The department of social work at Niagara University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the baccalaureate level and offers a program leading to the bachelor of science degree in social work.

Mission Statement

The Social Work Department at Niagara University is committed to the creation of a just and compassionate world, where human dignity and cultural diversity are restored, preserved and celebrated, and where social and economic choices and opportunities are fairly distributed among all members of our diverse and interconnected world. Education for social work is accomplished through a curriculum that combines a solid liberal arts perspective with social work foundation courses. Within the social work curriculum, our special concern is for poor and at-risk populations living in our region and beyond.

Given this commitment, the mission of the Social Work Department at Niagara University is the preparation of competent generalist social work practitioners capable of empowering practice with diverse client systems of all sizes and types, who act ethically, who think critically, who participate actively within the community, and who are committed to social and economic justice. Consistent with the Vincentian tradition of Niagara University, students and faculty engage in social service and social action activities to benefit at-risk populations and impoverished communities.

The Department’s Goals

There are five goals derived from the Department’s Mission Statement:

• Prepare competent generalist practitioners who are grounded in liberal arts and who integrate social work knowledge, values and skills with diverse client systems of various sizes and types
• Prepare graduates with special skills and knowledge to empower populations-at-risk and the poor
• Provide a foundation for graduates to demonstrate commitment to social and economic justice through active citizenship, social policy activism, and through improving social service delivery systems
• Provide a foundation for students to demonstrate concern for poor and at-risk populations in service learning and extra curricular service activities
• Prepare graduates for employment in entry-level generalist social work practice and graduate education.

Graduates of the Niagara University Department of Social Work will demonstrate mastery of the following nine CSWE Core Competencies as operationalized by the accompanying suggested Practice Behaviors:

Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

Associated practice behaviors:

1. Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context.
2. Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations.
3. Demonstrate professional demeanor in
   • behavior;
   • appearance; and
   • oral, written, and electronic communication.
4. Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes.
5. Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.

Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

Associated practice behaviors:

1. Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
2. Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences.
3. Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.

Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice

Associated practice behaviors:

1. Apply their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels.
2. Engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice.

Competency 4: Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice

Associated practice behaviors:

1. Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research.
2. Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings.
3. Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery.

Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice

Associated practice behaviors:

1. Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services.
2. Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services.
3. Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.

Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Associated practice behaviors:

1. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multi-disciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies.
2. Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.

Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Associated practice behaviors:

1. Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies.
2. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies.
3. Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies.
4. Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies.

Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Associated practice behaviors:

1. Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies.
2. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies.
3. Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes.
4. Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies.
5. Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals.

Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Associated practice behaviors:

1. Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes.
2. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes.
3. Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes.
4. Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

Admission Procedures

Students go through two separate admissions procedures as they progress through the department’s degree program. Initially, students apply for entry into the preprofessional foundation sequence. After successful progress in the preprofessional foundation sequence, students apply for entry into the professional foundation sequence. These admission procedures are described in the baccalaureate social work student handbook.

Bachelors

Minor

Courses