MSW Goals
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School of Social Welfare
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School Goals

Goal 1: To prepare BSW and MSW students for competent, ethical and culturally informed  social work practice that focuses on the strengths of people, families and communities

Goal 2: To develop knowledge for the field of social work through basic and applied research/scholarship that informs effective and humane social work practice  policy.

Goal 3: To develop and disseminate knowledge that supports practice at the local, state, national and international levels and to advocate for socially and economically vulnerable individuals and families in our communities.

MSW Foundation Objectives

  1. Apply critical thinking skills and a critical perspective in the application of appropriate theories and knowledge to practice interventions.

  2. Understand the value base of the School and profession, the School's themes, and the ethical standards and principles of the profession; engage in social work practice in a manner consistent with all of these.

  3. Engage in culturally competent practice with diverse populations in regard to age, class, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender and sexual orientation.

  4. Understand the origins and effects of oppression and discrimination as well as multiple social work practice approaches that advance social and economic justice, with particular attention to populations-at-risk.

  5. Understand the history of social welfare and the social work profession and be able to apply this understanding to the analysis of new and emerging issues.

  6. Engage in practice from a strengths-based and generalist perspective with systems of all sizes continuously refining and advancing the quality of their practice as well as that of the larger social work profession.

  7. Critically analyze and apply knowledge of bio-psycho-social variables that affect the development and behavior of systems of all sizes, and use empirically supported  theoretical frameworks to understand the interactions among individuals and between individuals and social systems, including families groups, organizations, and communities.

  8. Analyze the impact of social policies on client systems, workers, and agencies, particularly as they relate to inhibiting or advancing social and economic justice, and demonstrate skills for influencing policy.

  9. Evaluate research as it applies to practice; and evaluate their own practice interventions and those of others.

  10. Communicate and practice with a wide range of client populations, colleagues, and community members, utilizing computing technologies as professional communication tools when appropriate.

  11. Use supervision and consultation appropriately.

  12. Engage in practice within organizations and service delivery systems and participate in necessary organizational and system change.

  13. Demonstrate the appropriate use of self in social work practice with systems of all sizes.

MSW Clinical Concentration

  1. Students will complete comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessments, articulate diagnostic impressions with a range of client systems and problems, and demonstrate culturally appropriate practice and consideration of client strengths in their formulations.
  2. Students will develop and implement appropriate intervention plans based on their assessment consistent with advanced understanding and integration of clinical practice theories, models, and empirical support.
  3. Students will demonstrate knowledge and skill in indirect practice to enhance service delivery and client well-being, with specific emphasis on social and economic justice and populations at risk.
  4. Students will demonstrate an integration of policy, research and practice knowledge in a particular field of practice.
  5. Students will critically analyze theoretical models of clinical practice in relation to challenging the dominant norms and world views that have served to marginalize and oppress persons on the basis of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, culture and other distinguishing characteristics.
  6. Students will engage in clinical social work practice in a manner consistent with social work values and ethics and the themes of the School using appropriate supervision and consultation.
  7. Students will evaluate the effectiveness of their clinical practice interventions by applying evaluation strategies to client outcomes, and subsequently using the feedback from those strategies to modify case plans on an ongoing basis.



Social Work Administrative & Advocacy Practice Concentration

The KU School of Social Welfare offers an advanced level MSW concentration in Social Work Administrative and Advocacy Practice. Students may complete this program in either Kansas City or Lawrence. The focus of this program is client and community centered administrative and advocacy practice. Specialized course content is delivered by qualified faculty in conjunction with experienced practicum field instructors.

By the end of the student’s course of study in the SWAAP concentration:

  1. Students will have the knowledge and skills to design or redesign a culturally appropriate, direct service program that maximizes client and community outcomes.
  2. Students will be able to plan and manage the finances of social work programs throughout all stages of the budget cycle such that high quality, culturally appropriate services are delivered.
  3. Students will demonstrate understanding of effective, culturally appropriate interventions in their field of practice, as well as the federal, state and local policies that shape these services.
  4. Students will be able to supervise staff of social work agencies; build teams and organizational cultures that maximize staff morale; and create healthy, supportive, and creative workplaces that reflect and engage community diversity.
  5. Students will be able to evaluate the impact of their management practices on client outcomes by learning to measure, collect and facilitate the use of culturally sensitive program information.
  6. Students will have the necessary administrative and advocacy practice skills to advance social and economic justice, as well as the skills to influence the effectiveness of services for culturally diverse populations at risk.
  7. Students will be able to engage in social work administrative practice in a manner consistent with social work’s values and ethics and the themes of the School.
  8. Students will have the knowledge and skills to implement the features of consumer-centered, culturally appropriate administrative practice
  9. Students will be able to engage in advocacy with and on behalf of vulnerable persons in pursuit of policies and appropriations that increase social and economic justice.