The CSS Social Work Program has three goals and eleven specified educational outcomes that are used as guiding principles for evaluating program effectiveness. Students who graduate from this program have a grounding in liberal arts with a successively more advanced set of professional classes which lead to readiness for entry-level practice, community service and graduate education. The goals and outcomes specified by this program are as follows:

Goal One

The College of St. Scholastica Social Work Program prepares students for beginning generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities.

Objectives

Students will:

1. Apply the NASW Code of Ethics in academic and professional practice settings with an understanding of and respect for the positive value of diversity.
2. Understand the forms and mechanisms of discrimination and oppression, and with this understanding, participate in activities that promote social and economic justice.
3. Demonstrate the professional use of self.
4. Understand the bio-psycho-social-spiritual variables that affect individual development and behavior, and apply theoretical frameworks to understand the interactions among individuals and between individuals and their social environment.
5. Understand the development of social policies; analyze the affects social policies have on client systems, workers, and agencies; and develop advocacy skills to promote socially just policy development.
6. Demonstrate the ability to produce and effectively use social science research and, with supervision, evaluate their own practice interventions.
7. Demonstrate effective use of communication skills with varied and diverse client populations, colleagues and members of the community.

Goal Two

The Social Work Program will foster the mission of the College and the values from the Benedictine heritage: community, hospitality, respect, stewardship, and the love of learning.

Objectives

Students will:

1. Examine Benedictine values, personal beliefs and social work values, and develop an integrated personal and professional value statement.
2. Demonstrate personal and beginning professional contributions to the community through direct service, research, and modeling ethical behavior.
3. Engage in the political process by creating a sense of community while valuing the uniqueness of the individual.

Goal Three

The Social Work Program will prepare students for lifelong learning.

Objectives

Students will:

1. Demonstrate the ability to develop and maintain professional relationships, and continue professional growth and development.