Social Work

Description

Social work is a fast growing profession. If you feel that God is calling you to help others and to work to make society a better place for all, social work may be for you.   The field of social work has many opportunities and social workers work in various settings.   Students who pursue social work as a profession will find multiple opportunities to help individuals, families, groups, and communities.

    The Social Work Program at North Central University will train students in the knowledge and skills of social work practice. The program is guided by a love for Christ and a commitment to service to God and to humanity. Our educational framework is based on the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) requirements, Christian values, the National Association of Social Work (NASW) Code of Ethics, the National Association of Christian Social Workers (NACSW) statement of faith and practice, a liberal arts foundation, as well as a biblical foundation. We value a holistic approach to social work that includes the mind (knowledge), the body (practice), and the spirit (faith).

Social Work Program Goals and Competencies:

Knowledge

Goal 1: Provide students with a sound base of knowledge that informs generalist social work practice.

Core Competencies: 

            Students will demonstrate competency in the following areas of knowledge:

            1) the history, philosophy, value, ethics and scope of practice of social work.

            2) the theories of human behavior in the context of person-in-in environment.

            3) the diverse nature of societies and culture and how that shapes the human                  experience.

            4) the history and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination.

            5) the complexities of populations at risk and underserved populations.

            6) the history of social welfare.

            7) contemporary issues related to social work.

            8) the importance of social policy in ensuring social and economic well-being.

            9) the theories and techniques related to generalist social work practice.

           10) research methods.

Skills

Goal 2: Foster the development of skills useful for academic and professional success.

         Core Competencies:

         Students will demonstrate competency in:

          1) critical thinking.

          2) communication in a variety of formats.

          3) using computers and other relevant technology.

          4) self-reflection and identifying personal biases.

          5) using strategies of ethical reasoning.

Application

Goal 3: Develop students who are socially minded and who can engage in generalist social work practice with diverse systems of all sizes.

         Core Competencies:

         Students will demonstrate competency in:

         1) appling social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.

         2) applying critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.

         3) engaging diversity and difference in practice.

         4) advancing human rights and social and economic justice.

         5) engaging in research informed practice and practice informed research.

         6) applying knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.

         7) engaging in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to               deliver effective social work services.

         8) responding to contexts that shape practice.

         9) engaging, assessing, intervening, and evaluating with systems of all sizes.

Integration

Goal 4: Develop students who adhere to the mission and values of the social work profession.

         Core Competency:

         To identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself  accordingly.

Goal 5: Develop students who integrate faith and practice while remaining sensitive to diversity.

         Core Competencies:

       Students will demonstrate competency in:

           1) applying the use of biblical values and ethics in generalist social work practice                 while remaining sensitive to the diverse nature of humanity.

           2) articulating a Christian world-view and critiquing issues in social work from a                 theologically-informed perspective.

           3) recognizing how the Christian worldview impacts social work practice.

Courses