MSW Program Mission

To prepare competent and ethical clinical social workers, for scientific inquiry, who are leaders committed to diversity, social and economic justice, and the enrichment of the quality of life, with systems of all sizes, at every level of society.

Goals:

1. Prepare professional clinical social workers, who are able to develop knowledge for competent, effective, and ethical autonomous social work practice and the development of service delivery systems.
2. Prepare students for professional clinical social work practice through the study of its history, purposes, philosophy, and theoretical and practice frameworks.
3. Prepare students who will provide leadership in the effective and ethical clinical social work practice with diverse populations and systems of all sizes, to alleviate poverty and oppression, and to provide social and economic justice for all citizens at the local, national, and global levels.
4. Provide students with content about the social contexts of clinical social work practice, the changing nature of those contexts, the behaviors found in systems, and the dynamics of change.
5. Prepare students who will demonstrate a commitment to continue life-long learning and professional growth.

Foundation Objectives:

1. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.  EP3.0-1, Goals, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
2. Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly. EP3.0-2, Goals 1, 2, 3
3. Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.  EP3.0-3, Goals 1, 2,3, 4, 5
4. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and the strategies of change that advance social and economic justice.  EP3.0-4, Goals 1, 2, 3, 4,  5
5. Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues.  EP3.0-5, Goals 1, 2, 4, 5
6. Apply the knowledge and skills of a generalist social work perspective with systems of all sizes. EP3.0-6, Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
7. Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities.  EP3.0-7, Goals 1, 4, 5
8. Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies. EP3.0-8, Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
9. Evaluate research studies and apply findings to practice and evaluate their own practice interventions.  EP3.0-9, Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
10. Use communication skills differentially with a variety of client populations, colleagues, and communities.  EP3.0-10, Goals 1, 3, 4
11. Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.  EP3.0-11, Goals 1, 4, 5
12. Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems, and seek necessary organizational change. EP3.0-12 – Goals 1, 2,3, 4, 5

The MSW Clinical Concentration Objectives

Students will be able to:

1. Complete comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessments and articulate diagnostic impressions with a range of client systems and problems, demonstrating they have taken into consideration client strengths and diversity in their formulations. Goals 1, 2, 3 and 4
2. Develop and implement appropriate intervention plans consistent with advanced understanding and integration of clinical practice theories and models. Goals 1, 3
3. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in leadership to enhance service delivery and client well-being through indirect practice modalities such as advanced policy, practice and program evaluation. Goal 3
4. Critically analyze theoretical models of clinical practice in relation to challenging the dominant norms and world views that have served to marginalize and oppress persons on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, culture, and other distinguishing characteristics. Goal 2
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of their clinical practice interventions by applying systematic evaluation strategies to client outcomes, and subsequently using the feedback from those strategies to modify case plans on an ongoing basis. Goal 1
6. Develop and promote self-awareness including the professional use of self to engage and work with diverse client populations. Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5