Program Goals - Undergraduate
Goal A:
To graduate generalist social workers at the baccalaureate level who have the knowledge and skills to improve well-being for individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Program Goals - Graduate
Goal B:
To graduate clinical social workers who have the knowledge and skills for advanced practice in rural environments to improve the well-being for individuals, groups, organizations and communities.
Program-Level Goals
Goal C:
To support local social service providers through collaborating with regional stakeholders and by providing consultation, research, and other assistance.
Goal D:
To promote the core values of the social work profession (service, social and economic justice, dignity and worth of all persons, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence) in local, regional, and global environments.
GOAL E:
To generate new knowledge that offers solutions to social problems and addresses the needs of underserved populations.
Why Choose the OU Social Work Program
The OU social work program is unique; characteristics and features are listed below:
- The university is located in the heart of Appalachian Ohio, and the program has a focus on rural social work in the Master’s curriculum and a rural component tied to many of the undergraduate classes.
- The programs are situated in the College of Health Sciences and Professions which provides opportunities for cross-disciplinary research, course selection across related disciplines, and exposure to college-wide events that focus on emerging practices in the health care arena, international study opportunities, and global health care.
- Class sizes are smaller (20-35 students), and each student has a relationship with a PhD faculty advisor for assistance with course planning and selection.
- Courses are scheduled sequentially and at a frequency of one time per year, which creates a cohort of students who share the same experiences within the classroom and in field. This contributes to a sense of community.
- All students participate in an applied research project.
- The program participates in the Freshman Learning Communities, which provide a built-in social support network for newly enrolled students.
- The program provides maximum participation by students in the field placement process and in choosing the field placement.
- Student Social Work Association and Phi Alpha (honor society) are active associations under the auspices of the social work program.
- The program participates in the Honors Tutorial Program for highly motivated and independent scholars.
- The program has five regional undergraduate social work programs that serve all areas of southern Ohio. Convenient enrollment and participation is possible at these five campuses in Lancaster, Zanesville, St Clairsville, Ironton, and Chillicothe, which offer the BSW and BASW degrees.
- The program offers exposure to community-based research projects conducted by social work faculty, and program faculty are in partnership with the university’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs.