Mission Statement

Consonant with the mission of the social work profession and that of the University, and reponsive to the needs of our clients and communities, the AUSSW mission has three integrated components:

• To prepare competent, effective and ethical social workers who enhance human well-being and reduce suffering and oppression;
• To develop new knowledge for the profession, and:
• To provide leadership and promote community partnerships which improves services and contributes to the enactment of just social policies.

1. To provide a course of study that challenges students to integrate the knowledge, skills and values of the profession so that they may deepen their commitment to social and economic justice and practice as ethical and competent social workers with diverse, often oppressed populations.
2. To promote faculty scholarship that informs and advances social work theory, practice and policy in profession social work and multidisciplinary arenas that influence social well being and:
3. To initiate, consult, and collaborate with relevant community constituents and leaders in order to identify and address unmet or emerging needs and to strethen organizational capactiy, programs and services

1. Graduates can apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
2. Graduates understand the value base, ethical standards, and principles of the profession and can apply them in their practice.
3. Graduates can practice in a non-discriminatory manner with respect to knowledge and skills related to client's gender, age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, marital status, national origin, race, religion, and sexual orientation
4. Graduates understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
5. Graduates can understand and interpret the history of the socialwork profession and its contemporary structure and challenges
6. Baccalaureate graduates can apply generalist practice knowledge and skills in their work with individuals, groups, families, communities, and organizations. Master's graduates can apply the knowledge and skills of a generalist social work perspective in their work with client systems on all levels.
7. Graduates are able to critically assess social work and social science theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence and practice knowledge to understand individual development and behavior across the life span within their social context and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities.
8. Graduates are able to analyze formulate, and influence social policies that address social problems, alleviate poverty and promote justice
9. Graduates can evalute research students and apply research finding to their practice and can systematically evaulate their own practice interventions
10. Graduates are able to use communication skills differently across client populations
11. Graduates are able to utilize supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice and their level of preparation.
12. Graduates are able to function effectively within social service organizations and delivery systems and seek organizational change when necessary.

1. Graduates are able to apply the knowledge, skills, and values of advanced social work practice with individuals, couples and families, and groups within the ogranizational and community contexts of their practice settings.
2. Graduates are able to critically select and apply appropriate evidence based and practice derived knowledge to their advanced social work practice with individuals, couples and families, and groups.
3. Graduates are able to demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to gender, age, class, color, culture, disablility, ethnicity, family structure, marital status, national origin, race, religion and sexual orientation in their advanced social work practice with individuals, couples and families, and groups.
4. Graduates are able to perform advanced assessments of individuals, couples and families, and groups, integrating psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and systemic approaches.
5. Graduates are able to design and implement advanced practice interventions with individuals, couples and families, and groups
6. Graduates are able to enhance their practice effectiveness through systematic evaluation of their interventions and application of evidence-based and practice-derived knowledge.
7. Graduates are able to practice in an ethical, self-reflective and autonomous manner and use consultation and supervision appropriately.

1. Graduates are able to analzye and integrate micro and macro levels of practice with regard to a social problem, issue or condition, demonstrating a capacity to implement social work's core mission and goals at an advanced maters's level

1. The School will develop and conduct research and scholarship that informs and advances social work theory, practice, and policy in professional social work and multidisciplinary arenas.
2. The School will disseminate the knowledge generated from the research and scholarship to the academic and practice community. 

1. The School will serve as a resource to the community in terms of identifying and addressing unmet needs.
2. The School will engage in community collaborations and provide programs or services that strengthen organizational capacity and service delivery.
3. The School will provide leadership and engage in such roles as advocates, educators, consultants, board members, or volunteers at the regional, national and international levels.
4. The School will provide continuing education and professional development opportunities for the professional community.