EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE BSSW PROGRAM
The overarching goal of the baccalaureate degree program is to graduate students who will demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge, ethical values and skills of the profession, be grounded in the profession’s history, purposes and philosophy and practice social work in an ethical manner, helping to alleviate social and economic injustice as engaged, socially responsible citizens in a rapidly changing world.

BSSW Program Goals

Goal I: To prepare students for beginning generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.
Goal II: To prepare students for social work practice with diverse populations and cultures.
Goal III: To prepare students in the use of social work research to inform and evaluate practice.
Goal IV: To prepare students for development of a professional identity in concert with social work ethics.
Goal V:  To prepare students to promote social and economic justice for disenfranchised groups through social change and advocacy.

BSSW Program Objectives

The program’s twelve objectives support the achievement of its five goals. The program is designed to ensure that each course includes one or more student learning outcomes that will introduce, reinforce, and provide a means of assessing students’ mastery of program objectives.

Objective 1. Demonstrate critical thinking in social work practice.
Objective 2. Support and uphold professional social work standards, values and ethics in social work practice.
Objective 3. Practice with respect and skill related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation and demonstrate knowledge of regional special populations including the elderly and those who are physically or mentally challenged.
Objective 4. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and practice without discrimination and use appropriate social work interventions including political and case advocacy to advance social and economic justice.
Objective 5. Understand the history of the social work profession and its current structures and issues.
Objective 6. Use the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice in assessing the strengths, needs, and challenges of systems of all sizes and apply empirically based interventions to facilitate planned change.
Objective 7. Use empirically based theories of bio/psychosocial/spiritual/cultural development to understand human behavior in the social environment with individuals, families, groups and communities.
Objective 8. Analyze the adequacy and effects of social policy on client populations, colleagues, agencies and communities to formulate appropriate policies in response to human needs.
Objective 9. Utilize social work research skills and knowledge to evaluate practice and program effectiveness.
Objective 10. Exercise effective communication skills with a variety of client populations, colleagues, and members of the community.
Objective 11. Exercise use of supervision and consultation to guide social work practice.
Objective 12. Understand and function within the structure of public or private organizations and service delivery systems, seeking organizational change when necessary.