Mission | Graduate | Socialworkwebsite | Brooklyn Campus

Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Social Work Program at Long Island University is to prepare graduate students for advanced interdisciplinary and collaborative professional social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Vision Statement

The Long Island University MSW Program is committed to providing access to social work education to a diversified student body within a framework of student-faculty collaboration that is consistent with Long Island University’s academic tradition. Long Island University faculty will work with our students to:

a.	educate them about social work foundation knowledge, values, ethics, and skills they will need to engage in professional social work practice;
b.	help them develop an understanding of interdisciplinary approaches to helping and foster a commitment to a lifetime of learning;
c.	guide them in their journey to become competent professionals, dedicated to enhancing the well-being of their clients and to work effectively within a variety of professional settings and client systems;
d.	instill the ability to engage diverse cultures and at-risk groups; and
e.	address issues related to social and economic justice, social problems, and needs.

Program Goals

I.	To prepare social workers to work with individuals, groups, families organizations and communities.
II.	Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and apply strategies of advocacy and social change that advance social and economic justice.
III.	To prepare social workers to practice without discrimination, with respect, and with knowledge and skills related to clients’ age, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
IV.	To prepare social workers to evaluate the processes and effectiveness of practice.
V.	To prepare social workers to formulate and influence organizational and social policies and administer social work services in diverse institutional contexts.
VI.	Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues.
VII.	Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.
VIII.	Apply principles of collaboration to the social work role in the interdisciplinary context.
IX.	Understand and apply advanced knowledge in a particular area of concentration, specifically, gerontology, not-for-profit management or substance and alcohol abuse counseling.

Foundation Program Objectives

I.	Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
II.	Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly.
III.	Practice without discrimination as reflected in field practice
IV.	Demonstrate the ability to apply strategies of advocacy and social change in the implementation of a field project aimed at promoting locality development or community organizing.
V.	Demonstrate the connections between the history of the social work profession and of social work practice to contemporary structures and practice models in specific written assignments.
VI.	Apply the knowledge and skills of a generalist social work perspective to practice with systems of all sizes.
VII.	Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities.
VIII.	Analyze a specific social policy relevant to area of concentration
IX.	Evaluate research studies, apply research findings to practice, and evaluate their own practice interventions.
X.	Use communication skills differentially across client populations, colleagues, and communities.
XI.	Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.
XII.	Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change.

Advanced Curriculum Objectives?

XIII.	Apply principles of collaboration to the social work role in the interdisciplinary context
XIV.	Understand and apply advanced clinical and/or administrative knowledge in a particular area of concentration, including gerontology, not for profit management or substance and alcohol abuse counseling

* The advanced curriculum may also include foundation curriculum objectives.

Concentration Specific Objectives

Gerontology Concentration

I.	To identify the collaborative role for social work in the area of gerontology
II.	To understand the bio-psycho-social-spiritual needs of older people and the major issues, concepts and theories in late stage functioning

The advanced concentration in gerontology includes two tracks for specialized study: (1) Long term care administration; and, (2) Senior community services: micro, mezzo and macro practice. These two tracks meet the advanced curriculum objectives in providing advanced clinical and/or administrative knowledge in gerontology; and in furthering knowledge of the application of a collaborative approach in the interdisciplinary context. These concentration specific objectives are as follows:

Long-term care:

I.	To comply with New York State educational requirements for licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator by providing instruction in the following areas:
	a.	health care facility administration
	b.	health care financing
	c.	legal issues in health care
	d.	Gerontology
	e.	personnel management

Senior Community Service:

I.	To comply with New York State educational requirements for licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator by providing instruction in the following areas:
II.	To learn to perform intervention and treatment planning with older adults
III.	To address issues of death, dying, bereavement and loss

Non-Profit Management Concentration:

Students in the NPM concentration will:

I.	Identify the collaborative role for social work in the area of nonprofit management
II.	Understand core nonprofit management concepts and theories; and
III.	Think critically about how to apply what they have learned to nonprofit organizations.

Substance Abuse Concentration:

Student will achieve the following

I.	Identify the collaborative role for social work in the area of alcoholism and substance abuse.
II.	Comply with New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (NYSOASAS) standards and significantly contributing to the completion of the required 350 hours of classroom instruction in the following areas:
	a.	Knowledge of alcoholism and substance abuse
	b.	Alcoholism and substance abuse counseling
	c.	Assessment, clinical evaluation, treatment planning, case management, and client, family, and community education.
	d.	Professional and ethical responsibilities and documentation
	e.	Significantly contribute to the documented completion of 2000 hours of full time paid work experience.