ABOUT OUR ACCREDITATION
The Bachelors Degree in the Social Work (BSW) Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national organization responsible for insuring that Social Work Programs across the country are preparing the most skilled social workers possible. CSWE is recognized as the sole accrediting body for social work education in this country. Information about CSWE can be found at www.cswe.org. Full accreditation standards and an explanation of requirements related to reaffirmation can be downloaded from https://www.cswe.org/Accreditation/Standards-and-Policies/2015-EPAS.
PROGRAM MISSION
The mission of the Mansfield University Social Work Program is to prepare baccalaureate social workers in the betterment of society, guided by the knowledge, values and skills of the profession. Consistent with the mission of a small public university grounded in a liberal arts education, we are committed to promoting leadership development through character, scholarship, cultural awareness and service to humanity.
PROGRAM GOALS
The five Social Work Program goals derived from the mission statement are to:
- Educate future social workers who will lead the profession in service to their communities (local, regional and beyond).
- Provide an academically challenging curriculum that models the tenets, values and ethics that serve as a foundation for generalist social work practice.
- Promote social justice through critical inquiry.
- Provide field education that enhances the student's connection between theory and application, and increases awareness of diversity and research-informed practice.
- Promote diversity and cultural awareness through exposure to course content and cross-cultural activities and experiences.
PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
The program's curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for generalist practice through the mastery of core competencies, those measurable practice behaviors that are comprised of knowledge, values, and skills. The ten core competencies insure that students will:
Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
PROGRAM ASSESSMENT
The Social Work Program participates in assessment activities that are designed to continually assess and improve the curriculum. The ultimate goal of assessment activities is to enhance the curriculum in order to best produce students who are well prepared to enter the social work profession. This is accomplished through continuous examination of both the explicit and implicit curricula. The explicit curriculum consists of the program's formal educational structure and includes the courses required and their content. View current assessment data for the explicit curriculum (pdf). The implicit curriculum consists of the educational environment in which the explicit curriculum is offered and learning occurs. It is composed of elements such as the program's commitment to diversity, admissions policies and procedures, academic advisement, retention and termination policies, student involvement, faculty and resources. The implicit curriculum is as important as the explicit curriculum in shaping the professional character and competence of the program's graduates. View current assessment recommendations for the implicit curriculum (pdf). Questions regarding assessment information may be directed to Dr. Tiffany Welch, BSW Program Director.