West Chester University - College of Business & Public Affairs

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Social Work

Introduction to Social Work

Students at Kennet Middle School participating in the cross-cultural service-learning project, Spring 2009

BSW Students at Kennett Middle School, cross-cultural service-learning project, Spring 2009

The primary purpose of the Undergraduate Social Work Department is to develop students' competence in generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and larger societal systems. Consistent with the program's mission, both classroom courses and a range of required field learning activities systematically expose students to entry-level generalist practice with multiple sized social systems. Attention is paid to assisting students with the integration of curriculum content and experiences, and with taking increasing responsibility for evaluation of their own professional development and personal growth.

In summary, generalist professional social work practice is conceptualized in the following manner.

Professional helping involves the use of the problem-solving method in a planned and systematic way. This includes the interactional process, assessment, planning, implementing plans, terminating and evaluating results. This method occurs within the values of the profession in a variety of settings.
There is a core of skills in each of the mentioned areas of the problem-solving method. These include such things as interviewing, recording, clarifying, contracting, mediating, advocating, and providing information, among others. These skills are used in ways dictated by the NASW Code of Ethics.
The problem-solving method and its component skills are used in many systems. These are taught on client, action, target, and change agent systems. Generalist entry-level professional social workers know how to use core skills differently in ways appropriate to each system.