Social Work MSW

Program Purpose

The mission of the School of Social Work at BYU is to support the overall mission of BYU and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by generating new knowledge and by educating and training students to use the appropriate clinical knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession to serve children and families within their environments and the context of their specific cultures.

Curricular Structure

MSW Information

The Program of Studies

Accrediated by the Council on Social Work Education. Last Reaffirmation June 2013

The School of Social Work is committed to the general objective of the social work profession, which is to promote the welfare of society by enhancing the social functioning of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The goal of the MSW program is to prepare students for the practice of clinical social work, with an emphasis on work with the family and children. The School of Social Work offers a core curriculum in the basic knowledge, values, and skills essential to all social work practice.

One graduate degree is offered in the School of Social Work: Social Work -- Master of Social Work (MSW).

Approximately 40 students are admitted to the MSW program each fall semester. Candidates usually pursue the degree over a contiguous 22 month period, which includes, 1,050 clock hours of field practicum.

The curriculum is designed around a bio-psycho-social-spiritual approach to practice within an integrated framework of ecological systems theory. This approach allows the social worker to be responsive to the special issues of diversity in a pluralistic society.

 

Links
Department Information
Graduate Catalog
MSW Student Handbook
Program Details
Program of Study

Program Purpose

Learning Outcomes

CSWE 2022 Competency 1: Ethical and Professional Behavior

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.

Links to BYU AIM: Character Building (integrity, social justice)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 200 SOC W 360 SOC W 580 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 660 SOC W 661 SOC W 666 SOC W 669 SOC W 680R
Linked to BYU Aims: Character Building
CSWE 2022 Competency 2: Human Rights and Justice

2. Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Links to BYU AIM: Spiritually Strengthening (importance of human relationships, inherent dignity & worth of the person) and Character Building (integrity, social justice)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 200 SOC W 331 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 620 SOC W 623 SOC W 630 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 664
Linked to BYU Aims: Character Building
CSWE 2022 Competency 3: Diversity

3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice

Links to BYU AIM: Spiritually Strengthening (importance of human relationships, inherent dignity & worth of the person) and Character Building (integrity, social justice)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 200 SOC W 331 SOC W 360 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 620 SOC W 623 SOC W 624 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 667 SOC W 676 SOC W 682 SOC W 683
Linked to BYU Aims: Character Building
CSWE 2022 Competency 4: Research Skills

4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.

Links to BYU AIM: Intellectually Enlarging (competence)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 570 SOC W 602 SOC W 603 SOC W 606 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 624 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging
CSWE 2022 Competency 5: Policy Practice

5. Engage in policy practice.

Links to BYU AIM: Lifelong Learning and Service (service)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 200 SOC W 331 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 620 SOC W 623 SOC W 630 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 664
Linked to BYU Aims: Lifelong Learning and Service
CSWE 2022 Competency 6: Engage

6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Links to BYU AIM: Lifelong Learning and Service (service)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 360 SOC W 570 SOC W 580 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 622 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 660 SOC W 663 SOC W 666 SOC W 674 SOC W 675 SOC W 676 SOC W 682
Linked to BYU Aims: Lifelong Learning and Service
CSWE 2022 Competency 7: Assess

7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Links to BYU AIM: Spiritually Strengthening (importance of human relationships, inherent dignity & worth of the person) and Intellectually Enlarging (competence)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 360 SOC W 570 SOC W 606 SOC W 611 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 622 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 667 SOC W 671 SOC W 674 SOC W 676 SOC W 680R SOC W 683
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging
CSWE 2022 Competency 8: Intervene

8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Links to BYU AIM: Lifelong Learning and Service (service)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 360 SOC W 570 SOC W 611 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 624 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 661 SOC W 663 SOC W 674 SOC W 680R SOC W 682 SOC W 683
Linked to BYU Aims: Lifelong Learning and Service
CSWE 2022 Competency 9: Evaluate

9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Links to BYU AIM: Intellectually Enlarging (competence)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 602 SOC W 603 SOC W 606 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 669
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging

Learning Outcomes

CSWE 2022 Competency 1: Ethical and Professional Behavior

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.

Links to BYU AIM: Character Building (integrity, social justice)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 200 SOC W 360 SOC W 580 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 660 SOC W 661 SOC W 666 SOC W 669 SOC W 680R
Linked to BYU Aims: Character Building
CSWE 2022 Competency 2: Human Rights and Justice

2. Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Links to BYU AIM: Spiritually Strengthening (importance of human relationships, inherent dignity & worth of the person) and Character Building (integrity, social justice)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 200 SOC W 331 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 620 SOC W 623 SOC W 630 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 664
Linked to BYU Aims: Character Building
CSWE 2022 Competency 3: Diversity

3. Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice

Links to BYU AIM: Spiritually Strengthening (importance of human relationships, inherent dignity & worth of the person) and Character Building (integrity, social justice)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 200 SOC W 331 SOC W 360 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 620 SOC W 623 SOC W 624 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 667 SOC W 676 SOC W 682 SOC W 683
Linked to BYU Aims: Character Building
CSWE 2022 Competency 4: Research Skills

4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.

Links to BYU AIM: Intellectually Enlarging (competence)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 570 SOC W 602 SOC W 603 SOC W 606 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 624 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging
CSWE 2022 Competency 5: Policy Practice

5. Engage in policy practice.

Links to BYU AIM: Lifelong Learning and Service (service)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 200 SOC W 331 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 620 SOC W 623 SOC W 630 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 664
Linked to BYU Aims: Lifelong Learning and Service
CSWE 2022 Competency 6: Engage

6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Links to BYU AIM: Lifelong Learning and Service (service)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 360 SOC W 570 SOC W 580 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 622 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 660 SOC W 663 SOC W 666 SOC W 674 SOC W 675 SOC W 676 SOC W 682
Linked to BYU Aims: Lifelong Learning and Service
CSWE 2022 Competency 7: Assess

7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Links to BYU AIM: Spiritually Strengthening (importance of human relationships, inherent dignity & worth of the person) and Intellectually Enlarging (competence)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 360 SOC W 570 SOC W 606 SOC W 611 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 622 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 667 SOC W 671 SOC W 674 SOC W 676 SOC W 680R SOC W 683
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging
CSWE 2022 Competency 8: Intervene

8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Links to BYU AIM: Lifelong Learning and Service (service)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 360 SOC W 570 SOC W 611 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 624 SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 661 SOC W 663 SOC W 674 SOC W 680R SOC W 682 SOC W 683
Linked to BYU Aims: Lifelong Learning and Service
CSWE 2022 Competency 9: Evaluate

9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Links to BYU AIM: Intellectually Enlarging (competence)

Courses that Contribute: SOC W 602 SOC W 603 SOC W 606 SOC W 614R SOC W 615R SOC W 654R SOC W 655R SOC W 669
Linked to BYU Aims: Intellectually Enlarging

Evidence of Learning

Direct Measures

The program assessment plan utilizes three measures, each conducted at multiple points over a two year period. The first measure, a one-group posttest design, includes student evaluation by faculty in courses where each of the practice behaviors within the 9 competencies are taught. Individual courses from the foundation- and advanced-practice-level years then aggregate to give an overall course evaluation at graduation. The second measure entails field instructors' assessments of students' during their field internship. Finally, the third measure consists of self-assessments by students in their field internship. The second and third measures use a two-group posttest design to assess student competence in each of the 9 competencies, with their corresponding practice behaviors, at the end of the foundation and advanced practice field internship experiences.

Indirect Measures

1. Semiannual review of each student by faculty.

2. Feedback solicited on a regular basis from key stakeholders (advisory council, faculty, field supervisors, agency directors).

Evidence of Learning

Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement

The assessment data (both direct and indirect) are stored on-line in the main office. These data are analyzed and summarized by the School Director and presented to the faculty each year at an annual retreat. Further, the last part of each faculty meeting (held monthly) is set aside to discuss student issues. From the ensuing discussions, appropriate plans are made to revise the curriculum and improve student learning. In addition, course corrections are made periodically throughout the year as a result of recommendations from the curriculum and other faculty committees.

Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement