Field Education

Goals of the B.S.W. Program

The primary goal of the BSW program is to prepare students for generalist social work practice. A secondary goal of the BSW program is to prepare students for graduate study in social work and related fields.

Objectives of the B.S.W. Program

Graduates will be able to:

• Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
• Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly.
• Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
• Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
• Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues.
• Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work practice with systems of all sizes.
• Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.
• Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions.
• Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities.
• Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.
• Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change.
• Use opportunities for continuing professional education to enhance their professional development.

Five basic components of the B.S.W. Program prepare the student for practice as a generalist social worker:

1. Required liberal arts courses
2. Elective courses
3. Required social work courses
4. Social work elective courses
5. Supervised social work field education

Goal of the M.S.W. Program

The goal of the Master of Social Work Program of The University of Alabama is to educate social workers for advanced practice and leadership roles.

Objectives of the M.S.W. Program

To prepare graduates:

1. For advanced social work practice in a specialized area.
2. Who will provide leadership in planning, administering, delivering and evaluating social services.
3. Who will advocate for social causes and justice, and work on reform efforts.
4. Who will demonstrate a commitment to practice and service to benefit the poor, oppressed, and other socially disadvantaged people, and to work toward the elimination of poverty, oppressions, and discrimination.
5. Who value human diversity and display sensitivity to the uniqueness, commonalities and richness of cultures and their constituents.
6. Who are committed to the values and ethics of social work.
7. Who engage in a continuous process of professional development through systematic inquiry, analysis, reflection, and participation in organized professional educational opportunities.
8. Who will contribute to the development of the profession of social work within the state, region, nation and/or international communities.

Academic credit for life experience and previous work experience will not be given in whole or in part in lieu of the field education course or any other course in the M.S.W. program.