Social work education in the United States has a long and significant history that reflects the country's response to social, economic, and political changes. It developed from charitable activities and volunteer services into a professional discipline with organized education, scientific methods, and ethical standards. The evolution of social work education is closely associated with the growth of industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and social reform movements during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Before formal education began, charitable organizations and religious institutions provided assistance to poor, sick, orphaned, and disadvantaged people. Volunteers, mostly women, worked through churches and philanthropic associations without any specialized training. During the late nineteenth century, rapid industrial growth created problems such as poverty, unemployment, overcrowding, child labor, and poor housing. These social problems highlighted the need for trained workers who could deal with complex human and community issues in a systematic manner. The Charity Organization Society (COS) movement and the Settlement House movement played a crucial role