Social Work
Dr. Donald Kissinger, chair
Dr. Ricardo Chaparro-Pacheco, director
Fr. Luke Robertson, TOR
Mission Statement
Preparing professional Social Workers to put their faith into action, and to make God’s love visible for all peoples.
Aims
The Bachelor of Science degree in social work prepares students to become licensed social workers enabling them to help individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations function to the best of their ability. As a Catholic university, the Social Work Program at Franciscan University educates students to contribute responsibly to the social well-being of individuals, to the community as a whole, and to the effective functioning of families. The Social Work Program has been granted accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education, which means the curriculum combines the desire to help others with the knowledge, skills and values common to generalist social work practice. Also students may apply for advanced standing in master’s programs.
Career opportunities include employment in the following: mental health centers, health care institutions and hospitals, correctional institutions, and public and private agencies that provide assistance to individuals, families and groups. Graduates may apply to take the state license exam where it is appropriate for their state.
Program Goals
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To prepare our students for generalist social work practice with the skills, values, ethics, and professional knowledge to work effectively with diverse populations and at different levels; that is, individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations.
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To provide our students with a Catholic-inspired formation in liberal arts and scientific inquiry that meshes well with the professional foundation of social work and prepares them for entry-level professional practice, as well as admission into graduate education.
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To offer our students personal, academic, ethic and professional formation that encourages life-long learning and consistent reflexive practice and that empowers them to contribute to the growth of their profession as well as the betterment of their communities.
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To prepare our students to comprehend contemporary social issues, to respond to them with evidence-based, policy- and research-driven knowledge, and to understand how these changes might impact various populations.
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To ensure that our students develop the competencies of generalist social work practice at the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) level as described by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) in its Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS).
Social Work Course Descriptions