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disabilities, physical illnesses or disabilities, substance use issues, or who are involved with the criminal
justice system. In focusing on marginalized groups, the student is educated in the use of an expansive
repertoire of practice skills and methods to serve individuals, families, groups, communities, and
organizations for the purpose of promoting well-being, personal growth, and social justice. These skills
include policy advocacy, brokering, consultation, individual, family, and group work, mediation, research,
supervision, and education.
Social work is deeply rooted in a rich, 100-year history of service; the role of the professional social worker is
not limited or traditionally defined. The role of the social worker is constantly expanding into new and
innovative service fields as a compassionate response to human need when indicated. Graduates of our program
will typically find employment in several fields of practice that include, however are not limited to, the
following: child welfare/protective services worker, alcohol/substance abuse counselor, school social worker,
behavioral health/family services practitioner, medical/rehabilitation worker, juvenile/adult justice worker,
program developer, agency manager/administrator, volunteer coordinator, employee assistance program
coordinator/worker, grassroots community organizer, and/or legislative advocate.
The Master’s degree in social work (MSW) offered by our department is designed to prepare advanced
social work practitioners for autonomous practice. They will obtain the values, knowledge and skills to meet
complex client needs within diverse public and private human service settings and perform in a variety of
roles using multiple social work practice methodologies. The goal of this course of study is to prepare the
student learner for advanced social work practice at multiple levels of intervention as well as for possible
doctoral study in social work and related human service professions.
MSW Program Mission
Grounded in the liberal arts and guided by a person-in-environment framework, we prepare diverse MSW
students for culturally responsive, advanced multisystemic practice and leadership in the Central Valley, the
state, and globally, enabling them to ethically, proactively, and effectively dismantle systemic oppression
through service, relationship building, dialogue, advocacy, critical knowledge, diversity, and empowered
collective action.
MSW Program Goals
1. Grounded in the liberal arts, the program trains students to acquire culturally responsive advanced
knowledge and skills in social work. It integrates course content and field experiences using advanced
multisystem and social justice frameworks to engage in empowered collective action that promotes the
strengths and resiliency of the people with whom we work.
2. To prepare practitioners to be leaders in their respective social work positions from an advanced
multisystem approach, consistent with social work values and ethics, promoting inclusiveness, equity, and
justice when working with increasingly complex, culturally, linguistically, economically, racially, socially,
sexually, and gender-diverse communities.
3. To prepare our students to have a deeper understanding of the root causes of oppression and to bridge
micro, mezzo, and macro contexts to proactively and effectively address social problems and dismantle
social oppressions in their chosen settings.
4. To prepare our students to have a deeper understanding and respect for DSWE values of social justice,
diversity, empowerment, leadership, and dialogue.
5. To prepare our students to engage in critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and best practices by proactively
using research-informed practice and practice-informed research when providing service.