2011-2012 Undergraduate Academic Catalog

Page 198 2011–12 Undergraduate Catalog Introduction Admissions Academic Information Academic Departments Course Descriptions Financial Information Appendix Index Department of Social Work | College of Health Professions Social Work The social work major prepares students for future ministries/ careers in professional social work, professional church and church-related specializations, and informal assistance. The wide range of opportunities within the social work field provides graduates with numerous ways of investing in the lives of individuals, families, groups, and communities. The social work program is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education. Social work graduates are eligible for licensure and for advanced standing in graduate schools of social work. Mission Statement The Cedarville University Department of Social Work develops competent servant leaders grounded in biblical truth to practice generalist social work in diverse settings worldwide advancing human and community well-being. Goals The goal of the social work program is ultimately to enable students to integrate the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession into competent practice by: 1. Providing content about social work practice from a generalist perspective with client systems of various sizes and types. 2. Preparing students with the skills, values, and knowledge to practice with diverse populations at risk. 3. Providing content about social contexts, the changing nature of those contexts, the behavior of organizations, and the dynamics of change. 4. Preparing students who are aware of their responsibilities to continue their professional growth and development. 5. Preparing students to practice with populations at risk with unique discrimination and oppressive histories (with a special focus on poverty). 6. Integrating biblical principles throughout the curriculum so that students can appropriately integrate their faith and that of their clients into the helping relationship. 7. Laying a foundation of core skills essential to a high caliber of social work practice (i.e., problem solving, listening, verbal and written communication, and critical thinking). 8. Creating an appreciation for the profession as well as an understanding of the history, personalities, and issues and events that helped to shape it. 9. Infusing throughout the curriculum the values and ethics that guide professional social workers in their practice. Objectives Graduates of the Cedarville University baccalaureate social work program will be able to: 1. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice. 2. Integrate Christian beliefs and values with professional social work values and ethics as set forth in the code of ethics. 3. Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to client’s age, class, color, culture, political ideology, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race religion, political and sexual orientation. 4. Identify the issues underlying the conditions of poverty, oppression, and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice nationally and globally. 5. Comprehend and interpret the history of the social work practice and its contemporary structures and issues. 6. Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work to practice with systems of all sizes and in the context of the church. 7. Apply knowledge of bio-psycho-social-spiritual variables and use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to interpret individual development and behavior across the life span and the interaction among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities. 8. Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies. 9. Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice under supervision, and evaluate their own practice interventions. 10. Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities 11. Utilize supervision and consultation appropriate to generalist practice. 12. Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and, under supervision, seek necessary organizational change.