Social Work at ISU
The Social Work Program is located within the Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice in the College of Arts and Letters. It offers a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (BASW) degree program fully accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), the national accrediting agency.
The mission of the social work program at Idaho State University is to prepare students to work as professionals in entry-level social work generalist practice. It is the program's vision that graduates will work within the social work profession by 1) contributing to the enhancement of quality of life, 2) empowering individuals, families, groups, and communities, and 3) advancing human rights and social and economic justice. Consistent with the University mission, the Social Work Program strives to develop students who think critically and are able to provide health related and other professional social work services within agencies and programs to the people of Idaho, the Nation, and the World.
The goals of the social work program are:
- Preparation of students for beginning generalist social work practice with individuals, families, small groups, organizations and communities (i.e.micro, mezzo and macro systems).
- Preparation of students to develop an identity which will incorporate the values, principles and ethics of the social work profession.
- Preparation of students as beginning social work generalists who link social research and social work practice.
- Preparation of students for lifelong learning and critical thinking through an educational process combining a liberal arts foundation and professional foundation.
- Preparation of students to work with diverse, vulnerable, oppressed and disadvantaged populations as well as advance human rights and social and economic justice.
Upon completion of the program, students are expected to have achieved Ten Core Competencies as outlined in the CSWE 2008 EPAS:
- Identify as a professional social worker and conduct oneself accordingly.
- Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional practice.
- Apply critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.
- Engage diversity and difference in practice.
- Advance human rights and social and economic justice.
- Engage in research-informed practice and practice-informed research.
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment.
- Engage in policy practice to advance social and economic well-being and to deliver effective social work services.
- Respond to contexts that shape practice.
- Engage, assess, intervene, and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Social Work Program Director -
Social Work Contact -
Office: 208.282.3377
Fax: 208.282.4733