Mission Statement

The mission of the School of Social Work is to provide high quality social work education for generalist social work practice at the baccalaureate level, advanced practice and leadership at the master's level, and high quality general education courses. Our intent is to educate social work practitioners at both levels who are ethical, knowledgeable, and versatile in serving rural and urban areas throughout the region and state. Through collaborative efforts with community service agencies, social work professionals and organizations, the program educates social workers who will become lifelong learners and culturally competent practitioners who work to promote social and economic justice in an increasingly complex, diverse, and interconnected world.

The school faculty work with students to accomplish this mission by:

• providing the generalist social work knowledge, values and skills necessary to work with all size client systems in regional and national communities;

• enabling students to become aware of how their cultural background and personal values and beliefs impact their ability to help clients and build professional relationships;

• preparing students for entry level generalist professional practice and graduate social work education, including advanced standing;

• maintaining strong connections with the professional community and the social services system throughout the region and working toward improving those services;

• participating in the University's General Education program through course offerings.

The BA curriculum and the first year of the MSW curriculum are based upon competencies necessary for social work practice at the foundation practice level. The specialization year of the MSW curriculum prepares the student for advanced social work practice. Faculty members assess students’ progress in acquiring those competencies throughout their coursework, including all internship experiences. Please refer to the undergraduate and graduate Social Work Student Handbooks for more information.