Academic Programs - BASW
The Goals of BASW Program are to:
- Prepare graduates to engage in evidenced-based social work practice (with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations within a multicultural society) utilizing available technologies.
- Prepare students for continuing formal education in either graduate social work education or other graduate disciplines.
The BASW Program Faculty have defined "generalist practice" as:
The application of knowledge, values, and skills of the general method of problem-solving, which spans the processes of engagement, data collection, assessment, intervention, evaluation, and termination. Preparation in the general method focuses on the application of the method to client/consumer systems of various sizes (individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations). Key to this problem-solving approach is its applicability to multi-cultural contexts, focusing on the strengths inherent in clients/consumers' and systems. The ethics and values of the social work profession anchor this practice.
The BASW Program has also identified a number of more specific and measurable objectives that allow us to document progress toward attaining our goals. We expect graduates from the BASW Program to practice in a manner consistent with social work traditions, values, and ethics, as expressed in the NASW Code of Ethics.
Specifically, graduates from the BASW Program will be able to:
- Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
- Demonstrate their understanding of the value base of the profession (including its ethical standards and principles) and practice accordingly.
- Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients’ or consumers’ age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
- Recognize the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change which advance social and economic justice.
- Demonstrate their understanding of the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues.
- Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with client and consumer systems of all sizes.
- Utilize 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 and interventions.
- Use appropriate communication skills with client or consumer populations, colleagues, and communities.
- Engage in professional supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.
- Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change as appropriate.