Social Work

Overview

Social workers also work with community stakeholders, organizations, neighborhoods and communities, and in activities such as community organization and development, policy and legislative advocacy. They are employed in a wide variety of agencies, positions, and areas of service, such as mental health, aging services, domestic violence, child welfare, school social work, healthcare services, geriatric social work, and substance abuse treatment and prevention. In addition, social workers may advance to positions of management of social service agencies or establish their own private practice. The uniqueness of social work as a profession includes the emphasis on the person-in-environment, identification with the most marginalized and oppressed of society, and commitment to core values of social work-social and economic justice, respect for the worth of others, cultural diversity, and the principle of self-determination for individuals, families, and groups. At both the BSW and MSW level social workers may be licensed for social work practice within their state. 

The BSW degree also allows students to apply for Advanced Standing in the MSW Program.

The Master of Social Work Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas prepares students for professional social work careers in the areas of direct practice with individuals, families, and groups, and in management and community practice. The mission of the MSW program is to educate students to work with populations in urban settings, utilizing generalist, problem-solving, empowerment, and social justice approaches. Special attention is given to the mastery of multiple practice issues, attendant upon the present plural and diverse populations in American society. Students may elect Direct Practice or Management and Community Practice as their area of concentration. The Direct Practice concentration prepares students for advanced social work practice with individuals, families, and groups. The Management and Community Practice concentration prepares students for advanced practice in policy advocacy and management of human service organizations and agencies at the local, state and national levels.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.

• Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context;

• Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations;

• Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication;

• Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes; and

• Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.