"Social work is the art and science of providing services designed to enhance the inter personal competence and social functioning of individuals in groups and in community"

Social work as a profession attempts to handle the social problems in scientific manner. Its main objectives are to restore impared social functiong of individuals, groups and communities; to control and prevent such conditions that threaten effitive and satisfying social functioning, to conduct scientific investigation into causes, treatment and prevention of social ills and to suggest suitable modifications in exisiting social welfare policies and programs.

The founder of the institute Dr. D.V.P. Raja had a visionary idea of setting up an educational institution in the southern part of Tamil Nadu with a view to train young men and women in "Scientific Humanism".He set out in his mission for establishing an agency of like-minded dignitaries like Sir P.T.Rajan, Mr.M.B.S.Henry, Prof.S.Ramanathan, Dr.T.P.Mennakshi Sundaram, former Vice Chancellor, Madurai Kamaraj University, Dr.Aram, former Vice Chancellor of Gandhi gram University and others who stood by his side while doing the groundwork.

The Madurai Institute of Social Sciences, then called Madurai Institute of Social Work, was founded on 2nd october 1969 synchronizing with Gandhiji Centenary with a view to meeting a long left need of southern districts of Tamil Nadu. It was started as a post-graduate, single faulty institution of impart professional education and practical in social work to young persons, boys and girls, to equip them for positions like Labor Welfare/Personnel Officers in Industries; Medical and Psychiatric Social Workers in Hospitals and Clinics; Probation officers and Superintendents of Welfare Institutions like the Remand Homes; Vigilance Homes, Homes for the Beggars; Handicapped, the Aged, Orphans and the Destitute homes,Social Worker in Family and Child Welfare Agencies and Family Planning Bureau and Urban and Rural Welfare Organisations.