The Master of Social Work Program is committed to the promotion of human rights, social, economic, and environmental justice, and the elimination of poverty and oppression.
Through teaching, service, and scholarship, we strive to prepare competent, self-aware, ethical, and culturally humble integrated practice social workers, with diverse populations, advocating for the well-being of all people in our shared global community. As a reflection of its mission, the overall goals of the Master of Social Work Program are to:
- Provide advanced social work education incorporating theoretical knowledge and critical thinking within an advanced integrated practice framework; emphasizing an ecological strength-based community collaborative, empowerment model of practice to promote social, economic and environmental justice.
- Educate social work practitioners who are ethical, critical thinkers engaged in ongoing inquiry and life-long learning.
- Develop practitioners who provide autonomous social work practice and leadership in health, human service, and other community organizations, as well as in diverse communities to assist high need or at-risk populations.
- Infuse a critical understanding and practice of cultural humility in working with diverse groups, and to adapt social work knowledge and skills to meet the needs of disenfranchised and historically oppressed groups.
- Educate social work practitioners to use evidence and knowledge to improve the effectiveness of social work practice, policies, and programs.
- Promote the health and well-being of individuals, families, groups, and communities by advancing understanding of social determinants of health to ensure justice in a changing environment and in a global society.