The Master of Social Work program strives to prepare students for social work leadership roles in the effort to solve, in partnerships with others, the existing and developing challenges that confront communities in the United States and internationally. Community partnerships, based on a generalist practice model, is the sole focus of the M.S.W. program. Students in the Community Partnerships specialization are educated to advance the needs and capacities of the total community by promoting social and economic justice and maximizing human potential. They are educated to commit themselves to addressing the life circumstances, such as poverty, violence, discrimination, and disparities in social and economic justice that fall disproportionately on vulnerable groups and challenge the spirit of the entire community. This unique focus provides students with the opportunity to learn about social issues facing urban communities through a social and economic justice framework. Our graduates have become leaders in various service delivery sectors including health care, public child welfare services, non profit management, and numerous other contexts. To accomplish the mission of the M.S.W. program, the School of Social Work has set forth these goals: (1) students will be able to think critically and communicate effectively in the application of social work knowledge, skills, and values to community partnerships practice; and (2) students will be able to engage as social work leaders to build and strengthen communities.

The Bachelor of Social Work is the entry-level degree, and the B.S.W program provides a solid educational experience for entry-level social work practice. Through course work, internships, and involvement in other school and university opportunities, our graduates find employment in a variety of human service contexts and choose to enroll in graduate programs for social work and related disciplines. The B.S.W curriculum provides students with theory for understand human functioning across a variety of different contexts and social settings. In addition, students are taught methods of intervention for practice with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations. The curriculum is organized around competencies and practice behaviors that promote knowledge and skill development in critical thinking and ethics, intervention approaches with diverse populations of clients, understanding of human functioning and the social environment, and practice evaluation and research. In addition to their coursework, students complete an internship that promotes the integration of their academic content within the context of a social service setting.

The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program strives to prepare students for social work leadership roles in the effort to solve, in partnerships with others, the existing and developing challenges that confront communities in the United States and internationally. Community partnerships, based on a generalist practice model, is the sole focus of the M.S.W. program. Students in the Community Partnerships specialization are educated to advance the needs and capacities of the total community by promoting social and economic justice and maximizing human potential. They are educated to commit themselves to addressing the life circumstances, such as poverty, violence, discrimination and disparities in social and economic justice that fall disproportionately on vulnerable groups and challenge the spirit of the entire community. This unique focus provides students with the opportunity to learn about social issues facing urban communities through a social and economic justice framework. Our graduates have become leaders in various service delivery sectors, including health care, public child welfare services, non profit management and numerous other contexts.