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Program Overview
Purpose
The Masters of Social Work Program at CU views social work as a helping profession sanctioned by society to assist in the elimination of human suffering. Social work evolved from natural helping networks into a profession designed to systematically address social problems and human needs. In order to achieve this purpose, the profession takes two approaches:
(1) To work to change social institutions, organizations and communities to better meet the needs of people and
(2) To help people identify and utilize their own strengths and to connect them with the resources which they lack.
The MSW Program responds to a need in continuing education throughout life and provides students an opportunity to attain a master degree that prepares them for leadership, program development and administration. This preparation is accomplished through graduate studies with attendance and participation in local, regional, state, and national conferences.
The MSW program prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings with a variety of client types and systems. Models emphasizing the ecological and strength perspectives are infused throughout the educational experience. Using these models within a Christian / Social Work value base, graduates are prepared to provide assessment and intervention transactions with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program is to expand career opportunities and prepare family practitioners and/or global social service providers and/or administrators through academic preparation in a Christ-centered environment. In the spirit of Christian service, graduates apply advanced level professional social work skills in regional, national and/or international settings for the purposes of improving the quality of life.
Goals and Objectives
Guided by the mission of this new master’s program and influenced by the missions of Campbellsville University, the Master’s of Social Work, the social work profession and the needs of the local, regional, state and international communities, the MSW program strives to attain the following goals:
1) To prepare advanced level social workers to lead and serve as advanced level practitioners, service coordinators, service administrators, policy analysts’ and program developers.
2) To equip graduates with advanced social work knowledge, values and skills in preparation for service with diverse, at-risk, marginalized, oppressed populations which exist in rural, urban, national and international locations;
3) To prepare social work practitioners that are skilled in evaluation and linking empirical knowledge, social work practice wisdom, social research and practice outcomes;
4) To stimulate a desire within graduates for the pursuit of life-long-learning and Christ-centered service.
These program goals are in addition to those conveyed in the undergraduate foundation and they build onto the generalist foundation in preparing advanced level social workers. As such, the undergraduate foundation is provided in the first year of this masters program incorporating increased rigor that is befitting graduate level knowledge and skills development.