Social Work, B.S.W. - Major Code 9815

Mission Statement

The mission of Northeastern State University’s (NSU) Department of Social Work is to academically prepare competent and effective professionals; particularly first generation college students who desire to enter generalist social work practice.  Along with our academic program’s accessibility, our curriculum is designed to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, and values of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) competencies and behavioral indicators with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.  These key foundations prepare our graduates to practice social work in a wide range of agencies and allied settings with diverse client systems and people.  Our academic program has a unique focus in its integration of addressing social work practice with Native American populations, and the option to specialize in child welfare leadership.

 SOCIAL WORK GOALS

In keeping with our mission, the goals of the social work program are:

1. To educate diverse social workers for beginning generalist social work practice.
2. To provide an accessible social work academic program.
3. To prepare social workers to practice with diverse populations and systems.
4. To develop social work leaders in child welfare social delivery systems.

SOCIAL WORK OBJECTIVES

Graduates of the NSU Social Work Program will be able to:

1. Identify as a professional social work and conduct oneself accordingly.
2. Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
3. Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
4. Engage in diversity and difference in practice.
5. Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
6. Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
7. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
8. Engage in policy practice to advance social economic well-being and to deliver social work service.
9. Respond to contexts that shape practice.
10. Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate individuals, groups, or organizations, and communities.
11. Demonstrate a competent level of cultural awareness in the provision of services for Native American populations.

Curriculum Policy Statement and Curriculum Design

The NSU Bachelor of Social Work Program curriculum is based upon the accreditation standards set forth by our accrediting professional body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).  These standards, along with their accompanying behavioral indicators, are integrated throughout our core and elective course offerings; conclude with all components being demonstrated in the student field education experience:  the program’s signature pedagogy.

Program Outcome Evaluation

Program outcomes are assessed on a bi-annual basis per a formally designed assessment plan.  The plan is comprised of student course evaluations addressing the competency standards and behavioral indicators, faculty committee evaluations, qualitative/quantitative exit interviews of graduating seniors, and the Baccalaureate Education Assessment Project (BEAP).