MSW Mission

Purpose

Western Kentucky University’s MSW program carries out the Missions of the University and the Program along with Program goals and objectives.  These are as follows:

Mission

In keeping with the tenets of the program, the purposes of social work, constituent needs, and the regional characteristics of south central and western Kentucky, the mission of the MSW program at WKU is to educate and prepare students for professional social work practice to meet the needs of increasingly diverse rural populations. The program is particularly dedicated to addressing the work force needs of agencies working with Kentucky’s families and communities.  In addition, the program emphasizes professional and scholarly service to the community, the state, and the nation.

Goals

The goals of the program are designed to provide a level of competence that includes quality leadership that is grounded in the historical roots of the profession. The needs of the community along with the purposes of the profession influence the four goals of the MSW program. These goals are:

• To produce competent practitioners within rural areas.

• To increase the number of practitioners with professional values and standards of cultural competence who are creative and ethically accountable in their practice with diverse rural populations.

• To apply critical knowledge that cultivates and synthesizes an understanding of the complex needs within the culture of rural communities, including research, training, continuing education, and other relevant projects.

• To impact the social, economic, and political environments of rural areas in order to empower constituents and influence social welfare policies, practices, and services.