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Department of Social Work

About Social Work

About the Department of Social Work

MISSION

"The mission of the Southern University Social Work Program is to prepare competent, ethical,   baccalaureate, generalist social workers to provide services that enhance the well-being of all client groups, with a special focus on serving the poor, other at-risk populations, and African Americans." 

HISTORY

The Department of Social Work at Southern University-Baton Rouge began as a formal instructional unit within the Department of Sociology during the 1969-1970 academic year. At its inception, there were approximately one hundred-fifty students in the program. The faculty consisted of one part-time and two full-time members.

Although the program was limited in size and scope, its demonstrated quality and substantive curriculum resulted in the program acquiring Council on Social Work Education Baccalaureate Program Approved Status during its first year of existence. In 1974, the program advanced from Approved Status to Full Accreditation.

The Social Work Program was granted departmental status by the Southern University Board of Supervisors in 1987. The program has graduated approximately 1322 students over the past 40 years.

SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM COMPETENCIES

Ten Competencies Social Work Majors Must Attain:

  1. Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
  2. Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice. 
  3. Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
  4. Engage diversity and difference in practice.
  5. Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
  6. Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
  7. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
  8. Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to   deliver effective social work services. 
  9. Respond to contexts that shape practice. 
  10. Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

NOTE: The Southern University Program has adopted the ten competencies identified as EP 2.1.1 through EP 2.1.10 (a)-(d) from the 2008 EPAS of the Council on Social Education.