School of Social Work

Mission Statement

The mission of Northeastern State University’s (NSU) Department of Social Work is to academically prepare competent and effective professionals; particularly first generation college students who desire to enter generalist social work practice.  Along with our academic program’s accessibility, our curriculum is designed to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills, and values of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) competencies and behavioral indicators with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.  These key foundations prepare our graduates to practice social work in a wide range of agencies and allied settings with diverse client systems and people.  Our academic program has a unique focus in its integration of addressing social work practice with Native American populations, and the option to specialize in child welfare leadership.

Student Learning Outcomes

Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

• 1.1 Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional coes of ethics as appropriate to the context.
• 1.2 Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations.
• 1.3 Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication.
• 1.4 Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes.
• 1.5 Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.

Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

• 2.1 Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
• 2.2 Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences.
• 2.3 Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.

Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social Economic, and Environmental Justice

• 3.1 Apply their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels.
• 3.2 Engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice.

Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice

• 4.1 Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research.
• 4.2 Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings.
• 4.3 Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery.

Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice

• 5.1 Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services.
• 5.2 Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services.
• 5.3 Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.

Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

• 6.1 Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies.
• 6.2 Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.

Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

• 7.1 Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies.
• 7.2 Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies.
• 7.3 Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies.
• 7.4 Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies.

Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

• 8.1 Student will critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies.
• 8.2 Student will apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies.
• 8.3 Student will use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes.
• 8.4 Student will negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies 8.5 Student will facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals.

Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

• 9.1 Student will select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes.
• 9.2 Student will apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes.
• 9.3 Student will critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes.
• 9.4 Student will apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

General Social Work - 10 hours (9816)

• SOWK Electives (3000/4000 level) - 6 hours
• Advanced Electives (3000/4000 level) - 4 hours
  (Select from American Indian Studies, Psychology, Social Science, and/or Social Work)

Child Welfare Specialization - 10 hours (9817)

Complete 9 hours from the following:

• SOWK 4513 - Child Maltreatment
• SOWK 4523 - Child Welfare
• SOWK 4533 - Youth Offenders
• SOWK 4633 - Family and Child Welfare Services

Note: May include 3 hours of 3000/4000 level electives in Social Work, Psychology, Social Sciences or American Indian Studies with approval by a Child Welfare Specialization faculty advisor.

Complete 1 hour from the following:

• SOWK 4751 - Workshop - Select from the following titles:
• Native American Leadership
• Leadership & Supervision
• Indian Child Welfare

Transfer Agreements

• TCC Human Services-Pre-Social Work AS to NSU Social Work BSW

There are no minors related to this degree.

There are no certifications related to this degree.