Undergraduate Program

Millersville's social work baccalaureate program first received CSWE accreditation in 1981 and is currently accredited through June 2011.

The social work program at Millersville University leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree in social work. Based on the general education curriculum, the social work curriculum is designed to prepare students for beginning professional practice in social agencies and other settings where social workers are employed. The program educates the general practitioner; therefore, it is built on basic required courses. However, it also allows students to explore areas of interest through elective courses and field instruction assignments, preparing them for Social Work careers.

The mission, goals, and objectives of the Social Work Program at Millersville University are embedded in and express the mission of the University, the mandate for baccalaureate social work programs delineated by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), and the values and ethics of the social work profession.

SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM MISSION, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION

Social Work Department Mission
Affirming the mission of Millersville University, the Social Work Department provides a learning environment designed to prepare social work practitioners as lifelong learners able to live in an increasingly diverse, multicultural, and technologically complex society. Building on a liberal arts foundation, we seek to develop educated, ethical, productive professional social workers able to meet human needs, enhance human well being, and promote social and economic justice through generalist social work practice and social action.

Social Work Program Goals and Objectives
Goals of the Social Work Program are listed below, with objectives most closely related to each. Many objectives relate to multiple goals. Numbers of the relevant CSWE CPS objectives are listed for each program objective. For reference the list of CSWE CPS Objectives/Outcomes B5.7.1-B5.7.12 is presented at the end of this chapter with the MU Social Work Program Objectives most closely related to each.

MU SW Program Goal 1: To help students integrate liberal arts and professional knowledge, values, and skills into competent beginning generalist practice.

MU SW Program Objective: graduating social work majors can:

  1. Understand and explain the generalist model of practice and the bio-psycho-social-spiritual theoretical/empirical frameworks underlying this model (B5.7.6, .11)
  2. Identify and assess social work-relevant situations (B5.7.1,.6,8);
  3. Develop and implement plans for improving the well-being of people, groups, communities, and society (B5.7.6, .7)
  4. Empower and enhance the problem solving, coping, and developmental capacities of people (B5.7.6, .7)
  5. Link people with systems and systems with people (B5.7.5, .6, .7)
  6. Evaluate the effect of intervention efforts (B5.7.1, .9);

MU SW Program Goal 2: To sensitize students to issues of human diversity and populations at risk, and assist them in pursuing equity in professional and institutional relations.

MU SW Program Objectives: graduating social work majors can:

  1. Appreciate the contributions made by diverse groups in a heterogeneous society (B5.7.5, .10)
  2. Empower oppressed people to use their specific social and cultural resources to enhance their problem solving, coping, and developmental capacities (B5.7.4);
  3. Pursue equity for oppressed people within generalist practice, including attention to institutional policies and procedures. Taking appropriate initial steps in specific situations (B5.7.4, .8, .10).

MU SW Program Goal 3: To prepare students to understand social policy issues and participate in efforts directed toward their resolution.

MU SW Program Objectives: graduating social work majors can:

  1. Intervene effectively on behalf of all clients by creating more justice, equity, and responsiveness in service systems (B5.7.2, .4)
  2. Identify leverage points and processes available to entry level professionals for promoting effective and humane operations of systems (B5.7.9, .12)
  3. Plan how to improve service, resource, and opportunity systems and how to participate actively with others in bringing about change (B5.7.8, .9, .12)

MU SW Program Goal 4: To prepare students to be ethical practitioners.

MU SW Program Objectives: graduating social work majors can:

  1. Uphold the standards and ethics of the profession (B5.7.2,.3).
  2. Accept responsibility for working with others to improve the quality of life for all people (B5.7.4, .10);
  3. Understand the importance of developing their own skills, knowledge, and values (B5.7.3);

MU SW Program Goal 5: To motivate and prepare students for continuing professional development and education.

MU SW Program Objectives: graduating social work majors can:

  1. Evaluate research studies and apply findings to practice; engage in research with others (B5.7.1);
  2. Identify with the developing social work profession (B5.7.3,.5);
  3. Find and utilize resources for their own education (B5.7.11).

The curriculum is designed to help students integrate knowledge and theories from many academic disciplines with social work concepts, values and practice skills. Courses in the social work program attempt to develop an understanding of the human condition and human diversity.

The social work major needs to understand biological, psychological, and socio-cultural aspects of human development; characteristics of human interaction with the social environment; the role, structure and function of social welfare policies and programs; social work intervention methods; and social work research findings and methods.

In addition to theoretical instruction, students are given ample opportunity for practical experience. The experiential requirements begin in the introductory courses and carry through to formal work in advanced courses. The culmination is a year-long practicum experience -- 40 hours during fall semester and 450 hours during spring semester -- wherein the student can integrate knowledge and skills in a social agency or other social service setting in the community.

A formal screening and selection process takes place for each student prior to placement in a social service setting for field instruction. Qualifications are based on academic performance, oral and written communication skills, demonstrated ethical behavior, values and commitment to social work as a career. The social work faculty has the right to dismiss from the program at any time students found not qualified for social work practice.