Purpose of the Profession of Social Work

€¢ Enhance human well-being and alleviate poverty, oppression, and other forms of social and economic injustice.
€¢ Enhance the social functioning and interactions of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities by involving them in accomplishing goals, developing resources, and preventing and alleviating distress.
€¢ Formulate and implement social policies, services, and programs that meet basic human needs and support the development of human capacities.
€¢ Pursue policies, services, and resources through advocacy and social or political actions that promote social and economic justice.
€¢ Develop and use research, knowledge, and skills that advance social work practice.
€¢ Develop and apply practice in the context of diverse cultures.

?BSW Program Goals
1. To provide a public access program with the goal of preparing generalist social workers who are informed and effective leaders in challenging injustice and promoting social and economic justice.
2. To prepare generalist social workers to practice competently with individuals, families, and groups through promoting well-being and self-determination.
3. To prepare generalist social workers to assume the role of change agent regarding issues, policies, and community needs that affect individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
4. To prepare generalist social workers able to work with a diversity of populations, integrating values, ethics, empirically informed practice, and service user input.
5. To provide a foundation for advanced study in social work and prepare generalist social workers to be reflective practitioners and lifelong learners.

A 2-3 page double-spaced personal essay about yourself that demonstrates your commitment to, and interest in, social work, social justice and social change. Please address the following 4 questions in your essay and relate how the goals of the BSW Program meet your life and professional goal(s).

Why have you chosen social work as a profession? How do your beliefs and life experiences reflect a commitment to social work? What strengths do you bring to the profession? (Relate to statement of social work purpose and program goals on preceding page.)

Please discuss your experience(s) with diverse individuals, groups, and/or communities. (Differences can include age, class, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, physical or mental abilities, sexual orientation, veteran status, etc.) How have these experiences shaped your identity and self-awareness?

Please discuss your experience(s) with diverse individuals, groups, and/or communities. (Differences can include age, class, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, physical or mental abilities, sexual orientation, veteran status, etc.) How have these experiences influenced your understanding of and commitment to social justice?

What does your academic performance say about you? How have you used feedback from mentoring, advising, or supervision to support your learning? Be specific.
Considering our program is full-time, very structured, and intense, how do you plan to manage your life responsibilities? What challenges do you foresee and what support systems do you have in place?