VISION STATEMENT

Leaders in promoting social justice and enhancing quality of life through innovative education, research and service.

MISSION STATEMENT

Prepare ethical and effective social workers and scholars who become leaders in the promotion of social justice, engage in best practices in the delivery of human services, contribute to shaping more just social policies, and devote their careers to finding the most effective means of serving those in need.  The School emphasizes life-long learning, evidence-based practice, and understanding and respect for the unique social, political and cultural diversity of the Southwest.

The School achieves its mission by
1. Providing innovative educational programs that produce effective social work professionals, leaders and scholars dedicated to creating a more just and humane society;

2. Conducting research that illuminates the causes and consequences of social injustices, seeks effective solutions to complex social problems, and provides effective means to implement these solutions in social policies and social work practice; and

3. Engaging in service that promotes social justice, enhances quality of life, and creates a more humane society.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

 MSW Program Goals

1. Prepare culturally competent, effective, ethical advanced social work practitioners in direct practice with specialized knowledge and skills in health/behavioral health, children, youth and families, public child welfare, and in macro practice with specialized knowledge and skills in planning, administration, community practice, and who understand and respect human diversity;

2. Prepare graduates who understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and therefore advocate for social and economic justice;

3. Prepare graduates who understand and employ the tenets, values and ethics that serve as the foundation for advanced social work practice;

4. Prepare graduates for social work leadership positions in which they can develop and deliver effective programs for meeting the needs of vulnerable populations; and

5. Prepare graduates who are committed to lifelong enhancement of their personal and professional development through continuing education, and who possess research and evaluation skills to advance evidence-based practice.

MSW Program Objectives

Objective 1 Apply critical thinking skills within an ecological and strengths perspective framework, including synthesizing and applying appropriate theories and knowledge of practice interventions.

Objective 2.  Practice within the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles. To practice with respect for the positive value of diversity, particularly as it relates to the populations of the Southwest.

Objective 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.

Objective 4.  Understand the forms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.

Objective 5.  Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and social welfare in the United States and its contemporary structures and issues.

Objective 6.  MSW: Apply the knowledge and skills of a generalist social work perspective to social work practice with systems of all sizes.

Objective 7.  Critically analyze and apply knowledge of theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

Objective 8.  Analyze the impact of social policies on client systems, workers and agencies and demonstrate skills for influencing policy formulation and change. 

Objective 9.  Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, demonstrate skill in quantitative and qualitative research design and evaluate their own practice.

Objective 10.  Use communications skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities.

Objective 11.  Use supervision and consultation appropriate to advanced social work practice.

Objective 12.  Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change.

MSW Advanced Practice Objectives:

Objective 1. Plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions through the application of critical thinking skills, review of evidence, synthesis of information, and development of a clear rationale for guiding practice.

Objective 2.   Demonstrate appropriate professional use of self and ethical problem solving in advanced practice.

Objective 3. Evaluate and apply culturally relevant theories and empirical evidence to assessment and intervention in area of specialization.

Objective 4.   Demonstrate culturally responsive skills in individual, family, and group assessment and interventions in area of specialization.

Objective 5.   Advance social justice using principles of cultural competence and empowerment to promote organizational and social change.

Objective 6.  Analyze the impact of social policies on social and economic justice, and demonstrate skills for influencing policy in area of specialization.

Advanced Generalist Program Objectives

1.   Identify needs of emerging and underserved populations.

2.   Exercise creativity and leadership in applying and developing services to identify and address   needs.

3.   Communicate with clients and mobilize resources necessary to implement relevant services, programs, advocacy, and/or policies.

4.   Assume differential roles appropriate to the practice situations.

5.   Acquire expertise with regard to a particular population or issue and transfer the process used to other emerging populations or issues.

6.   Locate, evaluate, and apply evidence-based practices.

7.   Contribute to the creation and dissemination of knowledge by designing, carrying out and publicly presenting applied research.

8.   Demonstrate depth in therapeutic interventions with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

9.   Demonstrate depth in administrative skills and knowledge of organizational dynamics.

10. Demonstrate depth in policy analysis, development and practice.

11. Demonstrate depth in professional autonomy, leadership and creativity

MSW Planning, Administration and Community Practice Objectives:

Objective 1.  Apply critical thinking skills in the application of organizational and management theory, planning theory, political theory and citizen/consumer participation theory to professional social work practice in organizations and communities.

Objective 2. Demonstrate skills in culturally responsive program planning, agency management, and community and policy practice, particularly as it relates to the unique social and cultural diversity of the southwest.

Objective 3. Demonstrate ability to use planning, policy analysis, administrative and community technical skills necessary for culturally competent professional social work practice.

Objective 4. Demonstrate strategies and skills that advance social and economic justice.

Objective 5. Demonstrate analytical and advocacy skills for influencing policy formulation, implementation, and change.

Objective 6. Demonstrate ability to incorporate social work values and ethics in program planning, agency management, and community and policy practice.

Objective 7. Evaluate the impact of existing organizational and program design, social and agency policies, and community policies and practices on consumers, workers, and agencies and demonstrate skills for redesigning these to promote positive change.

Objective 8. Demonstrate skills to assess needs of target populations and to evaluate the effectiveness of organizational, community and policy level interventions.

Objective 9. Demonstrate ability to apply planning, administration, policy and community practice knowledge and skills to practice situations.

Objective 10. Demonstrate skills in supervision and consultation appropriate to advanced practice in planning, administration, policy and community work.

BSW Program Goals

 The goals of the BSW program are to:

1. Prepare culturally competent, effective, ethical social work generalist practitioners who understand and respect human diversity, and who are committed to creating a more humane and just society;

2. Prepare graduates who understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and therefore advocate for social and economic justice;

3. Prepare graduates who understand and employ the tenets, values and ethics that serve as the foundation for social work practice; and

4. Prepare graduates who are committed to lifelong enhancement of their personal and professional development through continuing education and as educated consumers of research.

BSW Program Objectives

Objective 1.  Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.

Objective 2.  Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and 
principles, and practice accordingly.

Objective 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.

Objective 4.  Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice and a more humane society.

Objective 5.  Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues.

Objective 6.  Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with systems of all sizes.

Objective 7.  Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individuals’ development and behavior across the lifespan and the interactions among individuals, and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Objective 8.  Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.

Objective 9.  Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate one’s own practice interventions.

Objective 10.  Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities.

Objective 11.  Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.

Objective 12.  Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change to enhance human well-being.

Objective 13.  Understand and be aware of responsibility to continue professional growth and development.

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