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Welcome to the Department of Social Work

Welcome to the Undergraduate Social Work Program at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University. The Student Handbook has been carefully designed for you. It is intended to serve as a general reference and a useful guide for all undergraduate students in Social Work. This handbook contains the university, school, and departmental official academic policies and procedures as well as sample copies of academic forms useful to you as a student here. Please refer to this handbook frequently to find answers for your many questions.

You are to be congratulated for selecting social work as your career choice. We will make every effort to make your educational experiences meaningful to your development as an effective professional. Our curriculum and co-curricular activities such as field trips to various agencies, professional conferences, and the Social Work Club serve to help prepare you for employment as a generalist social worker, and for advanced study.

We sincerely hope this information will assist you throughout your education and training at Alabama A&M University. We urge you to become familiar with the contents of this handbook. The handbook is not a replacement for the University catalogue, but designed to supplement the information available in the University catalog. Please feel free to contact any member of the Undergraduate Social Work Program if you have questions and/or suggestions. Again, we extend to you a most hearty and sincere welcome, and wish you a productive and rewarding experience with us.

  • Dr. Christopher Chacha, Interim Chair Department of Social Work
  • Valerie McDuffie, Program Coordinator
  • Donna Gibson, Field Coordinator
  • Marilyn Mabry, Faculty
  • Esophia Clayborn. Social Work Specialist
  • Janice Holman, Secretary

THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK MISSION

The mission of the Department of Social Work at Alabama A&M University is to prepare competent and ethnical BSW students for entry level generalist practice and competent and ethical MSW advanced level practitioners who are capable of and dedicated to life long learning, knowledge development and leadership in service to vulnerable individuals, groups, families, and organizations in rural and urban communities. This reflects the purposes of social work education EP (section 1.1), which are to prepare professional practitioners who are competent and ethical to develop knowledge and provide leadership in serving vulnerable and oppressed populations. Also to prepare professional practitioners who embrace the philosophical base that emphasizes respect for human dignity, the worth of the individual, and the right to self-determination; belief in the equality of all human beings; recognition of vulnerable and oppressed populations; respect for human diversity; recognition of the interdependence of people and of people with their environment; and a belief in the ultimate responsibility of society to meet human needs.

THIS MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED BY:

  • Promoting professional values and ethics;
  • Preparing professionals at the baccalaureate and master level who work to enhance the social functioning of individuals, groups, families, organizations, and communities;
  • Educating professionals who are committed to the worth of all individuals, and self-determination;
  • Preparing professionals who can use a variety of roles to enhance the social functioning of diverse populations;
  • Preparing professionals who can empower oppressed, vulnerable and disadvantaged populations in rural and urban communities;
  • Utilizing a curriculum that is relevant to the needs of the diverse populations served by graduates of the Department of Social Work;
  • Involving faculty and students in community activities, boards, and committees to advocate for the rights of all people to have equal access to community resources, social services and opportunities.

DEPARTMENT GOALS

The Department Goals are derived from the Department Mission and are consistent with the University and School of Arts and Sciences Missions and the Social Work profession. The Department Goals are to:

  1. Prepare students, particularly those from historically oppressed populations, for entry-level generalist social work practice at the baccalaureate level and advanced social work practice at the master level. These students will have values, knowledge and skills for competent practice with multi-level client systems, and diverse and at-risk populations in rural and urban communities.
  2. Recruit, retain and graduate beginning and advanced social work practitioners who are responsive to the needs of diverse, and/or at-risk populations and who can assist in the development, administration and evaluation of resources, services and agencies that meet the social welfare needs of vulnerable individuals, groups, families and organizations in rural and urban communities throughout Alabama and across regional, national and international boundaries.
  3. Create a supportive academic and professional environment that fosters student learning, professional growth, knowledge development, continuing education and life long learning.
  4. Educate students who are committed to the core values and ethical standards of the profession.
  5. Foster leadership and collaboration among faculty and students in providing services to and advocacy for the rights and needs of all people to have equal access to community resources, social services and opportunities.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the BSW program is to prepare students for beginning generalist professional social work practice with diverse, impoverished and oppressed populations in rural and urban settings.

Page last changed: April 15 2009 13:14:36
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