The University of Mary Division of Social Work offers:

• Highly qualified faculty who have been recognized for their teaching, research, and community involvement.
• Participation in the Emerging Leaders Academy.
• Servant-leadership activities at local, regional, and global levels.
• Personal and humanitarian skills needed to bring forth positive aspects of justice for society.
• Participation in PACS, a division student service organization.
• Ethical decision-making and values-based leadership development.

Mission

We, the members of the University of Mary Department of Social Work, are dedicated to providing you a quality education in your preparation for work as a competent generalist practice, particularly in communities in the upper Midwest. The social work program is fully accredited at the baccalaureate level by the Council on Social Work Education. Our primary goals for the major are:

• To prepare you for entry-level generalist professional social work practice with individuals, families, groups, and organizations in both rural and urban settings.
• To prepare you for continuation of your professional education and training in graduate schools of social work.
• To prepare you as members of communities for leadership roles in addressing community and societal needs and issues.

Philosophy

We are committed to the development of competent and principled professionals who demonstrate service and leadership. We also seek to promote and model active lifelong learning and service to others.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the social work major, you will be able to:

• Apply generalist social work knowledge and skills to ecosystems of various kinds.
• Practice the values and ethics of the profession, especially in addressing respect for persons, diversity, and social and economic justice.
• Apply broad theoretical frameworks in understanding the functioning of individuals, families, groups, and communities.
• Use historical, social, and political contexts for understanding and intervening with individual and societal issues.
• Identify needs and concerns in human service delivery systems and seek ways to improve them.
• Communicate, orally and in writing, in a professional manner.
• Use effective thinking processes (analysis, creativity, problem-solving, decision-making) in all dimensions of professional practice.
• Practice self-evaluation as an integral part of professional and personal development.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with clients, supervisors and colleagues.

Faculty

James Renner, M.S.W. (Program Director); Lanette P. Dalley, M.S.W., Ph.D.; Nancy Kleingartner, M.S.W.