School of Social Work Mission Statement

The mission of the School of Social Work at Brigham Young University is to support the overall mission of BYU and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by generating new knowledge and by educating and training students to use the appropriate knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession to serve individuals and families within their environment and the context of their specific cultures.

Core Competencies

We have a competency-based outcomes approach to education. The goal of this outcomesperformance approach is to ensure that MSW graduates are prepared to work competently with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) 2015 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) defines 9 competencies which are common to all social work practices. Each competency is composed of knowledge, values, skills and processes that define what social workers must know and be able to do to practice effectively. Our program augments and applies knowledge and practice behaviors for advanced practice in clinical social work for each of the 9 competencies, which are:

Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice

Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice

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

Why apply

Social Work practice requires knowledge about human service values, practice skills, and techniques to aid individuals, families, groups, and communities achieve their greatest potential. The BYU Social Work Program equips students with the skills and competencies they need to go out into the world and help others reach their potential.