Social Work - MSW

Mission

The mission of the MSW program is to develop skilled and compassionate professionals who provide comprehensive and culturally sensitive clinical care using an evidence-based approach. We prepare students to practice in increasingly complex healthcare environments with the purpose of improving people’s quality of life and enhancing human potential for full, productive participation in society. Graduates are expected to become agents of change with excellent client care skills, to value diversity and inclusion, and advocate to promote economic and social justice for individuals, groups and communities, in particular those who are underserved. 

Learning Objectives

Graduates of the MSW program will be able to:

• Critically analyze and use evidence to guide decision-making and apply clinical skills to promote best practices.
• Use knowledge of social work practice theories and policy frameworks and evidence-based practice to develop strategies to promote high quality care, innovation, and organizational change, targeting social justice and promotion of human rights.
• Work in inter-professional teams to develop a compassionate and culturally sensitive, patient-centered approach to health care.

Goals

The MSW program has 10 goals that are derived from the program’s mission. The goals, listed below, guide and encapsulate the essence of learning. They define what we intend to achieve in order to fulfill our mission.

• Fostering respect and appreciation for diverse viewpoints and differences among people, including respect for and active pursuit of diverse sources of knowledge and ways of knowing.
• Fostering respect for human rights and a commitment to ensuring the human rights of clients and communities, including a commitment to fighting for equality and welfare for all people.
• Fostering a critical consideration of ethical principles in social work practice at micro, mezzo and macro levels and in daily life.
• Fostering a commitment to intervene against racism and all forms of discrimination, with dedication to self-reflection and recognition of one’s own privileges, social locations and biases.
• Fostering a dedication to critical thinking and an ability to analyze and deconstruct narratives and practices supportive of oppression, discrimination and other forms of injustice.
• Fostering an appreciation of the interconnectedness of local and international issues and histories and a dedication to fighting for global sustainability.
• Fostering a commitment to professional and personal growth and lifelong learning with dedication to providing the highest quality of professional services to clients and communities.
• Fostering a dedication to providing the highest quality of service to clients and communities, with attention to working across micro, mezzo and macro levels.
• Fostering an appreciation for learning, developing and providing interventions and programs with the highest effectiveness for diverse clients and populations, with attention to those who are most vulnerable.
• Fostering a commitment to service and leadership within one’s professional and community roles, including a dedication to building understanding and collaboration among people in all spheres of practice and service.

The MSW curriculum and learning, designed in accordance with the policies and standards of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), aligns with a competency-based education framework.