Bachelor of Social Work

Consistent with its mission and guiding principles, Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to academic excellence and continuous quality improvement, as supported by a sound teaching-learning process. Within this process, students and instructors share responsibility for learning that is a movement from the simple to the complex, the concrete to the abstract, and the dependent to the independent. The Academic Learning Compact (ALC) initiative supports the teaching-learning process by clearly identifying expected core student learning outcomes in the areas of content/discipline knowledge and skills, communication skills, and critical thinking skills; aligning curricula with expectations; and using assessment to guide continuous improvement.

Graduates will be able to:

• Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
• Engage in diversity and difference in practice.
• Advance human rights and social justice.
• Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
• Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
• Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Content/discipline knowledge and skills are assessed at the program levels. Instructors assess knowledge of ethical standards in SOW 2031 Social Work and Social Welfare. Practice skills are assessed in the three practice courses offered: SOW 3300, 3322, and 4332; and in field internships under a qualified supervisor (SOW 4060 and SOW 4061). Instructors in SOW 3322 Social Policy evaluate the student's progress after the completion of the final advocacy project demonstrating required knowledge. Field instructors and field coordinator evaluate applied competencies in SOW 4060 and 4061 Field Education I and Field Education II. Instructors in social work research assess the final research assignment, which demonstrates the required research skills.

Graduates will be able to:

• Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
• Engage in diversity and difference in practice.
• Advance human rights and social justice.
• Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
• Respond to contexts that shape practice.
• Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Communication skills are assessed as part of the General Education Program through papers, exams, and projects completed in ENC 1101 Composition I, ENC 1102 Composition II, and HUM 2510 Understanding the Visual and Performing Arts. Differential communications skills are assessed in the internship (Field Education I and II – SOW 4060 and SOW 4061) and by the instructors of the three practice courses: SOW 3300 Individuals and Families, SOW 3322 Groups and communities, SOW and SOW 4332 Community and Organizational Development.

Graduates will be able to:

• Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgment.
• Engage in diversity and difference in practice.
• Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
• Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
• Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
• Respond to contexts that shape practice.
• Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Critical thinking skills are assessed as part of the General Education Program through papers, exams, and projects completed ENC 1101 Composition I, ENC 1102 Composition II, and HUM 2510 Understanding the Visual and Performing Arts. Critical thinking skills are assessed at several points, including the field internships (SOW 4060 and SOW 4061); practice courses (SOW 3300, SOW 3322, and SOW 4332); Research (SOW 4401); Policy (SOW 3232 SOW); and Human Behavior and the Social Environment (SOW 3101 and SOW 3102). 4060 and SOW 4061 maintain records of applied critical thinking skills.