College of Health and Human Services - Social Work Student Learning Outcomes

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 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. 

·         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. 

·         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.

·         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.

·         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.

·         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.

·         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.

·         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.

·         Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.