The primary objective of the BSW curriculum is to prepare students for beginning professional social work practice. Students are educated to be generalist practitioners. Generalists have the expertise to analyze practice situations by taking into account characteristics of individuals who may be experiencing problems, while at the same time, evaluating the role that other systems such as the family, peer groups, organizations, the community and larger society play. In designing and carrying out interventions, the generalist may work directly with individuals experiencing problems in the familiar counseling capacity, but the generalist frequently employs other strategies such as linking people to services, advocating for change in unresponsive organizations, developing new programs and working with others to change social policies at the local, state and national levels. The generalist must be able to work with a diversity of populations and problems.
BSW Program Goals
(Formally adopted by Social Work Faculty on February 4, 2004)
BSW Program Objectives:
Preparation for generalist practice involves developing a constellation of values, knowledge and skills. This preparation includes understanding of human development over the life course, of people as individuals and participants in larger systems, of social policy and societal institutions, of the value base which underlies and drives the social work profession, and of the range of practice skills necessary for conducting and evaluating generalist practice. Social work focuses on the interaction between the person and society. Social and economic justice, discrimination, and system barriers that prevent people from reaching their potential are central issues to social work practice.
The current CSWE accreditation standards require that all BSW programs must:
The curriculum leads to a BSW degree. This signifies that the program is much more than a major. The program begins from a liberal arts base. All social workers need an understanding of basic principles of the social, behavioral, and natural sciences and an appreciation for human culture through literature and the arts. Instead of the traditional major-minor designation used in many curricula, the program employs a major in Social Work coupled with an interdisciplinary cluster.
The Human Behavior Cluster consists of seven courses selected to promote an understanding of human behavior from several vantage points including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and biology. The cluster emphasizes human diversity across cultures. Courses in sociology and economics provide a foundation for understanding issues of social and economic justice and social welfare policy. Social workers must be able to think critically about practice and policy issues, so the cluster includes courses designed to develop critical thinking and analysis skills in social science research methods. These courses also deepen awareness of population groups who are vulnerable in our society such as people of color, women, and gay and lesbian persons.
The social work major builds on the knowledge base provided by other disciplines through the cluster minors. In the major, students apply this knowledge base to the development of social work practice skills, knowledge and values. It is important to understand that the curriculum is not simply an aggregate of courses, but an integrated sequence of courses that provide the knowledge, values and skills required for social work practice. Students are required to complete courses in a particular order so that upper division courses may build on a common knowledge base from earlier courses. For example, if all students in an upper division practice course have completed a basic course in statistics, in research methods, and an introductory practice course, then all students can be expected to gather and analyze data as part of a course project in the advanced course. Because proper sequencing of the curriculum is important, the Council on Social Work Education expects that accredited programs have and follow an organized curriculum plan.
CURRICULUM CONTENT AREAS
When courses are listed according to course numbers and university designated categories such as Liberal Studies, major, minor, and electives, the conceptual organization of the curriculum may not be readily apparent. However, the courses required of all BSW students can be sorted into nine general content areas:
Social Work Ethics and Values: Coverage of ethics and values is not limited to specified courses in our curriculum model. Instead, the content is infused throughout all social work courses. Value issues begin to be addressed in liberal arts courses as part of the liberal studies program. The pre-admission courses provide an in-depth coverage of professional values and an exploration of personal values as they relate to working in this field. Each subsequent course in the social work major includes content on ethics and values within the context of the primary topic for that course.
Human Diversity: As professionals who are prepared to work in a multi-cultural society, it is essential that social workers be knowledgeable about and have a respect for human diversity. The program provides content on the similarities and differences in the experiences, needs, and beliefs of people. Although all social work courses address diversity to some extent, several courses have been selected for inclusion in the cluster minors to specifically address this issue. In addition one social work practice methods course focuses on diversity issues in practice. Course especially important to this area include:
Social and Economic Justice: A central role of social work is promoting the human operation of social, economic, and political systems so that people may achieve their life tasks, develop their potential, and experience respect and dignity. In order to work toward such goals, social workers need to understand mechanisms of oppression and discrimination as well as having knowledge and skills for changing conditions in order to promote justice. Many courses address these issues to some extent, but certain courses focus heavily on social and economic justice.
Populations at Risk: The program provides content about patterns, dynamics, and consequences of discrimination, deprivation, and oppression. How these issues impact on vulnerable groups such as people of color, women, and gay and lesbian persons is critical to professional social work practice.
Human Behavior and Social Environment: These courses provide a common knowledge base for social work practice in terms of understanding humans as biological, psychological, and social beings who shape and are shaped by a social environment. A general systems perspective is used to organize knowledge of people as individuals, as members of families and groups, and as participants in larger societal systems such as organizations and communities.
Social Welfare Policy and Services: These courses provide a knowledge of social policy issues that confront our society, an introduction to policy analysis skills, and an appreciation for the importance for taking an active role in policy making as social work professionals.
Research Methods: Social research courses permit social workers to read, understand, and evaluate knowledge generated by social research. They develop the capacity to apply basic research procedures to social work practice functions such as conducting community needs assessments, monitoring client change, and performing program evaluations. The skills taught in these courses promote critical thinking skill development.
Social Work Practice: These courses present a model of generalist social work practice. As students progress through the sequence of courses, they are first introduced to the concept of generalist practice and then, in advanced courses, study and practice a variety of intervention strategies. Upon completion of this sequence of courses, the student should be prepared to apply an array of interventions, both direct and indirect, that require working with individuals, groups, and community systems. Practice methods courses are open only to declared social work majors who have been admitted to the advanced program.
Field Practicum: Field Instruction takes place throughout the senior year. Students are assigned to a field setting on a concurrent basis with the senior level social work practice, policy and evaluation courses. Field instruction is not simply agency experience. Students are expected to complete various assignments for social work classes while in the field. In addition to the senior placement, students participate in field observation activities during the pre-admission introductory courses.
