familiar information, such as standard calendars; and
- works by the U.S. government.
Length of copyright protection
For works created on or after January 1, 1978, the term of copyright protection is
- the author’s life plus 70 years;
- for joint works, 70 years after the death of the last surviving author; and
- for works made for hire, 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.
For works created before January 1, 1978, the term is 95 years past the date of copyright notice or registration.
Transfer of copyright
Any or all of the copyright owner’s exclusive rights or any subdivision of those rights may be transferred, but the transfer of exclusive rights is not valid unless that transfer is in writing and signed by the owner of the rights conveyed or such owner’s duly authorized agent. (Copyright Basics, p. 6)
International Copyright Protection
There is no such thing as an “international copyright” that will automatically protect an author’s writings throughout the entire world. Protection against unauthorized use in a particular country depends, basically, on the national laws of that country. However, most countries do offer protection to foreign works under certain conditions, and these conditions have been greatly simplified by international copyright treaties and conventions. (Copyright Basics, p. 6)
The Fair Use Limitation
One of the more important copyright limitations is the doctrine of “fair use.” This doctrine has developed through a substantial number of court decisions and has been codified in section 107 of the copyright law.
Section 107 contains a list of the various purposes for which a particular work may be reproduced without explicit permission, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Section 107 also sets out four factors to be considered in determining whether a particular use is fair:
- the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
- the nature of the copyrighted work;
- the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
- the effect of the use on the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work.
The distinction between fair use and infringement may be unclear and is not easily defined. There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission. Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission.
When in doubt, the safest course is to request permission for use from the copyright holder.