The curriculum for the Social Work major is guided by nine holistic competency areas that reflect standards of the Council on Social Work Education and the Department’s mission and goals.  Curriculum is designed so that students, upon completion of the major, will be able to demonstrate the holistic integration and application of the competencies in practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

  • Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context;
  • Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations;
  • Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written and electronic communication;
  • Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes; and use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.

Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

  • Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo and macro levels;
  • Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences; and
  • Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.

Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic and Environmental Justice

  • Apply their understanding of social, economic and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels; and
  • Engage in practices that advance social, economic and environmental justice.

Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice

  • Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research;
  • Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings; and
  • Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy and service delivery.

Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice

  • Identify social policy at the local, state and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery and access to social services;
  • Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services;
  • Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic and environmental justice.

Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities

  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies; and
  • Use empathy, reflection and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.

Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities

  • Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies;
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies;
  • Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs and challenges within clients and constituencies; and
  • Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge and values and preferences of clients and constituencies.

Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities

  • Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies;
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies;
  • Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes;
  • Negotiate, mediate and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies; and
  • Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals.

Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations and Communities

  • Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes;
  • Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes;
  • Critically analyze, monitor and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes; and
  • Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo and macro levels.