The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at California State University San Marcos is designed to develop culturally informed, ethical, and effective professionals for direct social work practice with diverse populations. The program prepares students for direct practice in a variety of settings including public, private, and nonprofit agencies and organizations, in social services, child welfare services, human services, healthcare, and mental/behavioral health.
The goals of the program are to prepare advanced generalist practitioners who:
- Identify as professional social workers committed to reflective, ethical, conscientious, and collaborative practice.
- Are grounded in core social work values and principles including: person in environment, strengths perspective, cultural humility, self-determination, recovery, and trauma informed approaches.
- Serve as leaders engaged in empathic, competent, interdisciplinary, and research-informed practice.
- Are committed to advancing social, economic, and environmental justice, promoting human rights, and engaging in social action that motivates and empowers culturally, economically, and socially diverse communities.
The Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs) for social workers are defined by the national accrediting body, the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) and encompass the following 9 competencies:
- Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior;
- Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice;
- Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice;
- Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice;
- Engage in Policy Practice;
- Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities;
- Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities;
- Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities;
- Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.