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Professional Foundation
Program Objectives

1. The ability to apply critical thinking skills within social work practice contexts.
2. An understanding of values and attitudes as a professional social worker.
3. The ability to apply NASW Code of Ethics to multi-faceted ethical dilemmas.
4. The ability to practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients' age, family structure, marital status, class, culture, ethnicity, race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation and disability.
5. The ability to understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
6. The knowledge of social work history and current issues in the profession.
7. The knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
8. The knowledge and skills of a generalist perspective to practice with systems of all sizes.
9. The skills to assess the impact of social problems on individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
10. The knowledge of theoretical frameworks on individual development and behavior across the life course and the interactions among and between individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
11. The ability to analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.
12. The knowledge of research methods that enable them to be critical consumers of research and evaluate their own practice.
13. The competence to communicate across client populations, colleagues, and communities.
14. The ability to use the expertise of supervisors and other colleagues for ideas, feedback, and support.
15. The competence to work with an organization and to facilitate organizational changes.

Concentration Objectives

Within this broad social justice framework, second-year advanced-standing MSW students must complete a generalist advanced practice concentration in one of three social problem areas: (1) Child, Youth, and Family Welfare; (2) Health, Aging, and Disability, and (3) Mental Health. In addition, students complete a Macro Practice Elective and two "free electives." Within each concentration, we expect students to acquire:

1. The advanced practice knowledge and skills to practice and promote the values and ethics of the profession.
2. The ability to intervene in complex direct practice situations involving individuals, families, and groups.
3. The ability to practice as an autonomous social worker.
4. The ability to provide leadership roles involving supervision, administration and management, policy development and implementation, program evaluation, advocacy and community organizing.
5. Expertise in applying practice theory and research relevant to the populations and/or problems addressed in the concentration.
6. The advanced practice knowledge and skills to practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients' age, family structure, marital status, class, culture, ethnicity, race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation and disability.
7. The ability to understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice relevant to the concentration.
8. The ability to apply knowledge of human behavior and social problems relevant to the concentration.
9. The ability to apply knowledge of social services, policies, and programs, relevant to the concentration including, the identification of gaps, barriers, and alternatives.
10. The ability to critically evaluate and utilize theoretical and empirical research relevant to the problems and/or populations addressed in the concentration.

For more information about the three concentrations, please click on one of these links:

Mental Health Concentration
Health, Aging and Disability Concentration
Child, Youth and Family Welfare Concentration

Please also review the School of Social Work's Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.