Mission Statement

The mission of the department of social work is to provide students with a liberal arts education grounded in the values of the social work profession and the Benedictine traditions of respect, service and justice. The purpose of this program is to develop students' abilities to become competent, ethical leaders of the social work profession.

Definition of Social Work

The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilizing theories of human behavior and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.

-The International Federation of Social Work

Goals and Objectives of the Social Work Department

Goal 1. The social Work program will prepare baccalaureate social work graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills for competent, ethical generalist practice.

Goal 2. The Social Work program will prepare graduates with multi-cultural, local and global perspectives that are committed to generalist professional practice that promotes personal, social, political and economic empowerment with systems of all sizes.

Goal 3. The Social Work program will provide a curriculum which incorporates the values of a liberal arts education with the Benedictine values of respect, service and justice, and social work professional values, knowledge and skills.

Objectives:

Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly.
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.
Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and it's contemporary structures and issues.
Apply the knowledge and skills of a generalist social work perspective to practice with systems of all sizes.
Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.
Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions.
Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities.
Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.
Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change.

As a result of meeting the above goals and objectives, the Social Work Program will prepare students for social work licensure and continuing advanced education, in social work or related fields.