About Us

Situated in dynamic and diverse Silicon Valley, the School of Social Work has almost 175 undergraduates and 400 graduate students in its programs at any one time. Students can select from a variety of fully-accredited program models—full-time, part-time, and hybrid/online— and pursue credentials and certificates beyond the BASW or MSW degree. Using its transcultural model as a lens through which academic and field education is experienced, the School of Social Work provides a unique and exceptional learning experience.

To learn more about our curriculum, review the course listings for the School.

Who We Are

two female faculty members smiling

The School of Social Work is not made up of just faculty and students. Alumni, donors, staff, part-time instructors, and Field Faculty Liaisons along with our tenure track faculty and students make up a thriving and diverse community; all contribute to the rich educational environment at the School.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) and the Masters in Social Work (MSW) have been continuously accredited since 1976 (BASW) and 1973 (MSW) by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). 

The most recent reporting for CSWE Accreditation and Assessment (AS4 Forms) is available here for both the BASW and MSW Programs:

Fall 2021 CSWE Accreditation and Assessment AS Forms and Reports

Additional accreditation and assessment information for the School is available on the University Assessment website.

Statement of Core Competencies

The curriculum for the School of Social Work is guided by nine competencies, which are defined by the Council on Social Work Education and are reflective of our mission and goals. Each competency describes the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes that comprise the competency at the generalist level of practice. The operational definition of each competency area is demonstrated through practice behaviors which integrate these components, i.e., specific knowledge, values, and skills needed for generalist practice (BASW) graduates or applied in advanced practice with additional specialized knowledge and skills (MSW). For the School of Social Work, these nine competencies constitute the major student learning objectives for the program. The core competencies for the BASW and MSW Programs are:

  • Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
  • Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
  • Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
  • Competency 4: Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
  • Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
  • Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
  • Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities