BSW Program Goals
(Approved by the Faculty: October, 2006)
- To engage ethically and critically in generalist social work practice.
- To engage in culturally competent practice that recognizes the importance of social and economic justice, diversity, and populations-at-risk.
- To prepare students to engage in public service and leadership that enhances the health and well-being of communities locally, nationally, and globally; and
- To ensure that students integrate the social work values and ethics as the cornerstone of the profession.
(Approved by the Faculty: October, 2006)
- Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with of all sizes;
- Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice;
- Apply social work values and ethical principles and standards to generalist social work practice;
- Practice with respect, knowledge, and skills related to client’s social status, race, color, gender, creed, sexual orientation, political orientation, disability, veteran’s status, age, marital status or parental status;
- Identify forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination.
- Apply strategies of advocacy and social change at all systems levels that advance social and economic justice as well as empowerment of clients;
- Demonstrate a working understanding of the parallel evolutions of social welfare and the profession of social work and its contemporary structures and issues;
- Apply bio-psycho-social-spiritual theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence that explains behavior at the individual and family levels;
- Apply macro level theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence the group, organizational and community levels;
- Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies;
- Identify the interconnectedness between policy and practice;
- Evaluate research studies, apply evidence based research findings to practice, and evaluate practice interventions;
- Engage in applied social work research and program evaluation.
- Apply technology and technological resources in generalist social work practice;
- Use effective oral and written communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities;
- Use supervision and consultation appropriate to generalist social work practice;
- Function within the structure of multidisciplinary organizations and service delivery systems and advocate for organizational change, when appropriate; and
- Develop knowledge and awareness of/and sensitivity to populations-at-risk, including rural communities, the working poor, religious minorities, new immigrants, Ozarkians, African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Persons, the elderly and persons with disabilities.