Department of Social Work seeks to prepare students in the following ways: The Goals of the Bachelor of Social Work Program

• The program will produce competent beginning level social work practitioners who identify as a professional social worker, who understand and can apply critical thinking skills to enhance human well-being, alleviate poverty and oppression and promote social and economic justice through advocacy at all levels of practice;
• The program will prepare students to use an ecological systems perspective and a problem-solving approach in their practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities;
• The program will prepare students to practice in a variety of geographical areas, with an understanding of the social and cultural diversity that exists nationally and internationally;
• The program will prepare students to practice in a manner consistent with the values and ethics of the profession and demonstrate self-awareness of personal values in order to maintain the primacy of professional values in guiding practice;
• The program will use available opportunities, resources, supervision and consultation to continue students’ professional development through career-long learning;
• The program will prepare students for policy practice and enable them to help develop and implement policies that advance social well-being;
• The program will prepare students to demonstrate effective oral and written communication in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and colleagues;
• The program will prepare students to engage diverse client groups, assess client needs using a person-in-environment perspective, utilize existing interventions, or create new interventions tailored to meet specific client needs, and to conduct ongoing evaluation of their own practice; and
• The program will prepare students to engage in research-informed practice and to use evidence-based practice to generate new research to improve practice, policy, and social service delivery.