MISSION

Siena’s BSW program helps students grow into skilled generalist practice social workers.  The advanced generalist practice curriculum is built on Siena’s strong Franciscan values and liberal arts tradition, takes advantage of our proximity to the state capital and diversity of the capital region, supports learning of our student body, taps expertise from faculty, students and alumni, and aligns with the expectations of the Council on Social Work Education. Our program:

1. Prepares baccalaureate students for effective generalist social work practice, equipped with the requisite professional knowledge, values, and skills grounded in the NASW Code of Ethics.

2. Draws upon the creativity and natural curiosity of our students, encouraging critical evaluation of information from a range of perspectives - individual, local, community, national, global, in order to make informed decisions.  

3. Promotes conditions which encourage respect for and desire to understand human diversity.

4. Fosters a commitment to social, racial, economic, and environmental justice and the protection of human rights.

5. Provides students with strategies to address human oppression, economic deprivation, discrimination and environmental degradation.

6. Prepares students to become leaders in creating a just world.

7. Develops students’ ability to contextualize client experiences through a person-in-environment framework that takes into account racism, oppression, power and privilege. 

8. Fosters students' understanding of scientific inquiry, its usefulness in social work practice, as well as its limitations and biases. 

LEARNING GOALS 

In alignment with CSWE 2022 EPAS, upon completion of their BSW students will possess the knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive/affective processes to apply the following:

1. Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior aligned with the NASW Code of Ethics

2. Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice through advocacy and activism

3. Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion (ADEI) in practice being able to recognize and respond to social, economic, racial, environmental injustices

4. Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice in a diversity affirming and culturally competent manner

5. Engage in policy practice 

6. Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities

7. Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities

8. Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities

9. Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities

10. Identify as a generalist practice practitioner who is ready for the workforce and/or graduate school