social work

Program Director’s Message

Welcome to Jarvis Christian University (JCU) and the Social Work Program. In June 2019, the academic program was accredited by the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE).  The Social Work core course requirements at the junior and senior levels lead to the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree.

The Mission and Goals

The mission of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program at Jarvis Christian University is to prepare competent generalist social work practitioners for entry into the social work profession.  These practitioners will apply the values of the social work profession to address the needs of individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities within the context of social, economic, and environmental justice for those oppressed and through interaction with multiple social service agencies in the regional, national, and international communities.  The goals of the Social Work Program at Jarvis Christian University are to:

Prepare students for entry-level generalist social work practice with client systems of all sizes and types, primarily concerned with the complexity of human diversity in rural and urban settings.

Socialize students with values and ethics of the social work profession as a guide to social work practice.

Provide study of theories and facts comprising knowledge base of human behavior and social environment with emphasis on populations-at-risk, human diversity, social and economic inequities nationally and globally.

Provide the study of the complexity of social service programs and the political and legislative processes used in developing and implementing social policy.

Provide orientation of social research methods, tools, and procedures used to measure social behavior and social work practice.

Provide application of generalist practice methods with client systems in diverse settings.

Prepare students with a solid educational foundation that will foster a commitment to continuous personal and professional development, and advanced training, especially for those who want to pursue graduate education.

Jarvis Christian University's Generalist Social Work Definition

Generalist social work practice serves client systems utilizing an ecological approach focusing on persons, families, groups, organizations, and communities. A narrow cadre of theories does not confine it; instead, it is versatile enough to allow problems and situations, as well as strengths, capacities, and resources, to determine the practice approach. Generalist social work practice employs a problem-solving framework and broad knowledge, value, and skill base, which demands ethical practice and ongoing self-assessment.  Generalist social work practice is:

• Multi-level to include individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
• Multi-theory, allowing for the free selection of theories as appropriate.
• Problem identification and solving focus that follows a problem-solving framework.
• Utilizing interventions at multiple levels as appropriate.
• Addressing the complexity of individual, family, group, organizational, and community system interactions.
• Requiring integration of awareness, competence, and professional response to issues of values, ethics, diversity, culture, social justice, and populations at risk.

The curriculum comprises a liberal arts base and courses addressing the profession's knowledge, skills, and values. Preparation for a career as a generalist practitioner in Social Work is augmented by a supervised field practicum of 450 clock hours.

Janice Toliver-King, MSW

Program Director