Mission

The mission of the social work program is to prepare social work practitioners who demonstrate and practice the critical thinking skills, values, ethics, and knowledge delineated by the CSWE guidelines and the NASW Code of Ethics.

The department of social work draws upon the University of West Florida’s mission, “To empower each student with knowledge and opportunity to contribute responsibly and creatively to a complex world” through the promotion of social justice, guided by a global prospective, dedicated to a diverse student body and a commitment to the dignity of all people; the department seeks through education, research, and service to produce students of competence and commitment, reflecting excellence in social work practice and demonstrating professional skills, values, and knowledge delineated by CSWE guidelines and the NASW Code of Ethics. We intend our graduates to carry out the University of West Florida’s value of integrity: Doing the right thing for the right reason.

The mission of the Department of Social Work is highly congruent with the mission of the University and the College of Professional Studies. In preparing graduates to assume professional positions of leadership, dedicated to working for social justice, and committed to the need to advocate for vulnerable populations puts into practice the University mission of contributing responsibly to a complex world.

Goals and Objectives

1. Maintain excellent BSW and MSW programs that provide an educational program which prepares generalist practitioners at the BSW level and advanced clinical-community social work practitioners at the graduate level who are prepared with an understanding of the profession’s history, purpose and philosophy and committed to the profession and to working with systems of various sizes including individuals, families, and groups.
2. Continue to promote a culturally diverse, student-centered, learning environment devoted to the needs and interests of our student body where students can integrate the knowledge, values, ethics and skills of the profession into their practice and to assume positions of leadership.
3. Collaborate with and serve the region, the university, the public, voluntary agencies, and the global community as a resource for current, relevant and quality social work education.
4. Contribute to the development and application of knowledge in social work practice by supporting the teaching, scholarship and community service of the faculty.